Abstract: A strain relief electrical cable connector for facilitating ready connection and disconnection of non-metallic, sheath cables and capable of withstanding a 60 pound pull force for 5 minutes without the assistance of terminals or additional hardware. The connector includes a pair of identical, interlocking connector portions, each having a cover and pivotally connected housing. Each cover including a pair of integrally formed, spaced apart projections having inwardly directed, angularly disposed strain relief fingers and further including inwardly directed, angularly disposed wire support standoffs which are provided with a serrated cam exterior portion. The covers also provide wire guide means and a guide post intermediate the guide means and the serrated cam portion. Each housing is provided with terminal retention channels and terminals received therein for connection at one end with the cable wiring and at the other end with associated terminals of the interlocking connector portion.

Abstract: A spinnaker pole for controlling a spinnaker on a catamaran or other sailcraft has a cap on its fore end and a guy is reeved through a bore that extends axially through the cap and the fore end of said spinnaker pole to exit the pole through an opening in its central portion for belaying in a cam cleat fixed to the pole aft of such opening. A first line extends from the front surface of the cap for attachment to the front of the catamaran's port hull and a second line also extends from the front surface of the cap for attachment to the front of the starboard hull. The aft end of the spinnaker pole is attached to the catamaran's dolphin striker. The first and second lines serve to stabilize the pole's fore end and also prevent the spinnaker sheets from becoming entangled with the pole's fore end when the spinnaker is jibed.

Abstract: Catamaran sailboats have their user support platforms improved to prevent the trampoline from disengaging from its support tubes by interposing a plurality of small plastic retainers having a hook-like cross-section spaced apart along the inboard side of the tube slots of the pair of support tubes located approximately at the beam of the sailboat by which the trampoline is supported.

Abstract: Jib sails for sailcraft comprising full length battens have batten pockets provided with rigid cups at their fore ends that have their opened ends facing aft to receive mating luff caps on the fore ends of the battens. The combination of such a rigid cup with a luff cap eliminates tearing of the sail luff by a batten when it is compressed in its batten pocket to create camber in a jib sail.

Abstract: Protective caps for the ends of sailboat spreaders comprise an arcuate outer surface over which a sail or line may pass without being snagged, an opening sized to snugly fit over the end of the spreader, a slot arrangement to permit the cap to fit over a shroud that runs through the end of the spreader and bores in the cap normal to the slot arrangement into which a cotter pin may be inserted to hold the cap onto the spreader end.

Abstract: Bearing systems for gooseneck units used to hold booms onto the masts of sailcraft comprise a pair of substantially identical bearing members, except that the central longitudinal bore of one member is smaller than such bore of the other member. Each of the members comprise a small portion that can fit into the longitudinal channel of the slide member of the gooseneck unit and a large, integral portion that will not fit into the channel, but is contoured to slide within a vertical track in the aft side of the mast of the sailcraft. The pair of bearing members is fastened into the channel of the slide member by a screw long enough to span the channel, which screw has a diameter smaller than the larger bore of the bearing members, but larger than the smaller bore of the bearing members permitting the screw to be threaded into the smaller bore.

Abstract: A combined washer and cotter pin anti-snag device comprises a base portion, a raised portion integral with the base portion, a transverse hole in the raised portion through which a fastener is adapted to extend, and a longitudinal hole in the raised portion above the base portion through which a cotter pin is adapted to extend so that the legs of the cotter pin may be passed through the fastener and then be spread apart above the base portion.

Abstract: Sail battens for full battened sails are provided on their fore ends with luff caps that have an angled leading edge. The improved battens are used in sail batten pockets that do not extend perpendicular to the sail luff to prevent the batten fore end from wearing holes in the batten pockets as occurs with battens having square ends when used in such angled batten pockets.

Abstract: Sail battens are provided on their aft end with a jam device to cleat a line passing from the leech of the sail containing such battens to constrain the battens. Such improved battens permit batten compression to be easily adjusted for rapid change of sail draft.

Abstract: A traveler assembly for a sailboat or other sailcraft comprises a car slotted to ride in the traveler track and having a pair of transverse major holes in the middle thereof and a transverse minor hole on each end. A sheet for a sail of the sailcraft is bent to one of the major holes and reeved via the sail through the other major hole. Lines bent to the minor holes permit positioning of the car along the track to be instantly controlled from a position on the sailcraft remote from the traveler, e.g., if the sail is a jib sheeted down on the leeward side, the traveler position may be controlled from the windward side of the sailcraft.

Abstract: A device to assist in the hand pulling of ropes comprises a handle portion and a rope cleating portion attached to the handle portion and having a wedge section to grasp a rope inserted therein.

Abstract: A rudder position return device for a boat rudder of the kick-up type comprises a U-shaped clip with lateral lugs, an elastic band to be stretched across the aft side of the rudder and be fastened to the clip at its fore side and a pair of dish-shaped washers to fasten on each side of the rudder above the band to act as stops for the band when the rudder is in a fully kicked-up position.