Haligonian Winterr

Any of the above. Powdercoat, anodize, paint or carbon. Choose your poison, I think powdercoating is the best option, but can vary depending on your lifeline material. HW

+1 on foil size. Although it's straightforward to get new tapes put on. On another note, there has been some (unconfirmed) speculation that spraying mclube can damage foil extrusions (it's the accelerant in the can, not the mclube) and it's been advised to spray onto the tapes themselves rather than the foil. HW

Yes https://www.ropeye.com/shop/stick-on-ring HW

Mammut I believe makes the widest dyneema ones. Looks like these might be your Goldilocks. https://www.backcountry.com/mammut-magic-sling-12.0?skid=MAM00T3-BL-S120CM&ti=U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHM6c2xpbmc6MTo0MDpzbGluZw== HW

Mammut I believe makes the widest dyneema ones.

Climbing slings are ~2200kg in straight pull. Double that for basket. 4.5T break, 2.25T SWL, I would match the strengths on whichever blocks you've been using for your mainsheet. Biggest issues to be aware of are UV and chafe. When a built "custom" loup encounters chafe, it shows on the cover and maintains full strength (also takes the UV damage) until it starts chafing into the core material. Slings will begin to degrade immediate with chafe. But they're cheap so it's easy to purchase spares immediately once you've found a configuration that works. HW

+1 Chuckie is your guy. Encyclopedic. HW

Use a spare slider (or make a little insert) and wrap some thin sandpaper around it, 320-400g should be enough, go slow and be patient. HW

Ocean Rodeo is good. Did a transatlantic in a "Boss" and it did well. Very comfortable seals and the ability to drop the neck out and keep the jacket is really nice going through weather changes. Bit of an agricultural/industrial style to them but they work well, and they have kneepads! HW

I've used this system on a Cookson 50 for a staysail. Load-bearing halyard/luffrope, skinny little "faux-forestay" that only serves as a guide to stop the luff and hanks carrying away during hoist. We put alot of halyard tension on though... HW

Velcro seals are good enough for most applications I think. If you're not often thinking "wow I really wish I had latex seals right now" you probably don't need them. HW

+1 Although roll pins are probably a McMaster order. HW

1. I use a wave every day, holds up well in salt water as long as it's used frequently and oiled every once in awhile (I do mine twice a summer, and I do bow). 2. Get a fixed blade. Knives in toolboxes are perenially under-serviced, and serrated or semi-serrated blades are more difficult to sharpen and not as good for actual "work". I have a Myerchin Offshore as my tool knife. HW

My vote's for Hinckley Portsmouth, RI. Impeccable aluminium work (can also do steel) and even better interior joinery and systems. They've got enough open space for a 56'er. NEB currently has two big projects on the go... HW

+1