Rutgerson Sailing Hardware and Deck Systems

Rutgerson has been producing sailing hardware since 1976 and is based in Marstrand on the Swedish west coast, an area closely associated with professional sailing, boatbuilding, and offshore racing. Over several decades the company has developed a broad range of deck hardware and sail handling components used on both cruising and performance yachts.

The Rutgerson product range covers several core hardware categories including blocks, traveller and track systems, deck fittings and sail hardware. These systems are designed for applications such as mainsheet control, genoa sheeting, control lines, and sail handling systems where predictable load handling and durability are important.

Unlike some manufacturers that specialise in a single hardware segment, Rutgerson’s catalogue spans both deck hardware and marine glazing systems, allowing boat builders and refit projects to source multiple hardware solutions from a single supplier.

Rutgerson Blocks and Low Friction Hardware

Blocks remain one of Rutgerson’s largest product categories. Rutgerson block range includes single, double and triple blocks designed for sheets, halyards, and control systems across a wide range of boat sizes.

Rutgerson blocks are available with different bearing systems depending on the intended load and application:

- Bearing Type Typical Use

- Plain bearing High static loads such as halyards

- Ball bearing Fast running control lines and trimming systems

- Roller bearing High load mainsheet or vang systems

For modern lightweight rigging configurations, Rutgerson also produces low friction rings and Super Rings, which are widely used in soft-rigging systems. These rings are manufactured from hard anodised aluminium and are commonly used for:

- soft blocks

- barber haulers

- cascaded purchase systems

- lightweight racing rigging

Low friction rings are particularly popular on performance yachts where reducing mechanical complexity and weight can improve reliability.

Rutgerson Traveller and Track Systems

Traveller systems are another key area of Rutgerson’s hardware range. Rutgerson traveler systems are commonly used for mainsheet control and for adjustable genoa sheeting positions.

Rutgerson traveller cars use a roll-link system, where load is distributed across multiple rollers rather than relying on conventional ball bearings. This approach spreads load across a larger surface area, which can be beneficial in high-load applications such as large mainsheet systems.

Typical applications include:

- mainsheet travellers

- self-tacking jib systems

- adjustable genoa tracks

- cockpit control systems

Track systems are produced in several profiles to accommodate different load requirements and yacht sizes. Proper sizing of traveller track and cars is important to ensure adequate load capacity and smooth adjustment under sail.

Deck Hardware and Sail Control Fittings

In addition to blocks and traveller systems, Rutgerson produces a wide range of deck hardware components used in sail control layouts.

Key deck hardware products include:

- cam cleats and control cleats

- deck organisers

- fairleads and line guides

- rope clutches

- padeyes and deck fittings

These components are typically used to organise control lines from the mast base or cockpit and help manage increasingly complex rope layouts on modern cruising and performance yachts.

Deck organisers are particularly important when multiple halyards and reefing lines are led aft to the cockpit, allowing lines to be redirected efficiently toward rope clutches and winches.

Applications for Cruising and Performance Yachts

Rutgerson hardware is used across a wide range of sailing applications including cruising yachts, offshore racers, and production boat builds.

Typical uses include:

- mainsheet systems

- genoa sheeting tracks

- halyard and reefing systems

- vang and control line purchases

- lightweight soft-rigging systems

The range is often specified by sailmakers and rigging specialists when designing sail handling systems for both refit projects and new yacht builds.

Rutgerson Hardware at Upffront

At Upffront we supply a range of Rutgerson sailing hardware including blocks, low friction rings, traveller systems, and deck fittings suitable for both cruising and performance yachts. These components are used in sail control systems where reliable load handling and durable marine construction are required.

For sailors upgrading deck layouts, installing new traveller systems, or building soft-rigging setups, Rutgerson hardware provides a wide selection of components designed for modern sail handling systems.