MUSTO SKIFF
PRODUCT
EVOLUTION

Over the years a number of minor changes have been made to the standard MUSTO Skiff with the aim of maximizing performance and to make the boat the best it can possibly be.

If you have an older boat and sail in a remote location, you may not be aware of some of these evolutionary changes that could improve your existing boat.

With older boat owners in mind, we decided to publish a list of all the minor changes that have been made over the years so you can check your own boat and upgrade, if required.

PRODUCT EVOLUTION GUIDE

Over the years a number of minor changes have been made to the standard MUSTO Skiff with the aim of maximizing performance and addressing member feedback to make the boat the best it can possibly be.

If you have an older boat and sail in a remote location, you may not be aware of some of these evolutionary changes that could improve your existing boat.

With older boat owners in mind, we decided to publish a list of all the minor changes that have been made over the years so you can check your own boat and upgrade, if required.

A list of the product evolution changes can be viewed here. (Excel spreadsheet file).

KEY Changes summary

Lowers Bracket

Advice and Notes:

  • Change as soon as possible.

Trapeze Points

Advice and Notes:

  • If you have an old mast with the eyes keep an eye on them (no pun intended!) as they deform over time.

Bulls Eye

Advice and Notes:

  • Add a bulls eye to stop elastic wear

Bulls Eye

Advice and Notes:

  • Change bulls eye to stop elastic wear

Spreader bracket

Advice and Notes:

  • Spreader bracket changed as the older version seized up

Gooseneck versions over the years

Advice and Notes:

  • Change bulls eye to stop elastic wear

Feeder versions over the years

Advice and Notes:

  • If you have the pizza cutter (as it became known!) you should change it as soon as possible.

Additional Updates from OUR Boat Builder and Partners

Shroud Bolts (2015)

Advice and Notes:

  • Ovington Boats update (2015)
  • Older boats have smaller bolts (M5 or M6) and have a formed penny washer on the back or the bolts go into a alloy bar which has been tapped.
  • There is a bolt upgrade kit to M8 bolts.
  • All new boats (Aug 2013 onwards #496) have M8s. Read more here.

Mast Head Crane and Track (2015)

Advice and Notes:

  • Selden Mast update (2015)
  • Refer to the Selden Update Mast Head Crane, Track and Tips here.

New Style Spinnaker Sock (2015)

Advice and Notes:

  • Ovington boats and Hyde Sails update (01/07/2015)
  • Following class feedback Ovington Boats and the class association has worked with Jack Grogan at HydeSails to produce a new spinnakersock.
  • View more details here.

Mast Update - Selden Update (2016)

Advice and Notes:

  • Selden Mast update (22/04/2016)
  • This update is to advise owners on the current thinking with regards to the mast.
  • For the full update, refer to this page here.

Ovington Update (2016)

Advice and Notes:

  • Ovington boats update (29/11/2016)
  • Following feedback from members at the Carnac World Championships, Ovington Boats have made the following product updates.
  1. The diameter of the kicker rope that passes through the cleat has been increased.
  2. Both the kicker and cunningham control lines now pass through a micro block mounted on spliced lines to the wing side.
  3. The rudder stock will return to using the white ‘polar bear pubes’ as it has been found that in a high speed pitchpole the rudder blade can fly out.

New Class Logo (2016)

Advice and Notes:

  • In March 2016, the MUSTO Skiff Class Association (MSCA) announced that MUSTO renewed their title sponsorship of the class for a further 5 years.
  • The support of MUSTO has been critical to the class, allowing the association to be run in a professional manor. MUSTO have also supplied prizes to the major events over the years.
  • As part of the renewal of the contract, MUSTO took the opportunity to give the class logo and name a refresh. Read more here.

2017 Rig Update: Mast tracks, masts & sails

Advice and Notes:

  • Selden Mast update (2017)
  • Over recent years there has been an ongoing effort to eradicate the mast track and mast tip failures sometimes experienced by sailors. Possible solutions to this has created some rumours and ideas – some of which have gained traction on social media. For an understanding on what has actually been done to date and what the future holds, read more here. Read more here.

New Mainsail and Mast Sea Trials Begin (2018)

Advice and Notes:

  • Hyde Sails update (2018)
  • Following the supportive vote of the members in the on-line AGM, Ovington Boats and the MSCA have now started sea trials of a revised mainsail and mast. The objectives of the mainsail project are to produce a sail with a more modern appearance that works with the existing mast and supports the same sailor weight range as the existing sail.
  • Read the update here.

Bow Sprit End Plug Introduced (2018)

Advice and Notes:

  • Ovington Boats update (2018)
  • There have been suggestions that we change the end of the bow sprite fitting from the block to a end plug. This arrangement is standard in the 49er, 29er, RS200 & RS400 and other classes.
  • As of 2018, a new plug is now standard. Read more here.

2018 Mast Update: Mast tracks, masts & sails

Advice and Notes:

  • Selden Mast update (2018)
  • Ovington Boats recommends the evaluation programme of a mast from an alternative supplier now terminates and the class continue with Selden spars.
  • We hope this will end the period of uncertainty over the sparsand we are please with the improved performace of the revised Selden spar. Read more here.

2018 Sail Update

Advice and Notes:

  • Hyde Sails update (2018)
  • Fat Head Main – Test update (19/11/2018): The mainsail shown in the photo in the last report is continuing to be tested, including in Australia. The ongoing testing continues to follow the plans as detailed in the original report. Feedback has been given to Hyde Sails. However, it’s important to note that nothing can be adopted without approval of the class members. Given the current situation, no proposal is likely for at least 12 months and then the vote will not be until at least end 2019, if an acceptable design is found. Read more here.

Mainsail development update, February 2019

Advice and Notes:

  • Hyde Sails update (2019)
  • As a follow-up to the update given in November 2018, we would like to clarify the position on the potential equipment developments. It was confirmed in the 2018 update that Selden will continue to supply the mast.
  • We have taken onboard class feedback and have therefore decided that no new mainsail design will be adopted for at least 2 years (next review to be February 2021). Read the update here.

Recommended Bushing of an Existing Rudder Stock

Advice and Notes:

  • Ovington Boats update
  • Due to the long term wear found on the aluminium rudder stocks, the class now has all rudder stocks supplied with removable plastic bushes.
  • Owners wanting to bush their rudder existing stock can also purchase this product at Ovington.
  • If you want to bush your stock, then you will need to follow these instructions here.

MUSTO Skiff Vang Lever Reinforcement

Advice and Notes:

  • Ovington Boats Update
  • This is a basic guide to fitting the stainless steel vang lever reinforcement to an ‘old style’ MUSTO Skiff vang lever. The templates used are derived from the new model vang lever. The final result will be a vang lever of the same geometry as the new design. 
  • Get the guide and template here.

Chainplate Bolts - Upgrade

Advice and Notes:

  • Ovington Boats update
  • The following update was the recommendation in 2009. This has been superseded by the above recommendation for an even stronger bolt. The information is retained here for completeness and reference.
  • There have been a few failures of chainplate bolt, but fortunately in all cases the other bolt has held on and this has never caused a mast to fall. See the forum discussion here. 
  • There is now an upgrade kit from Ovington to sort the issue, thanks to those on the class association who did lots of research on the bolt options. See more details here.