Jeff and Ann Lovett's Dismasting: Colligo's Take

Recently a lawsuit that was filed against Colligo Marine was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiffs. It is Colligo Marine’s firm opinion that Jeff and Ann Lovett’s dismasting on the 34’ Morgan Sloop Cie L’ vie occurred because of their ill advised structural changes to the boat. Changing a keel stepped mast to a deck stepped mast requires a spar that is at least 40% stiffer. Using the existing 45 year old, corroded, keel stepped mast, cutting it off and making it a deck stepped mast is ill advised. These structural changes to the boat are, in our opinion, most likely the cause of the dismasting. Colligo Marine Hardware is not designed for a structure that does not meet a Naval Architects Approval.