From Devastation to Decision.
There was a point when it could have all come to an end.
In early March 2026, a fire destroyed the original Almasts manufacturing facility at Tamar Marine.
Production stopped overnight. For a small, specialist manufacturer, the loss of machinery, tooling, and infrastructure is often enough to prevent recovery. Restarting from that position is difficult—and in many cases, doesn’t happen.
In the weeks that followed, the future of both Almasts and Reefit was uncertain.
What happened next was unexpected.
Yacht owners, riggers, sailmakers, and offshore sailors began getting in touch—not to ask about alternatives, but to ask when Reefit furlers would be available again. They weren’t looking for something different. They wanted the same system they already trusted. Importantly, the core of the business still remained untouched. Design data, drawings, supplier contacts, and manufacturing methods had been preserved. The knowledge behind the system—built over decades—was still there.
From this, Reefit Yacht Systems was born, focused specifically on the manufacture and ongoing development of Reefit furling systems. This provided a clear path forward, separating the product from its previous structure and allowing it to continue with greater focus and capability. The design itself did not change.
Mitch Ranson, founder of Almasts, continued forward into this new business structure, bringing all his experience and expertise with him.
Manufacturing has moved to newer, more capable equipment, allowing increased production rates, lower scrap rates, and other manufacturing efficiencies.
At the same time, support systems were strengthened. Stock levels, parts availability and technical support have been revamped with a focus on responsiveness and maintaining our hassle-free 10-year warranty.
The objective was not to redesign Reefit, but to build the same proven system with greater precision and control.
The Reefit systems produced today are not a replacement for what came before. They are the same design—refined through experience and now manufactured with greater consistency.
The fundamentals remain unchanged:
strength where it counts
durability in service
reliable performance over the long term
Because the goal has always been the same—to build systems that continue to work, years after installation.