Every now and then a brand comes along that makes a familiar piece of kit feel new again. CF by L and L is one of those. They build carbon fibre tiller extensions, universal joints and rigging accessories in the UK, and they build them in colour, so your helm no longer has to be plain black to be fast.
We have brought in the first wave for ILCA and Laser sailors, led by their 1.25M carbon tiller extension, and we are looking forward to seeing these on the water this season.
About CF
CF by L and L are a UK maker focused on one thing: carbon. Tillers, tiller extensions, spinnaker poles and the small rigging parts that hold it all together. The pitch is simple. Light, stiff, strong, and finished in colours you can actually choose, at prices that make sense for a club racer as much as a national squad sailor.
What sets them apart is the detailing. Their quick-release universal joint, the Pop Off UJ, are designed around the exact dimensions of the gear you already sail, not generic parts pressed into service. Made in the UK, sold across Europe, and now stocked here for fast delivery from Rotterdam.
The launch range
The lead product is the 1.25M carbon fibre tiller extension. At 22 mm diameter and 1250 mm long, it suits the ILCA 4, 6 and 7, and a wide range of other dinghies including the 29er and RS200. The grip runs the full length except the first 20 cm or so by the joint, with a shaped end cap, and it is not the sandpaper type, so it is kind to your deck and your sail. It comes in five colours: red, blue, orange, silver and pink.
Alongside the extension we are carrying the parts that make a real difference in the dinghy park:
- Pop Off Universal Joint rope core: the quick-release universal joint with an internal rope core, so a failed joint is far less likely to send your extension over the side
- Pop Off Universal Joit non-rope core: the same quick release, a touch lighter, without the rope core
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Drop nose pin for the Harken Fly ILCA vang: releases the vang from the mast in seconds, in a simple drop-nose form
The Pop Off Universal Joint, and taking your kit home
The thread running through this range is quick release. The Pop Off Universal Joint lets you pop the tiller extension off the tiller in seconds, so you carry less to and from the boat and the flexi joint spends less time mounted and wearing.
It uses the standard 32 mm hole-centre spacing on most ILCA and Laser bases, so in most cases there are no new holes to drill, and it fits extensions with a 13 mm internal-diameter insert.
Who it is for
If you sail an ILCA or a Laser, this range was built with you in mind, from the extension to the vang pins. The tiller extension also fits a long list of other dinghies, so 29er, RS200 and similar crews can run the same colourful carbon.
One honest note on the colour: it is about personal preference and finding your gear quickly in a crowded park, not about going faster than the next sailor. The performance comes from the carbon and the detailing.
Why CF fits LiveWatersports
We stock gear that performs and lasts, from brands that obsess over the details. CF by L and L fits that exactly. The carbon is genuinely light and stiff, the quick-release thinking is smart, and the colour brings a bit of personality to a fleet that often looks the same. It sits naturally next to our Rooster, PolarWave and Harken kit.
Everything in the range ships from Rotterdam, with free delivery on European orders from €99.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CF by L and L tiller extension class legal for ILCA?
The tiller extension is not a builder-controlled part, so yes it's a free choice under the ILCA rules in the same way other aftermarket extensions are.
Will the Pop Off UJ fit my existing ILCA tiller?
In most cases yes. It uses the standard 32 mm hole-centre spacing found on most ILCA and Laser UJ bases, and fits extensions with a 13 mm internal-diameter insert, so usually no new holes are needed.
What is the difference between the rope core and non-rope core UJ?
The rope core has an internal line that acts as a safety tether, so if the joint ever fails the extension is far less likely to go overboard. And you can continue using it in your race. The non-rope core is the same quick release without that line, slightly lighter.
What is the difference between the drop nose pin and the quick release pin?
Both release the vang from the mast quickly. The quick release pin uses a recessed push button, the drop nose pin uses a sliding drop-nose T. Pick whichever you prefer to operate with cold hands.
Which boats does the 1.25M extension fit?
ILCA 4, 6 and 7, plus a wide range of other dinghies including the 29er and RS200. At 1250 mm it is a standard ILCA-length extension.
Where is it made and how fast can I get it?
Made in the UK, stocked and shipped from Rotterdam, with free delivery on European orders from €99.
Ready to race
The first CF by L and L range is on LiveWatersports now: the 1.25M carbon tiller extension in five colours at €124.95, the Pop_Off_UJ rope core at €19.95 and non-rope core at €11.95, the drop nose pin at €9.95 and the quick release pin at €24.95.
Because life feels better on the water 💦
Explore the new CF by L and L range at LiveWatersports.
