DENALI 3
KER 46+
Morgan Yachting was contracted to manage and optimise the build of the Ker 46+ #2 for an experienced team in the USA. This role was difficult but equally rewarding working with a team Wade had never met but who had a clear view of what they wanted. A totally custom package was created and a fantastic relationship formed that is ongoing today.
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WILLIAM MCKINLEY: OWNER OF DENALI KER 46’ RACER, HARBOR SPRINGS MICHIGAN
Project Manager:
"During the Fall of 2017 and Winter of 2018, I had the pleasure of working with Wade Morgan as Project Manager for the build of my 2018 Ker46+ Denali 3 at McConaghy Boat Ltd’s China facility. Wade came recommended to me from North Sails (my sail maker on my previous Carkeek 40 Denali 2). Having recently built my Carkeek 40 at McConaghy, I knew the value and need of having a skilled project manager. That said, after a couple of Skype calls with Wade, I knew that he was in a different league than my prior Project Manager. Once the Ker was delivered in the spring of 2018, my view that Wade was the right Project Manager was immediately apparent.
By way of background, when my Carkeek arrived, there was significant work that needed to be done, including structural carbon work that wasn’t completed correctly nor built to designer specifications. Additionally, the sailing systems had to have significant modifications in order withstand actual racing “pressures”. In addition to these issues, there was limited interface with my Project Manager as to how we planned on racing the boat and what could or should be done to achieve these goals. In the end I received a boat that was a good race boat but didn’t meet my objectives.
Fast forward to the summer of 2017 when I first Skyped with Wade, it was a completely different experience. Specifically, Wade worked with me to identify our team’s needs, wants and desires and then worked with the Ker Design Team, Southern Spars, North Sails and McConaghy to deliver a truly custom package that exceeded all our expectations and needs. To name a few truly custom and innovative ideas that Wade drove:
A unique custom MHG Package combining a sail and rig package that allowed us to meet our needs of a boat which would excel in typical Great Lakes conditions of upwind light air. Thanks to his vison we went away from a true MHG and went for a higher than typical fractional MHG which allowed us to carry higher head stay loads without typical mast and main distortion. This system also allowed rapid sail changes form MHG to LRH on robust rock-back system.
A unique water filtration and storage system that allowed us to filter and store Great Lakes water without the use of a reverse osmosis system
The items noted above are a couple of the specialized needs our Team wanted, but there were so many ideas, modifications and builds that were incorporated that are too numerous to name. What we received when the boat showed up in the US was a boat that was ready to race within a week of its arrival. More importantly the equipment was race ready and robust. The boat was incredibly well built and ergonomically laid out. His work with the rig and sail designers delivered a set of sails that were perfect out of the bag and fit the geometry of the rig and delivered the performance we wanted.
In summation, having a Project Manager that can translate a sailing team’s vison and interface with all the designers and manufacturers is immeasurable. Wade brings practical around the world sailing experience along with a technical capability that I have not experienced in any sailing professional. Wade is commensurate professional that can take a good design and turn it into a great boat…or a great design that can become a world beater."