>(dont expect lightweight stuff desinged for weekend sailing to do a circumnavigation).

That's precisely the nub of the problems we have.

Just about everything marine is designed for weekend sailors. Which is why we spend two days a week (sometimes more) fixing the broken overpriced rubbish sold by chandlers.

Or, put another way, you know what's going to break in short order if you are full time sailing by looking at the service packs on display in chandlers - for just about everything.