asymmetric spinnaker questions

I'm trying to decide on how to best set up the asymmetric on Janet C. I'm torn between a karver furler and a setup like the beach cats and the seascape 18 have. Thoughts?

 

From what I hear from my professional mates, all spinnakers will be furled very shortly
Just about to see one on a small Corsair tri locally to me

 

I still use "socks". I do a few hundred hoists per year....big sail. They work and the gear is cheap and easy to store. Take downes can be a challenge....you must broad reach..130 degree wind angle.

Furlers also work...expensive but more difficult to store....takedown and set easier .

In the end its Your choice.

 

We also use a sock on a symmetric and find it works well on any dowmwind angle so I'm puzzled by your 130 degree take down. On a multihull you would be better off using the sock straight downwind for less apparent wind in a breeze plus you would have the main blocking some of the wind. We have been able to get the chute down this way in squalls where we couldn't have managed a broad reach.

 

asy spin

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Raps, thanks for mentioning the Seascape 18! They use a system that may be perfect for my new boat: http://www.seascape18.com/prvastran.htm
I don't like the Weta tri system that leaves the furled spinnaker up. From the pricing I've seen, the furler and the cat snuffer/seascape system are in the same ball park but you could probably make the snuffer system yourself for considerably less.

Pictures: 1) Weta with furled spinnaker upwind, 2) Seascape 18 spin system-forward position, 3) Seascape 18 spin system-aft position(pix by Miro Martinic)

click on image:

 

I'm currently also looking into being able to handle my aysymetric sail single handed.When you say a 'sock',is that the same as a 'snuffer', which is a lightweight ripstop nylon 'tube' with a shaped fibreglass mouth that gets hoisted up the sail when setting,and pulled down with a downhaul to 'stow'?
I've tried a snuffer last week and it seems to be ok except that the snuffer I bought is a bit baggy therefore giving lots of windage.There is also a lot of windage created when the snuffer is hauled up the sail and it is 'bunched up' by the halyard sheeve.
I'm now trying with a lightweight furling drum to see if that is better.
Thanks for any advice.
Cheers

 

You must put the spinnaker in the lee of the mainsail and soften it for easy hoists and drops. 130 is a safe angle. Any deeper and the boat rolls .

If you use the asymmetric at sea with a sock , you must sail with foredeck lifeline nets to keep the gear from being washed off the deck.

Keep you spin halyard snap shackle well lubricated to prevent halyard twists from travelling to the spin sock head and twisting it and hence the control lines.

 

I do exactly like Michael and prefer to use the sock, too. Easiest setup and it still allows a screacher on a furler and a working jib on a self tacking slide track.

It's not overly cumbersome. I've even been know to hoist a sock and fly a chute in the ICW single handed. Ha ha ha

 

I don't like using a spinnaker sock as I find it slow and awkward

The spinnaker chute is very popular on dinghies and has been used on beach cats (the Shearwater first used then in the 1960's) but works best with smaller sails. On a bigger sail, as you will be using, the mouth has to be very big, as does the tube, or there will be too much friction. So maybe too big/heavy?

I have seen the furling spinnaker in action on a 40ft monohull, it worked surprisingly well and I suspect is the system most people will be using soon. If you study the videos and brochures you'll see how to make your own

I have made my own continuous furling drum (essential for all screechers and furling spis) by turning a conventional drum upsidedown and making plywood cheeks to take the continuous line. It works well and saved me a lot of money

Having said that, you have a (relatively) wide flat foredeck, so I'd use a conventional floatdrop. I've done that singlehanded many times with spis up to 900sqft. I use a triangular cloth panel tied to the tramp so I can push the downed sail under it prior to packing it properly

I write more on spinnakers on the articles pages of my website

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

My experience is that both the stemhead and masthead are to cramped on conventional masthead boats for a roller spi. fractional 15\16 mast geometry and a stubby bowsprit are needed for efficient roller furl.

 

Where do you put that furler?

I am thinking of catamarans here... where you have a small bowsprit to hold the screecher furler. Then, further aft, you have the inner forestay which holds the working jib on a furler.

Where do people usually go and put a furling spinnaker with that type of configuration? Is it often done?

 

Here is a link that shows top down furlers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kqlStOI4DA

The thing about furlers for cats is that you may already have one for the screecher. My recommendation would always be to have a screecher before you get an assymetric (for cruising). A symmetrical is great for deep running with no main up but an assymetric is a pain on a broad reach as the apparent wind shifts so much when you surf you have to hand steer or trim the whole day (Heaven forbid you oversheet for the surfs - may as well take it down). I love using the screecher now instead. The assy is also a huge pain for gybing - read Richards article on kites - I have to agree.

It's easy to get the furling gear off the screecher and change it over. I take it off on deck so that I don't bang it when I drag the screecher around.

Michael - few multis are masthead rigged. Also multis have an abundance of attachment points up the front of the boat so finding somewhere to attach a furler is no real problem.

cheers

Phil

 

I have used socks before, and i dont like them. I was always faster (solo sailing) setting and dousing the chute without the sock than i ever was with one.
The scoop i was talking about is like the one pictured on the seascape 18. The spinnaker furlers are pretty expensive. It might be worth trying to make one.
The foot of the asymmetric is over 26' long, and is maybe 32' tall. So maybe it is too big for the seascape 18 setup.

 

Speaking of spinnakers in general when I had the sails quoted up for my Kraken 25 they also quoted me on a Screecher almost an Assymetric spinnaker to be set off the bow fitting on my boat the Nylon cloth was more expensive than Kevlar. It worked out to $3188 for the .75oz nylon and $2499 for the Kevlar. Most of the guys in the club use nylon spinnakers can anyone give me any input on the pro's and con's of each type of material?

 

The screacher on Janet c is kevlar/carbon. In my case the screacher is cut more like a large Yankee staysail vs. An asymmetric spinnaker. Personally, i would much rather have a code zero/asymmetric spinnaker to be nylon. I think the sail would last longer and work better in light air. Those quotes do seem high to me.