Single - Handed Spinnaker Handling?

[Captain Grey Beard]

Does anybody here have any experience handling a spinnaker single- handed?

I'm trying to set my boat up for Single-handed cruising. And I'd like to hear from experience.

My present plan is to build a top down roller furling system. Mounted to a bow sprit.
My Spinnaker is Symmetrical, but my plan is to fly it like an Asymmetrical. I know it won't be as efficient, but I'm not racing. I may modify or build a new one later after the rest of the system is sorted.

 

[Gene Neill]

I know nothing of spinnakers, but that bowsprit is sexy as hell.

Did you fabricate it yourself?

 

[Captain Grey Beard]

I did, thank you
I added secondary winches and turning blocks at the aft ends of the coamings.

 

[AaronD]

We flew a cruising code zero from a bowsprit on our C-22 (not nearly as pretty as your sprit!) Some pictures starting at 9874 post #72

I always had family / crew, but the furler made it easy, and I don't think I'd have hesitated to fly it single-handed. We used a Facnor FX-900, which worked smoothly and seemed plenty adequate for C-22 loads. There were a few times I wouldn't have minded a little more torque when furling (I.e., larger diameter drum), but I never had to use a winch, just pull hard.

On that SS sprit... Feel like fabricating another one, sized for my 26 ?

 

[Captain Grey Beard]

On that SS sprit... Feel like fabricating another one, sized for my 26 ?

PM sent.

 

[Captain Grey Beard]

We flew a cruising code zero from a bowsprit on our C-22 (not nearly as pretty as your sprit!) Some pictures starting at 9874 post #72

I always had family / crew, but the furler made it easy, and I don't think I'd have hesitated to fly it single-handed. We used a Facnor FX-900, which worked smoothly and seemed plenty adequate for C-22 loads. There were a few times I wouldn't have minded a little more torque when furling (I.e., larger diameter drum), but I never had to use a winch, just pull hard.

On that SS sprit... Feel like fabricating another one, sized for my 26 ?

I think I ran into your posts and pictures while doing my research!
That's kind of my intent. But I don't have an asymmetrical spinnaker yet....I plan to make one.