Asymmetric/Cruising Spinnaker Smaller boats

[George H260]

This question relates to the H260 but probably applies to most boats in this size catagory.The discussion about spinnakers got me thinking. I've always been turned off by the conventional spinnaker because it requires a pole and just seems to be more work than it's worth. The set up for the Cruising spinnaker seems simpler and appears to be easier to handle than the conventional sail. However the rigging appears to require an additional pair of winches near the stern. This allows the sheets to make a turn then forward to the headsail winches. I'd like to save the $$700 or so for additional winches by substituting sturdy blocks in place of the winches. Does this make sense? See the diagram or the pic from the Neilpryde site.

 

[John Baumgartner]

I have this setup

on Baums Rush and it works for me, ok. but it takes two people to handle the boat with the spinnaker flying. Under very light wind the person on the spinnaker sheet under tension just uses the fwd winch as a block and sits down. John

 

[John Baumgartner]

this setup is a block on the stern rail and using

the fwd winch

 

[kenkindy1]

winches and cruising spinnaker

Hi George, I definitely wouldn't think you'd want to have a light weight assymetrical up when the winds are strong enough that you'd need to run the sheets around two sets of winches to tension the sail.I'm with you. I think a turning block would work fine. I think it would also be REALLY tricky getting a mounting plate and winch mounted as shown in your picture......it's a real armstretcher lying on your back in the bunk and reaching up into the crevice where the winch would be mounted (seat back area from the cockpit)

 

[Seattle Scott]

The "aft winches" are turning blocks

in the diagram and should have been labled as such. George, just get a pair of turning blocks.

 

[Dean Strong]

Rub rail or snatch blocks

I'm not that familiar with your boat, but on my H30, I use a regular block attached to the rub rail and my existing winches. Some folks with no rub rail use a snatch block on the rear stanchions.

 

[Ed Childres]

The H260 was set up at the factory

At lease my 2004 H260 was set up from the factory to fly the crusing spinnaker. The attachment for spinnaker sheet blocks are at the forward edge of the stern rail. Small stainless steel loop welded to the vertical tube. Run the sheets through the snatch blocks then back forward to your main winches. Cool set up.

 

[Mark]

Ed is correct

If your yacht is a 260 simply attach a block on both sides to the small stailess loop provided at the forward edge of the seat rail below the lifeline. Run the sheet thru that and back to the winches.

 

[BobSail]

260 Video available

There's a superb video on setting up the sail and rigging for a 260 available from the Hunter web site under the 260 model. It also shows how to fly it. It's titled the Lake Champlain, VT video.

 

[Ed Childres]

Picture showing sheet to winch

The attached picture does not show the turning block. But it does show the green sheet coming back to the starboard winch. You can tell that the sheet cuts across the cockpit.