I am again considering spending some $ on a used (possibly new) cruising spinnaker for my Cat 36 Tall and have some questions of those of you how have one: 1. Do you use it? 2. How often? 3. How many crew members do you need on a "normal" day? 4. Does the sail really make a difference in terms of boat speed? 5. Do you use a spare jib halyard or a spinnaker halyard. 6. Do you use the sleave? (extra $) 7. Do you gybe the sail? 8. Would you buy it again? 9. Do you keep it on board or bring it out for special occasions? 10. Any recommendations on where I can get a used one for a reasonable price? Thanks, Paul pjwalch@sprynet.com
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
My opinions
1. Do you use it? I have a tri-radial on my boat & using it is such a pain in the ass I don't bother unless Rob wants to. I don't have a sock for mine so it makes it just that much worse. Now Rob has a cruising chute & uses it whenever appropriate. 3. How many crew members do you need on a "normal" day? With my tri-radial, at least two. Rob could do it on his own but not me. With the cruising chute, it could be used single-handed pretty easily if you're comfortable with your boat. 4. Does the sail really make a difference in terms of boat speed? HO YEAH! On my boat for example: Wing on wing with main & genny - 5 knots or so. With main & spinny - probably closer to 7. I mean, she just SURFS! 5. Do you use a spare jib halyard or a spinnaker halyard. I have a dedicated spinny halyard, so does Rob. But according to Rob, if the cruising spinny is meant to fly *inside* the forestay you can use a jib halyard. He said that if there's a single hank at the head of the spinny, it's meant to be hoisted inside. 6. Do you use the sleave? (extra $) Get the sock. It'll make your life SO much easier, especially if the wind starts to pick up a touch. 7. Do you gybe the sail? Sure 8. Would you buy it again? For my uses, I would not buy a new spinnaker. I primarily day sail my boat and can get along fine without it. But that's how *I* use *my* boat. I know Rob would buy his again, no hesitation. 9. Do you keep it on board or bring it out for special occasions? Kept on board. 10. Any recommendations on where I can get a used one for a reasonable price? Check out Minney's Sails website at www.galaxymall.com/commerce/minneysails. They have tons of used sails - heard lots of good things about them. Also check Admiralty Marine over at Shilshole. He generally has a good supply of sails - keep checking back. LaDonna
1. Do you use it? I have a tri-radial on my boat & using it is such a pain in the ass I don't bother unless Rob wants to. I don't have a sock for mine so it makes it just that much worse. Now Rob has a cruising chute & uses it whenever appropriate. 3. How many crew members do you need on a "normal" day? With my tri-radial, at least two. Rob could do it on his own but not me. With the cruising chute, it could be used single-handed pretty easily if you're comfortable with your boat. 4. Does the sail really make a difference in terms of boat speed? HO YEAH! On my boat for example: Wing on wing with main & genny - 5 knots or so. With main & spinny - probably closer to 7. I mean, she just SURFS! 5. Do you use a spare jib halyard or a spinnaker halyard. I have a dedicated spinny halyard, so does Rob. But according to Rob, if the cruising spinny is meant to fly *inside* the forestay you can use a jib halyard. He said that if there's a single hank at the head of the spinny, it's meant to be hoisted inside. 6. Do you use the sleave? (extra $) Get the sock. It'll make your life SO much easier, especially if the wind starts to pick up a touch. 7. Do you gybe the sail? Sure 8. Would you buy it again? For my uses, I would not buy a new spinnaker. I primarily day sail my boat and can get along fine without it. But that's how *I* use *my* boat. I know Rob would buy his again, no hesitation. 9. Do you keep it on board or bring it out for special occasions? Kept on board. 10. Any recommendations on where I can get a used one for a reasonable price? Check out Minney's Sails website at www.galaxymall.com/commerce/minneysails. They have tons of used sails - heard lots of good things about them. Also check Admiralty Marine over at Shilshole. He generally has a good supply of sails - keep checking back. LaDonna
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Trevor
A worthy sail to have
In my opinion, having a chute opens a lot of doors for you... wing n' wing works downwind, but one of the best feelings under sail is having all that color opening up before you and feeling the surge of speed. And who doesn't want to open up the "can of whoop ass" when sailing downwind alongside another sailboat? We used a symmetrical spin on our Islander 28 every chance we got. It's just plain fun, but I like to have at least 3 poeple aboard. We had a much bigger boat afterwards (56' LOA) and used an asymm (thank God no pole), but could have used the sock - light air only. I don't have a assym spinnaker yet for my C36 TR yet, but hope either buy a new one from Doyle (on this site) or get a used one. In addition to LD's ideas, you might try www.thesailwarehouse.com. Best of luck, and I hope to see you out on Puget Sound! Trevor S/V Dunoon
In my opinion, having a chute opens a lot of doors for you... wing n' wing works downwind, but one of the best feelings under sail is having all that color opening up before you and feeling the surge of speed. And who doesn't want to open up the "can of whoop ass" when sailing downwind alongside another sailboat? We used a symmetrical spin on our Islander 28 every chance we got. It's just plain fun, but I like to have at least 3 poeple aboard. We had a much bigger boat afterwards (56' LOA) and used an asymm (thank God no pole), but could have used the sock - light air only. I don't have a assym spinnaker yet for my C36 TR yet, but hope either buy a new one from Doyle (on this site) or get a used one. In addition to LD's ideas, you might try www.thesailwarehouse.com. Best of luck, and I hope to see you out on Puget Sound! Trevor S/V Dunoon
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Tom
I had an Asym. chute on my old boat (27') and
really liked it. Now I just got a Cat 36 and only tried the factory Asym chute once (since I didn't have the conditions and I don't have a dousing sock yet.) 1. Do you use it? Yes on my 27' often because it was a 'pig' in light air 2. How often? Every other weekend or so when the winds were light 3. How many crew members do you need on a "normal" day? I could single hand with the 27' because I had a dousing sock and autopilot 4. Does the sail really make a difference in terms of boat speed? Yes, I was amazed on how a pig of a boat in light air could actually move with one up 5. Do you use a spare jib halyard or a spinnaker halyard. I my 27' I just put a halyard on a Garhauer block on the loop built onto the masthead. 6. Do you use the sleave? (extra $) Yes absolutely , I wouldn't use it if I didn't, makes handling it like night and day. I don't have one for the 36 (yet) and its a pain to fly it unless you have a few people (plus its much bigger)....I had the ATN chute sock and recommend it highly....a couple of bucks more but works the best. 7. Do you gybe the sail? Not often, I found it easier to douse the sail and then open up on the other side 8. Would you buy it again? Yes...but get the tri-radial design, its a little bit more but seems to get a better shape. My 36 factory model has the basic design and doesn't seem to set as well. 9. Do you keep it on board or bring it out for special occasions? 27' kept on board...36' I have taken it off..depends if I will have people for the weekend sleeping 10. Any recommendations on where I can get a used one for a reasonable price? I'm not sure but I really like the one made for me by Sobstad... I have a few pics on the 27' http://home.att.net/~tom.senator/Spinnaker.jpg and http://home.att.net/~tom.senator/Spinnaker2.jpg....If you notice no visible wind or waves but I was still cruising along nicely. Without the Asym Spinaker I would have definitely had the motor on.
really liked it. Now I just got a Cat 36 and only tried the factory Asym chute once (since I didn't have the conditions and I don't have a dousing sock yet.) 1. Do you use it? Yes on my 27' often because it was a 'pig' in light air 2. How often? Every other weekend or so when the winds were light 3. How many crew members do you need on a "normal" day? I could single hand with the 27' because I had a dousing sock and autopilot 4. Does the sail really make a difference in terms of boat speed? Yes, I was amazed on how a pig of a boat in light air could actually move with one up 5. Do you use a spare jib halyard or a spinnaker halyard. I my 27' I just put a halyard on a Garhauer block on the loop built onto the masthead. 6. Do you use the sleave? (extra $) Yes absolutely , I wouldn't use it if I didn't, makes handling it like night and day. I don't have one for the 36 (yet) and its a pain to fly it unless you have a few people (plus its much bigger)....I had the ATN chute sock and recommend it highly....a couple of bucks more but works the best. 7. Do you gybe the sail? Not often, I found it easier to douse the sail and then open up on the other side 8. Would you buy it again? Yes...but get the tri-radial design, its a little bit more but seems to get a better shape. My 36 factory model has the basic design and doesn't seem to set as well. 9. Do you keep it on board or bring it out for special occasions? 27' kept on board...36' I have taken it off..depends if I will have people for the weekend sleeping 10. Any recommendations on where I can get a used one for a reasonable price? I'm not sure but I really like the one made for me by Sobstad... I have a few pics on the 27' http://home.att.net/~tom.senator/Spinnaker.jpg and http://home.att.net/~tom.senator/Spinnaker2.jpg....If you notice no visible wind or waves but I was still cruising along nicely. Without the Asym Spinaker I would have definitely had the motor on.
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Mike
Asym
Yes I use it U need a sock 1-2kts diff vs 155% wing on wing mine flys outside roller furl so I use spin halyards always on board tack or gybe not a prob I'm a solo cruiser/racer so all I have for crew is George my (AP) Mike WD9EOU C-38 Chute the Breeze
Yes I use it U need a sock 1-2kts diff vs 155% wing on wing mine flys outside roller furl so I use spin halyards always on board tack or gybe not a prob I'm a solo cruiser/racer so all I have for crew is George my (AP) Mike WD9EOU C-38 Chute the Breeze
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MarkW
Fun sail
La Donna has it about exactly correct. I had bought a expensive Tri-radial for my C-36 and loved it but found that it took up alot of room and I used it seldom. Most of my sailing is from point A to B and if the wind drops below 6 knots the asm isn,t much fun either. Usually in my area if the wind drops that low it is shifty as well and I am not able to leave it up very long. It's a lot of work for only 20 minutes of sail time. I've bought a C-42 and have no plans for a asm but I installed a mast mounted whisker pole first thing. Mark
La Donna has it about exactly correct. I had bought a expensive Tri-radial for my C-36 and loved it but found that it took up alot of room and I used it seldom. Most of my sailing is from point A to B and if the wind drops below 6 knots the asm isn,t much fun either. Usually in my area if the wind drops that low it is shifty as well and I am not able to leave it up very long. It's a lot of work for only 20 minutes of sail time. I've bought a C-42 and have no plans for a asm but I installed a mast mounted whisker pole first thing. Mark
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Craig Steinkraus
A-Sail
I would totally agree with Mike, (Chute the Breeze)only to add it also makes a good light air reaching sail also, as you can use it much closer to the wind than a sym-spin. I have used several socks and found the ATN to be far and away the best one I have used. I would highly recommend having an A-sail in your inventory. Craig C-38 "Wings"
I would totally agree with Mike, (Chute the Breeze)only to add it also makes a good light air reaching sail also, as you can use it much closer to the wind than a sym-spin. I have used several socks and found the ATN to be far and away the best one I have used. I would highly recommend having an A-sail in your inventory. Craig C-38 "Wings"
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Chris Hyland
What to buy first?
This is great information, My wife and I are the proud new owners of a 2001 C36 "Beau Jouet" beautiful toy in french. Given that we just bought a new boat and there's no need to carry a wallet any more (Nothing in it} what would averyone suggest we buy first? The Asymetrec triradial or a full blown symetrical triradial spiniker? Thanks, Chris Hyland
This is great information, My wife and I are the proud new owners of a 2001 C36 "Beau Jouet" beautiful toy in french. Given that we just bought a new boat and there's no need to carry a wallet any more (Nothing in it} what would averyone suggest we buy first? The Asymetrec triradial or a full blown symetrical triradial spiniker? Thanks, Chris Hyland
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
Chris...
How experienced are you? If you're relatively new and don't plan on racing, go for the assymetrical cruising spinny. LaDonna
How experienced are you? If you're relatively new and don't plan on racing, go for the assymetrical cruising spinny. LaDonna
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Chris Hyland
Thanks LaDonna
We are Novices. It seems to me that the Asymetric Cruising spiniker is better for short handed novices... No Poles. Probably easier to fly/trim. No edges rolling in and chutes collapsing and easier to keep out of the water. I think that's what we'll start with... Thanks, Chris
We are Novices. It seems to me that the Asymetric Cruising spiniker is better for short handed novices... No Poles. Probably easier to fly/trim. No edges rolling in and chutes collapsing and easier to keep out of the water. I think that's what we'll start with... Thanks, Chris
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