I fly an asymetrical spinnaker off of the spinnaker sheave provided by Z-SPAR just above the fore stay attachment(original equiptment). I would like to fly it higher but I am concerned with stress on the upper unsupported mast. Any thoughts?
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Doing just that!
I'm in the process of adding a masthead spinnaker to my boat. I already have a jumper strut on the mast for increased support. I'm also adding a sprit pole for the tack. The reason for this is to get the Akite as far away from the main as possible. The new spinnaker will be about 40% larger than the standard. What is your reason for moving the spinnaker hoist higher?
I'm in the process of adding a masthead spinnaker to my boat. I already have a jumper strut on the mast for increased support. I'm also adding a sprit pole for the tack. The reason for this is to get the Akite as far away from the main as possible. The new spinnaker will be about 40% larger than the standard. What is your reason for moving the spinnaker hoist higher?
Deck Hardware
I have a 90 model with the Z-spar mast and have considered the asymetric as well. Did your boat come with rope clutches and a winch on the port side as well? I only have that on the starboad side.
I have a 90 model with the Z-spar mast and have considered the asymetric as well. Did your boat come with rope clutches and a winch on the port side as well? I only have that on the starboad side.
rope clutches
No. I would like to add the port clutches so I could run more lines back to the cockpit. For now I deploy and snuff the spinnaker from the fore deck. If I where to run more lines aft they would probably be the main outhawl and reef lines.
No. I would like to add the port clutches so I could run more lines back to the cockpit. For now I deploy and snuff the spinnaker from the fore deck. If I where to run more lines aft they would probably be the main outhawl and reef lines.
moving spinnaker up
I want increase the height to help with snuffing the sail. Z-Spar recommends not attaching another halyard above existing spinnaker sheeve because of the degre the spreaders are swept aft.
I want increase the height to help with snuffing the sail. Z-Spar recommends not attaching another halyard above existing spinnaker sheeve because of the degre the spreaders are swept aft.
Joe
Call me stupid, but I need more clarification. You need more spinnaker hoist height to aid with snuffing the spinnaker?? ..please explain. "Z-Spar recommends not attaching another halyard above existing spinnaker sheeve because of the degre the spreaders are swept aft." The fact that your spreaders are swept back is of benefit to supporting the mast from all directions. Do your upper shrouds go to the masthead? If yes, you should have no problem with putting the halyard at any height you please. If no, then you will need to be more careful. Putting the halyard near the upper shrouds will be fine.
Call me stupid, but I need more clarification. You need more spinnaker hoist height to aid with snuffing the spinnaker?? ..please explain. "Z-Spar recommends not attaching another halyard above existing spinnaker sheeve because of the degre the spreaders are swept aft." The fact that your spreaders are swept back is of benefit to supporting the mast from all directions. Do your upper shrouds go to the masthead? If yes, you should have no problem with putting the halyard at any height you please. If no, then you will need to be more careful. Putting the halyard near the upper shrouds will be fine.
snuffing
The spinnaker is a little loose when snuffing. It would be like trying to put a stocking on a broken or rubber leg. If it was 1' higher the snuffer would douse the sail and hang straight and out of the way. As it is now it sometimes is in the way of the head sail mainly when furling.
The spinnaker is a little loose when snuffing. It would be like trying to put a stocking on a broken or rubber leg. If it was 1' higher the snuffer would douse the sail and hang straight and out of the way. As it is now it sometimes is in the way of the head sail mainly when furling.
Sounds like.....
...your spinnaker is just larger than your "I". Rather than go thru the trouble of running a new halyard, try easing the spinn sheets a little at a time while lowering the sock. This will keep the spinnaker partially filled while you douce. As the sock comes down, just release the sheet and drop the entire mess in thru the "V" berth hatch. The spinnaker should never be in the way of the genoa. To launch, hoist the sock covered spinnaker under the foot of the genoa, lift the sock and furl the genoa. To douce, pull down the sock, drop the whole thing into the V berth, then unfurl the genny.
...your spinnaker is just larger than your "I". Rather than go thru the trouble of running a new halyard, try easing the spinn sheets a little at a time while lowering the sock. This will keep the spinnaker partially filled while you douce. As the sock comes down, just release the sheet and drop the entire mess in thru the "V" berth hatch. The spinnaker should never be in the way of the genoa. To launch, hoist the sock covered spinnaker under the foot of the genoa, lift the sock and furl the genoa. To douce, pull down the sock, drop the whole thing into the V berth, then unfurl the genny.
sounds like
Thanks for the tip Alan. I havent tried dousing it like that. I thought it was a little long however Atlantic Sail Traders said it is within specs. I removed the swivel that comes at the top of the snuffer which shortened it up by 6" the snuffer still adds lenght. When we are close hauled while using the head sail the snuffed spinnaker developes a jump rope effect. With just my wife and I sailing the snuffer does simplify things. I would just like to leave it raised but not deployed. That way I can set the sheets (close) go up front to deploy and douse while she takes the helm. I am just trying to work out a few bugs.
Thanks for the tip Alan. I havent tried dousing it like that. I thought it was a little long however Atlantic Sail Traders said it is within specs. I removed the swivel that comes at the top of the snuffer which shortened it up by 6" the snuffer still adds lenght. When we are close hauled while using the head sail the snuffed spinnaker developes a jump rope effect. With just my wife and I sailing the snuffer does simplify things. I would just like to leave it raised but not deployed. That way I can set the sheets (close) go up front to deploy and douse while she takes the helm. I am just trying to work out a few bugs.
Joe
I would not recommend beating(going to weather) with the akite hoisted, sleeved or not. That "jump rope" action you mention is going to destroy the halyard by chaffing at the mast. By the way, make sure the halyard is set off from the mast with a bail. Also the sleeved akite will affect the performance of the headsail. Hoisting and lowering the sleeve is very easy, I've done it singlehanded many times.
I would not recommend beating(going to weather) with the akite hoisted, sleeved or not. That "jump rope" action you mention is going to destroy the halyard by chaffing at the mast. By the way, make sure the halyard is set off from the mast with a bail. Also the sleeved akite will affect the performance of the headsail. Hoisting and lowering the sleeve is very easy, I've done it singlehanded many times.
Keep the spinnaker below
Joe, I agree with Allen. Keep the spinnaker below till you're ready to use it. I started flying an asymmetrical spinnaker, for the first time, last year. The year before that I took a course from a sailing captain on how to fly a SYMETRICAL spinnaker and the hands on experience was very helpful. In fact he recommended an asymmetrical spinnaker to me for reasons I won't get into here. It took a little while to find a sail that fit my Hunter 285. After I bought one, that had very little use (it still looks new), I rigged up the boat to fly it. It took a while to do and a little more time to fly one on my own boat but it was worth it. The one thing I do find was to keep the thing below until it was ready to be hoisted and to put it away when I was done. I never keep it on deck for a number of reasons but the most important one is that it just gets in the way. The headsail is never unfurled when the spinnaker is on deck. I use an “ ATN tacker” around the furled headsail. If it were not attached to it I can't imagine where I keep the sail except below. The best thing I've learned about rigging a spinnaker I found out by just studying a boat that was rigged for one that I was next to in a transient slip. I keep my port and starboard sheets deployed and running along the toe rails. The ends of the sheets, at the bow, have snap shackles on them along with the down haul line which also runs back to the cockpit area. Also the port line is red and the starboard green, which does help when working the sheets in the cockpit even for those “non-sailors” I have aboard for a ride now and then. I just say pull on the "green" one rather than "starboard sheet". It helps. Like I said my sheets run back to the cockpit but are tied off on the aft pulpit. I use snatch blocks for the sheets and the downhaul but I keep them put away until I'm setting up for flying the spinnaker. It takes just a few minutes to do. When I’m ready to fly the spinnaker I bring it up on deck through the forward hatch still in its sail bag. The bag has clips that can attach to the toe rail. The sheets and down haul are also attached to the toe rails, by way of the snap shackles, to the toe rails. When I get the sail bag in place I attach all the lines (sheets, downhaul, halyard, etc.) and then pull it up to a block mounted at the top of the mast above the sheaves. There is a loop there for that purpose which allows the spinnaker halyard to swivel without chaffing on any lines. I have my sheets marked at a starting point, which I set depending on what side of the boat the spinnaker will be deployed. After I haul the sock up it's just a matter of adjusting the sheet and down haul. Having all the lines on deck and ready to go makes the whole process much easier to do. Bob
Joe, I agree with Allen. Keep the spinnaker below till you're ready to use it. I started flying an asymmetrical spinnaker, for the first time, last year. The year before that I took a course from a sailing captain on how to fly a SYMETRICAL spinnaker and the hands on experience was very helpful. In fact he recommended an asymmetrical spinnaker to me for reasons I won't get into here. It took a little while to find a sail that fit my Hunter 285. After I bought one, that had very little use (it still looks new), I rigged up the boat to fly it. It took a while to do and a little more time to fly one on my own boat but it was worth it. The one thing I do find was to keep the thing below until it was ready to be hoisted and to put it away when I was done. I never keep it on deck for a number of reasons but the most important one is that it just gets in the way. The headsail is never unfurled when the spinnaker is on deck. I use an “ ATN tacker” around the furled headsail. If it were not attached to it I can't imagine where I keep the sail except below. The best thing I've learned about rigging a spinnaker I found out by just studying a boat that was rigged for one that I was next to in a transient slip. I keep my port and starboard sheets deployed and running along the toe rails. The ends of the sheets, at the bow, have snap shackles on them along with the down haul line which also runs back to the cockpit area. Also the port line is red and the starboard green, which does help when working the sheets in the cockpit even for those “non-sailors” I have aboard for a ride now and then. I just say pull on the "green" one rather than "starboard sheet". It helps. Like I said my sheets run back to the cockpit but are tied off on the aft pulpit. I use snatch blocks for the sheets and the downhaul but I keep them put away until I'm setting up for flying the spinnaker. It takes just a few minutes to do. When I’m ready to fly the spinnaker I bring it up on deck through the forward hatch still in its sail bag. The bag has clips that can attach to the toe rail. The sheets and down haul are also attached to the toe rails, by way of the snap shackles, to the toe rails. When I get the sail bag in place I attach all the lines (sheets, downhaul, halyard, etc.) and then pull it up to a block mounted at the top of the mast above the sheaves. There is a loop there for that purpose which allows the spinnaker halyard to swivel without chaffing on any lines. I have my sheets marked at a starting point, which I set depending on what side of the boat the spinnaker will be deployed. After I haul the sock up it's just a matter of adjusting the sheet and down haul. Having all the lines on deck and ready to go makes the whole process much easier to do. Bob
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