Furling A-symmetrical Spinnaker

[stephen Penny]

Considering a furling a-symmetrical spinnaker for my 386. Can anyone offer recommendations on which supplier’s system and whether I should install a bowsprit, and any advantages and disadvantages for a furling a-symmetrical spinnaker vs. conventional dousing sock?

 

[Rick D]

One of our former YC members had one on his 380. It was simply attached to the anchor bale. It looks like the pulpit top rail might interfere, but it could be modified if so. He loved his; it was the first installation I'd seen. Can't remember the manufacturer, but regardless, they are a lot better now. That was 12-15 years ago.

 

[Jackdaw]

Facnor makes great ones.

You need to have a clear shot from the tack attach point to the head. There is a line/soft-stay the sail wraps around that needs to be tight. It furls by pulling in a light line that attached from the mid point of this stay to the luff of the asym. Like any asym setup, the farther forward you can get the tack, the better life is.


http://www.facnor.com/uk/products/asym_spi_furlers/default.asp

To your other question: a sock on a mid-30 is very easy to use double handed. And single handed if you have a good auto pilot. The advantage of the furler is that you do not need to leave the cockpit to set or douse. And dousing is so easy that many will furl before jybing the main, the unfurl on the new side. Its that easy.

 

[stephen Penny]

Rick and Jack,

Thank-you for your recommendation.

 

[soling42]

If I understand your title correctly. Is that a question about furling a symmetrical Spinnaker or an Asymmetrical spinnaker. Going with the Asymmetrical theory I use a Facnor continuous line furler on a bow sprit to deploy/retrieve a new custom gennaker on our 26. It's in the same link that jack gave above and works like a charm single handed, making furling from the cockpit as easy as he implied. I'm sure it could all scale up to fit your 38.

The load on the bow sprit was a challenge that we've overcome and the hardware is shockingly pricey (my wife calls it boat jewelry) but after it's said and done I'm satisfied with the ease and safety of using the sail solo. I usually hoist it at the beginning of the day if the weather is appropriate, leaving it furled, and simply deploy it when the mood strikes me. The Facnor video accurately shows how easy it deploys but you'd better be sitting down when you price the whole deal compared to a sock.

Good luck in your choice, mike

 

[Ron McCoy]

On our H386 we use a sock to douse the chute. The tack is attached to a block on the anchor bow sprit and the tack line is led aft to the cockpit. I find this an easy set up as we don't always have the weather to deploy the chute. When we do, I position the chute in its bag on the foredeck and attache the halyard, sheets and tack. Then when ready, just haul open the chute sock and the A-spin is deployed. A roller furling for all this might make it a bit more easy to deploy/refurl, however it's all about the easy and frequency you fly the spin.

 

[stephen Penny]

I purchased and used a dousing sock on my Hunter 31. For this boat (new to me Feb 2011) a dousing sock and tacker costs $710. For ~$100 more I can install an a-symmetrical spinnaker furler from one of the suppliers (commercial since 2007). I like its convenience, speed and no one has to leave the cockpit to deploy or retrieve it. So far I found CDI, Facnor and Bamer supply these furlers. I obtained pricing from CDI through Sail Warehouse in CA and Facnor in BC and waiting on Bamer’s price.

 

[Clark]

Follow-Up

I have two A-kites; one for our H280 and one for Rascal, a capri22 I use for racing. They both have a curved, full luff that when adjusted properly catches the breeze very nicely. Do you lose that when mounted on a furler? The pictures make it look like Doyle's UPS - more of a huge genoa than a spinnaker.

I purchased and used a dousing sock on my Hunter 31. For this boat (new to me Feb 2011) a dousing sock and tacker costs $710. For ~$100 more I can install an a-symmetrical spinnaker furler from one of the suppliers (commercial since 2007). I like its convenience, speed and no one has to leave the cockpit to deploy or retrieve it. So far I found CDI, Facnor and Bamer supply these furlers. I obtained pricing from CDI through Sail Warehouse in CA and Facnor in BC and waiting on Bamer’s price.