Cruising Spinnakers cost about $2500.00 plus the added expense associated with a fancy sock and lines. Is it worth the $ or do most owners purchase them only to find that they are seldom used and rarely even brought along? If you own one, would you purchase it again if you had the opportunity? Would the $ be better spent elsewhere like a folding prop for motoring when the wind is light? Or are those few times that you use the chute so glorious that carrying it around is worth the trouble?
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Buy a used one
You can find really nice cruising chutes for reasonable prices at used marine chandleries, swap meets, internet, etc. Personally, I think spinnakers are a close to necessary addition to one's sail inventory. I have a tri-radial which is a little more difficult to fly but wonderful when I'm heading downwind. You *could* use a wing & wing type set up w/your genoa but a cruising chute gives you more power. They're almost as easy as a genny to fly but give you an extra boost. Coool! Is it more valuable than a good prop? No one person can answer that. It all depends on what you do more, motor or sail? That's not a judgement either - some folks have to motor a ways to get to their sailing grounds or if winds are non-existant for extended periods, etc etc. But I think the best way to go is buy used cuz then you don't have such a huge investment but still have a great sail. LaDonna
You can find really nice cruising chutes for reasonable prices at used marine chandleries, swap meets, internet, etc. Personally, I think spinnakers are a close to necessary addition to one's sail inventory. I have a tri-radial which is a little more difficult to fly but wonderful when I'm heading downwind. You *could* use a wing & wing type set up w/your genoa but a cruising chute gives you more power. They're almost as easy as a genny to fly but give you an extra boost. Coool! Is it more valuable than a good prop? No one person can answer that. It all depends on what you do more, motor or sail? That's not a judgement either - some folks have to motor a ways to get to their sailing grounds or if winds are non-existant for extended periods, etc etc. But I think the best way to go is buy used cuz then you don't have such a huge investment but still have a great sail. LaDonna
spinnaker value
I have a 36 catalina with spinnaker and sock.It is truly a blast to fly. When we are on a good downwind run,I'll fly it for hours and gain a lot of ground. To answer your question on its worth----it all depends on the skipper and his desire, ability and his wallet, Mine came with the boat and its worth is $2800 (with the sock)You can probably get a used one for $1000. You may want to crew on a boat with a spinnaker to see if you really want one before shopping for one....good luck
I have a 36 catalina with spinnaker and sock.It is truly a blast to fly. When we are on a good downwind run,I'll fly it for hours and gain a lot of ground. To answer your question on its worth----it all depends on the skipper and his desire, ability and his wallet, Mine came with the boat and its worth is $2800 (with the sock)You can probably get a used one for $1000. You may want to crew on a boat with a spinnaker to see if you really want one before shopping for one....good luck
Well worth it if...
it's a great sail if you cruise in an area where you find yourself sailing downwind a lot. here in the Puget Sound we have winds from the north or south and waterways running north/south. If you're doing anything other than day sailing you find yourself beating or running a lot. Here, I think, it's a necessity. But if your local geography and wind doesn't create those coinditions it might not be such a good investment. One note: the store here on CO will be running a sale fairly soon with free sock and shipping.
it's a great sail if you cruise in an area where you find yourself sailing downwind a lot. here in the Puget Sound we have winds from the north or south and waterways running north/south. If you're doing anything other than day sailing you find yourself beating or running a lot. Here, I think, it's a necessity. But if your local geography and wind doesn't create those coinditions it might not be such a good investment. One note: the store here on CO will be running a sale fairly soon with free sock and shipping.
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