Back about a year ago I believe Practical Sailor did a product review on spinnaker socks/sleeves. Does anyone happen to know what was the result or best buy if any? If anyone has a personal preference, first hand experience, or knows which ones to stay away from that would be helpful. I've been considering ATN, North, & WM brands. There seems to be a lot of price differences too. On a related note the ATN Tacker looks interesting and it allows a symmetrical spinnaker to work like an asymmetrical one with no pole. Has anyone used one with good results - seems like it might put a lot of pressure on the furling rod and maybe bend it. Dan Legend 45
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ATN here
I think the reports say the ATN sock is the best. I bought mine through HOW and have been very pleased. If you have a sock you will get much more use out of your spinaker.
I think the reports say the ATN sock is the best. I bought mine through HOW and have been very pleased. If you have a sock you will get much more use out of your spinaker.
spinnaker socks
We have yet to fly our own, and have only used the ATN on other boats, and it was great. Don't get a cheap sock that does not have a sewn in sleeve for the line that raises & lowers the sock! It will twist badly on you! I have heard that the North collar, and probably a few others are knock-offs of the ATN but have not had a chance to look at them yet. We just bought a Pineapple spinnaker, used, and it is in what looks to be a good sock, but it only has a round opening made by SS tubing. I hope it is going to work ok, but I don't think there is any way it can work as smoothly as a collar so we probably will have to change it. We used the 'tacker' on an Erickson 36 on the Ha Ha a couple years ago. Once we got the down haul adjusted properly it took most the strain off the roller furling and it worked well. The only reason I won't get one to use on Espiritu is we plan on adding a removable bowsprit that will hold the asim spinnaker out at least 3 feet in front, so we won't need it
We have yet to fly our own, and have only used the ATN on other boats, and it was great. Don't get a cheap sock that does not have a sewn in sleeve for the line that raises & lowers the sock! It will twist badly on you! I have heard that the North collar, and probably a few others are knock-offs of the ATN but have not had a chance to look at them yet. We just bought a Pineapple spinnaker, used, and it is in what looks to be a good sock, but it only has a round opening made by SS tubing. I hope it is going to work ok, but I don't think there is any way it can work as smoothly as a collar so we probably will have to change it. We used the 'tacker' on an Erickson 36 on the Ha Ha a couple years ago. Once we got the down haul adjusted properly it took most the strain off the roller furling and it worked well. The only reason I won't get one to use on Espiritu is we plan on adding a removable bowsprit that will hold the asim spinnaker out at least 3 feet in front, so we won't need it
Spinnaker pole idea
Here’s an easy-to-make bowsprit, seats in the anchor locker. This will throw the spin ahead of the main, less blanketing. Tack line and 2 sheets permanently deployed for quick setup. (Note that the link here has 2 pages of pix and directions.) http://www.sailboatowners.com/bowsprit.doc http://www.sailboatowners.com/bowsprit.doc
Here’s an easy-to-make bowsprit, seats in the anchor locker. This will throw the spin ahead of the main, less blanketing. Tack line and 2 sheets permanently deployed for quick setup. (Note that the link here has 2 pages of pix and directions.) http://www.sailboatowners.com/bowsprit.doc http://www.sailboatowners.com/bowsprit.doc
ATN
Dan, I just bought an ATN sock from Defender Marine Outfitter (see link below) in September last year and have been extremely happy with the purchase. I found Defender offered the best price on ATN socks (was below $10 per foot), but ATN's site always has them at $10 per foot if they are more.
Dan, I just bought an ATN sock from Defender Marine Outfitter (see link below) in September last year and have been extremely happy with the purchase. I found Defender offered the best price on ATN socks (was below $10 per foot), but ATN's site always has them at $10 per foot if they are more.
ATN sock
Go with the original ATN, skip the copies. We've got 2 of them on our 356 and love them!
Go with the original ATN, skip the copies. We've got 2 of them on our 356 and love them!
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