is what came with my boat. I haven't taken the chute out of the bag, so I don't know how it is cut. Anyone have any experience with the "tacker" device on the link, or is this just a $100 tack line? My jib is on a furler. Scott
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Bill O'Donovan
Great fun
Symmetricals run deep downwind, perfectly balanced side-to-side, hence the symetry. If it comes with a tacker, I suspect it may instead be an assymetrical spin, which flies much like a giant genoa, tacked to the bow and sheeted back like a jib sheet. Since your jib is on a furler, it's not practical to use that halyard for the spin. See if you have a separate halyard line. It may have just a thin string as a sender for installing a real 3/8-inch line, which is easy. If so, try raising the thing in the chute and open it up while in the dock on a calm day. Then you can see if it's symmetrial or assymetrical. Regardless, you've made a great discovery.
Symmetricals run deep downwind, perfectly balanced side-to-side, hence the symetry. If it comes with a tacker, I suspect it may instead be an assymetrical spin, which flies much like a giant genoa, tacked to the bow and sheeted back like a jib sheet. Since your jib is on a furler, it's not practical to use that halyard for the spin. See if you have a separate halyard line. It may have just a thin string as a sender for installing a real 3/8-inch line, which is easy. If so, try raising the thing in the chute and open it up while in the dock on a calm day. Then you can see if it's symmetrial or assymetrical. Regardless, you've made a great discovery.
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Scott Wilson
Bill, I know I have a symmetrical chute
as I did check the head and clews of the sail. Boat is set up for a chute, mast track, spin halyard etc. but no pole. What I would like to know is does the West "tacker" really allow a pole-less flying of a traditional chute? If so, will the chute hold its shape on a dead run or will I be limited to 140 degrees apparent, which I understand is a general limitation even with the assymetrical chutes. Scott
as I did check the head and clews of the sail. Boat is set up for a chute, mast track, spin halyard etc. but no pole. What I would like to know is does the West "tacker" really allow a pole-less flying of a traditional chute? If so, will the chute hold its shape on a dead run or will I be limited to 140 degrees apparent, which I understand is a general limitation even with the assymetrical chutes. Scott
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Scott Wilson
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Vic
re the photo ... while it looks symmetrical and
the maker's mark is in the center ... it looks too large to fly with a pole ... so it must be a "something else". On a nice warm quiet day go out and keep the main wraped up and just fly the spin dead down wind to see just what you can do with just the spin alone. this is also good practice to help visualize what goes on when you gibe the spin with the pole. Vic "Seven"
the maker's mark is in the center ... it looks too large to fly with a pole ... so it must be a "something else". On a nice warm quiet day go out and keep the main wraped up and just fly the spin dead down wind to see just what you can do with just the spin alone. this is also good practice to help visualize what goes on when you gibe the spin with the pole. Vic "Seven"
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Clyde
It's an Asymmetrical Spinnaker in picture
A symmetrical spinnaker has two clews and no tack, an asymmetrical spinnaker has a clew and a tack. The picture shows the spinnaker is tacked to the bow as far forward as possible to a suitable strong point that can be found to keep it as clear of the furling gear as possible, the typical setup for an asymmetrical spinnaker. The tack on the spinnaker is about pulpit high, the right height for an asymmetrical spinnaker. The link to the West Marine "Tacker" shows the windward clew of the symmetrical spinnaker way above the bow pulpit just where a spinnaker pole would be. I guess you could use the "Tacker" instead of a pole for a symmetrical spinnaker. The down haul line is used to lower the Tacker to the correct height as you fly the spinnaker. Fair Winds, Clyde
A symmetrical spinnaker has two clews and no tack, an asymmetrical spinnaker has a clew and a tack. The picture shows the spinnaker is tacked to the bow as far forward as possible to a suitable strong point that can be found to keep it as clear of the furling gear as possible, the typical setup for an asymmetrical spinnaker. The tack on the spinnaker is about pulpit high, the right height for an asymmetrical spinnaker. The link to the West Marine "Tacker" shows the windward clew of the symmetrical spinnaker way above the bow pulpit just where a spinnaker pole would be. I guess you could use the "Tacker" instead of a pole for a symmetrical spinnaker. The down haul line is used to lower the Tacker to the correct height as you fly the spinnaker. Fair Winds, Clyde
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Don Alexander
Be Careful
On all the boats I have raced on we were always at great pains to avoid the pole bearing on the forestay for fear of putting a kink in the luff spar. Furling genoas are even more sensitive to kinked luff spars but it looks as if this thing will do just that.
On all the boats I have raced on we were always at great pains to avoid the pole bearing on the forestay for fear of putting a kink in the luff spar. Furling genoas are even more sensitive to kinked luff spars but it looks as if this thing will do just that.
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scott wilson
Don, I understand your concern
maybe the tack line acting as a downhaul takes most of the load. But I wonder, especially the higher the tack line the more lateral movement and the more load on the stay and furler. Anyway your point is well taken such that if I attempt to fly my symmetrical w/o the pole, I sure will start in light air for alot of reasons. Thanks. To others, I still am not convinced that is'nt a symmetrical in the photo link being flown w/a tack line. Scott
maybe the tack line acting as a downhaul takes most of the load. But I wonder, especially the higher the tack line the more lateral movement and the more load on the stay and furler. Anyway your point is well taken such that if I attempt to fly my symmetrical w/o the pole, I sure will start in light air for alot of reasons. Thanks. To others, I still am not convinced that is'nt a symmetrical in the photo link being flown w/a tack line. Scott
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Russ
symmetrical w/o a pole
You can fly a symmetrical spinnaker without a pole or a tacker. You can tack one clew to the stem on a tack line, you can't sail as deep downwind as with a pole, but it seems to work fine up to about 150 or so apparent, may be able to hold a little deeper by sheeting the main in to get the chute out of its shadow. You can also free fly it without a pole, but that makes sail trim a full time job. I'd experiment with tacking one clew down and adjusting the tack line length before spending money on something you may not need.
You can fly a symmetrical spinnaker without a pole or a tacker. You can tack one clew to the stem on a tack line, you can't sail as deep downwind as with a pole, but it seems to work fine up to about 150 or so apparent, may be able to hold a little deeper by sheeting the main in to get the chute out of its shadow. You can also free fly it without a pole, but that makes sail trim a full time job. I'd experiment with tacking one clew down and adjusting the tack line length before spending money on something you may not need.
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Bob
I use a "TACKER"
Hi Scott, Use a tacker on my 27 O'Day and also on my son's 28 Cape Dory. The tacker spreads the load on the furled head sail and makes it easier to set the height of the sail under load. I got the tacker after I converted to a furler. It works well and have made one 18 mile run in 15 - 20 knots with hull speed 7+. My son races his boat and it get used at least once per week. As you can see a pice of line could do the same thing in light air. Have fun _/)
Hi Scott, Use a tacker on my 27 O'Day and also on my son's 28 Cape Dory. The tacker spreads the load on the furled head sail and makes it easier to set the height of the sail under load. I got the tacker after I converted to a furler. It works well and have made one 18 mile run in 15 - 20 knots with hull speed 7+. My son races his boat and it get used at least once per week. As you can see a pice of line could do the same thing in light air. Have fun _/)
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Scott Wilson
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Vic
Clyde ... most sailmakers put their maker's mark
for an asymmetrical spinnaker at the tack ... sort of to help us remember where the tack is and following genoa like traditions ... this sail is marked in the center which is typical of a symmetrical spinnaker ... but it does look a little big for the boat ... but then again we don't know how old that picture is and whether the sail was really designed for the boat or the picture just taken to look good. Vic "Seven"
for an asymmetrical spinnaker at the tack ... sort of to help us remember where the tack is and following genoa like traditions ... this sail is marked in the center which is typical of a symmetrical spinnaker ... but it does look a little big for the boat ... but then again we don't know how old that picture is and whether the sail was really designed for the boat or the picture just taken to look good. Vic "Seven"
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Clyde
Good Eyes…Vic
You are right, I can see the same kind of sail maker's mark on both the mainsail and the spinnaker. It is marked as a symmetrical spinnaker and he is flying it like an asymmetrical. Fair Winds, Clyde
You are right, I can see the same kind of sail maker's mark on both the mainsail and the spinnaker. It is marked as a symmetrical spinnaker and he is flying it like an asymmetrical. Fair Winds, Clyde
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Vic
Clyde ... just training from flying too many ...
A sails backwards. They really fly badly backwards. But you have to do it wrong a couple of times to really learn how to do it right. And of course when you learn how to do it right yourself ... then it's the crew's turn to learn how to do it right. ... and then the New crew's turn, etc, etc. Vic "Seven"
A sails backwards. They really fly badly backwards. But you have to do it wrong a couple of times to really learn how to do it right. And of course when you learn how to do it right yourself ... then it's the crew's turn to learn how to do it right. ... and then the New crew's turn, etc, etc. Vic "Seven"
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Ed Allen
ok then
put up the sail if the clews are even and the luffs are the same length it is probably a standard chute. it can be flown about a bunch of ways. but its designed to be flown with a pole. the pole extends the tack out and away form the boat on all but a reach where it is flown form the pole near the headstay. an asemetricial is not the same on both sides it has a tack and a clew. the clew is on the longer side of the sail the tack on the tighter shorter side. a standard chute can be flown off the bow but the sail is not usually cut to be flown form there. the pole extends the sail out and away and allows the foot to be broader and the luff to be adjusted for various wind conditions.
put up the sail if the clews are even and the luffs are the same length it is probably a standard chute. it can be flown about a bunch of ways. but its designed to be flown with a pole. the pole extends the tack out and away form the boat on all but a reach where it is flown form the pole near the headstay. an asemetricial is not the same on both sides it has a tack and a clew. the clew is on the longer side of the sail the tack on the tighter shorter side. a standard chute can be flown off the bow but the sail is not usually cut to be flown form there. the pole extends the sail out and away and allows the foot to be broader and the luff to be adjusted for various wind conditions.
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james rohr
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Alan
It's true..
..that the luff(leading edge) of the akite is longer than the leech, but don't forget to have your tack line adjustable for the varying apparent wind angles. The tack can be pulled down tight when beating and eased to let the luff curve to weather as you travel deeper.
..that the luff(leading edge) of the akite is longer than the leech, but don't forget to have your tack line adjustable for the varying apparent wind angles. The tack can be pulled down tight when beating and eased to let the luff curve to weather as you travel deeper.
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Rick Sylvester
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Rick Sylvester
A close up
The parrel beads came from a craft store. And no it doesn't bother the foil. We've had it up in surfing conditions.
The parrel beads came from a craft store. And no it doesn't bother the foil. We've had it up in surfing conditions.
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Scott Wilson
Two thumbs up Rick
for your great idea. Thanks. Do you fly a symmetrical or a cruising chute? If a sym, any more photos of you under sail? Scott
for your great idea. Thanks. Do you fly a symmetrical or a cruising chute? If a sym, any more photos of you under sail? Scott
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