Where to attach tack and how to sheet asymmetric cruising chute on H38?

[flightlead404]

Hunter 38. I'm getting new sails. Considering adding an asymmetric cruising chute. Coastal cruising Hilton Head to Keys and Bahamas. No racing.

Looking for suggestions/pictures on how/where to attach tack and how to sheet.

Thanks

 

[sail sfbay]

Your 38 is a fractional rig so easy to set up without a bow sprit.

Attach tack..........to the bow roller as far forard as you can with a shackle. Rigging the Asymmetrical Spinnaker (fxsails.com)

How to sheet........tie the sheet(s) into the clew of the sail and run these outside. If you choose to use two sheets, you will be able to jibe the sail just as you would a headsail — by easing one sheet and trimming the other, as you steer the boat through the turn. I prefer using two sheets each led through their own sheet blocks then to a winch on the cabin top on each side of the boat.

Might consider a top down furler, whcich can be deployed and doused from the cockpit without going forward vs. a sock.

 

[flightlead404]

Your 38 is a fractional rig so easy to set up without a bow sprit.

Attach tack..........to the bow roller as far forard as you can with a shackle. Rigging the Asymmetrical Spinnaker (fxsails.com)

How to sheet........tie the sheet(s) into the clew of the sail and run these outside. If you choose to use two sheets, you will be able to jibe the sail just as you would a headsail — by easing one sheet and trimming the other, as you steer the boat through the turn. I prefer using two sheets each led through their own sheet blocks then to a winch on the cabin top on each side of the boat.

Might consider a top down furler, whcich can be deployed and doused form the cockpit weithout goig forward vs. a sock.

Thanks!

I was thinking a short pendant, maybe dyneema, to the anchor roller (I have one side which doesn't usually have an anchor on it). Probably with a snap shackle spliced to it and then a ring or eye with a thimble to a shackle on the tack of the sail.

As far as sheeting, would I run that sheet through the same cars as the jib sheets? that doesn't sound right to me picturing the boat in my mind. Or maybe a snatch block on the midships cleat? And then to the regular sheet winch? This is the bit I'm mostly struggling with.

 

[sail sfbay]

I was thinking a short pendant, maybe dyneema, to the anchor roller (I have one side which doesn't usually have an anchor on it). Probably with a snap shackle spliced to it and then a ring or eye with a thimble to a shackle on the tack of the sail. I never used anyhing special, just a a short line from the tack attached to a hole in the anchor roller with a snap shackle. Others on the forum may have a better way to attach.

As far as sheeting, would I run that sheet through the same cars as the jib sheets? No, run the sheets outside of the liefelines to a block as far aft as possible then to existing jib sheet winches.

 

[kbgunn]

Since the spinnaker setup is temporary, only set when using the sail, this would be a good application for soft shackles. Some might suggest a line to the tack through the bow roller and back to the cockpit so that you can adjust tack height. In practice this is too fiddely for my sailing style. I'm not a racer. A soft shackle of sufficient length through the tack and around the bow roller is perfectly fine. Just need to watch for chafe on the stainless frame of the bow roller. Add chafe protection for peace of mind. For good sail shape, you also want the tack held as close to the forestay as possible. A set of parrel beads or device like the ATN "tacker" does the trick The Tacker | No Boom Spinnaker Handler | ATN Sailing Equipment I prefer the parrel beads myself. Google "spinnaker parrel beads"

As @sail sfbay says, run the sheets outside meaning the lazy sheet will run from the clew forward, around and outside the forestay then back down the opposite side (windward) to the aft turning block and back to the sheet winch. You will gybe to change tack and the spinnaker will fly forward of the forestay, then hauled in on the opposite tack. Look for youtube videos gybing spinnaker outside to get the gist.

You won't use the jib cars for spinn sheets. You want the sheet loading point as far aft as possible. A block on a soft shackle attached to the stern cleat would be a good setup that can be removed and stowed when spinn not in use. Similar to pic below except attached through the hole in the cleat.

Also note, you don't want to tie a stopper knot in the spinn sheet. If things go south you can release the sheet and let it run free to de-power the sail. This is also easier to douse the spinn with the sock. Oh yeah, don't forget to get a sock too!

 

[Scott B]

From the owners manual.

 

[Joe]

*Install an adjustable tack line. It's easy to do and will make your downwind life much simpler, and safer.
*Install two sheets, the lighter the better.
*Install sheet blocks as far aft as possible. Then rig tweekers to act as leads for the sheets. Stability, control and shape are the benefit,'
*The halyard block should have a swivel connection, and should extend far enough ahead of the forestay so any dousing gear will clear.
*Gybe, do not Tack, the sail.
Gybing the sail requires paying attention to the clew so it does not fly far out in front of the forestay. So, unlike the tacking maneuver of an upwind sail where you can simply release the sheet and pull in the other as the boat turns through the wind, you just want to ease the old sheet far enough for the clew to clear the forestay.... and not be too hasty bringing in the new one. Ideally, you can hold one sheet in each hand while the driver turns the boat beneath the floating sail. It is a fun, safe and quite satisfying maneuver. Trying to "tack" the spinnaker through the foredeck triangle because it seems "safer" or "easier" is ..... NOT COOL. Only if you douse the sail first, then turn the boat, then set the sail on the new side, would it be considered it be considered safe. But for crying out loud, once you gybe properly..... which also means controlling the boom..... you'll wonder what the big deal was and why did I even consider it.

 

[flightlead404]

Thanks for the detail.

When I'm tacking I don't "simply release the sheet" either. I always leave the jib backwinded a moment to help get her head around before releasing the new lazy sheet and trimming the new non-lazy sheet. We tack as a team, so sounds like this would be a similar process. Fun.

 

[kappykaplan]

new non-lazy sheet

working sheet

 

[tfox2069]

I couldn't pull down @Scott B 's PDF, so I'm pasting in screenshots from my H36 manual. I'm guessing the H38 is very similar. Hope this helps. FYI I run my spin sheets to turning blocks on soft shackles on my arch and then to my aft cockpit winches.

 

[flightlead404]

working sheet

Thanks. Recovering from 'rona. In a brain fog.

 

[kappykaplan]

Thanks. Recovering from 'rona. In a brain fog.

You're welcome. Words do matter.