What to use to fix a Spinnaker on the mast

[m26roy]

How many inch above the genoa do you install your Spinnaker?
What hardware do you use fo fix the Spinnaker on the mast? Do you purchace the same braket used to maintain the genoa?

[Jack O'Brien]

Boat came with a boom vang which I replaced with a rigid vang so I had two 3" bails left over. I drilled my mast exactly 12 inches above the holes where the headstay/jib halyard block hound is attached. I removed the jib halyard block to a bail and through-bolted it in the new holes above the headstay hound. I use the jib halyard as a spinnaker halyard.

[norbert]

simply use the jib halyard for the spinnaker. if your boat is equipped with a roller firler, use the original halyard. i would not go further up withe the spi attachment point as the mast is not supported there by the headstay and shrouds. the backstay does not contribute to the mast geometry, it applies only for bending the mast. although some fellows here have done it i would not go furter to the mast top as you risk to break your mast in heavy conditions (as an unexpected gust when under spi).

[Chip Hindes]

the backstay does not contribute to the mast geometry, it applies only for bending the mast.

Although this is almost (not quite) true for the standard rig, the backstay could provide quite a lot of support for a masthead spinnaker as long as the run remains dead downwind. The point is obviously moot, since nobody wants to count on the wind never shifting.

That being said, if the jib halyard is already being used for something important (like, maybe the jib) I don't think mounting another bail a short distance above the existing mast hounds would be a problem. I wouldn't go more than 6 or 8 inches, though.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Since you never use the jib/genoa and the spinnaker at the same time I don't see why you couldn't use the same factory jib halyard for both anyway. This is what the old and the soon to be released new factory spinnakers are designed to use.

Even so you can probably never have too many halyards. Do you need a second one if you use a sock for your spinnaker?

[Chip Hindes]

Since you never use the jib/genoa and the spinnaker at the same time

Who says? Under the right conditions you may be able to run both the spinnaker and headsail wing and wing.

Even if you do need to drop the headsail, best case, you don't drop it until the spinnaker is up and drawing. Worst case, you drop one simultaneously while hoisting the other. Never should you have to pull one sail down and stow it just so you can use the same halyard for both.

The spinnaker needs its own halyard.

[Jack O'Brien]

Duane: No, only one halyard is needed for the sock.

The ATN sock has a short internal pennant from its head to the head of the spinnaker so the jib halyard connects to the top of the sock and raises the sock and sail together. The sock has its own internal halyard which raises the fiberglass bell-bottom of the sock up to the top thereby freeing the sail. Pulling the sock's halyard in reverse pulls the fiberglass bell-bottom down over the sail thereby containing it within the sock.

[Moe]

Jack, how many feet of sock did you order? Do you order the 23' luff length, or do you have to allow more for the internal pennant at the top?

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Moe

[DanBurke]

[quote="Duane Dunn, Allegro"][quote]Since you never use the jib/genoa and the spinnaker at the same time I don't see why you couldn't use the same factory jib halyard for both anyway.[/quote]

I don't agree. Often we race with as much sail up as possible on downwind legs. ie. main, jib, and symmtrical spinnaker. If the sails are trimmed properly and the crew is attentive, you can gain another knot over the competition. Therefore, we prefer three halyards: jib, spinnaker, and spare.

[Jack O'Brien]

Moe:

I emailed Doyle Sails in November, 2003 asking the correct length sleeve for their/my asy. spinnaker and they said: "24-feet, 6-inches." I asked the correct model/order number/name for the sleeve and they said: "ATN Sleeve"

I bought mine from Doyle - Miami at the Boat Show for the same cost total it would have cost delivered from Sailnet or Defender (I forget which) and I specified 24.5 feet. Doyal bought it from ATN - Miami. I have not measured the actual length but presume it is 24.5 feet. I would like it one or two feet longer to better contain the bottom of the sail.

However, there is something about not having a sock so long that it covers the clew, or something, so it doesn't hang up, or something, but I don't remember exactly. I'm sure 25.5 feet would not cover the clew but couldn't say for sure about longer.

I've never flown a spinnaker without a sleeve but the sleeve sure makes it easy. Practical Sailor - December, 2004 rates the three brands.

[Moe]

Thanks, Jack. I'm glad I asked!

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Moe