I bought a great spinnaker from JudyBSails last year. I didn't have the funds for any sort of launch bag system so I got just the sack that came with it.
This year, I'd like to add a sock for making the launching and snuffing easier and faster. I couldn't find any links on their site. For those of you with the 26M, does anyone have a sock for your chute? If so, how long is it and where did you get one?
I have a Chutescoop, which works well, but it's too short. It's the 20 ft unit, which is their smallest. Model 920 (9" diameter, 20 ft long). The 25 footer would be perfect.
The problem I have with it being too short is that too much sail is uncovered, and it blows all over the place in some wind, often lifting itself up the Chutescoop exposing more spinnaker, which of course makes the problem worse. I end up stuffing the whole bottom of the sail in the forward hatch and closing it to keep the sail under control.
I got mine custom made with the spinnaker as the luff can vary a little depending on who made up the spinnaker for you.
Also get the smallest hoop possible as it can foul up the top of the mast. I have now gone to a top down furler as I did not find the sock that much easier than just a plain old spinnaker launch bag.
This is beene's boat, but mine (on the port side of beene's) has the same Chutescoop. You can see how much is hanging out. Not a problem in light air, but I like to use mine in a little more of a breeze than that, and it can get hard to control with that much sail hanging out the bottom of it.
Ah, here's the one I was looking for. Wresting with the Chutescoop, which kept lifting while I was trying to douse it and get it under control. It had gotten a bit breezy for such a light sail.
Photo also taken from Crikey, as I obviously didn't, and they (Ross and Gabe) took a lot of good pics at the MMOR IV.
Too short, so the wind would grab all that sail hanging out the bottom, pull it downwind, which in turn would lift the ring, exposing more sail. You can hold it down, but the loop line for hoisting and downhauling the ring would need to be cleated off or something. And the extra sail is still flapping around. Better, IMO at least, to have the ring come down another 5 ft so there's very little sail exposed.
The ring is plenty big enough, and raises and lowers easily.
Another option, for me at least, would be to extend the rigging to the cockpit, but that takes even more effort for initial setup. If I'm going to do all that work, it's probably easier to just hoist and dowse from the bow with a bag clipped to the rail and the spin halyard.
I'll be playing around this season with my new WM 8-14 foot heavy-duty boat hook/whisker pole for times when I don't want to work that hard, or won't be on a downwind tack that long.
I love my chutescoop and defer to more knowledge on the size (mine was PO provided)...makes soloing the spinnaker nice offshore! I was never a fan of them prior (racing background), but they are worth every penny to enjoy/easy stow/cruising the chute!
Doug W wrote:I bought a great spinnaker from JudyBSails last year. I didn't have the funds for any sort of launch bag system so I got just the sack that came with it.
This year, I'd like to add a sock for making the launching and snuffing easier and faster. I couldn't find any links on their site. For those of you with the 26M, does anyone have a sock for your chute? If so, how long is it and where did you get one?
Thanks.
Doug
Nice pic!
The snuffer should be just a little shorter than the leech of the asymm. The leech is 24.5 feet. I suggest a snuffer about 23- 25' long, depending on how it's built at the head. I am not very familiar with the chute scoop. 20' would be a bit too short.
