Advice rigging a Cruising Chute

L

Laundryman

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Dec 2007
Messages
667
Location
Live in Hemel Hempstead, Boat is in Haslar.
Visit site
Just bought one with a snuffer. Ive never used one before. Ive been watching videos on you tube so know roughly whats needed. What i need to know is

a. I have an aluminium toerail with holes. Will it be a strong enough anchorage for the aft sheet blocks ?
b. Do i tie the sheets to the sail or use some kind of shackle. If so what type?
c. What size sheets, same as Genoa that fit st winch? That means big blocks!
d. Do I really need the collar that fits round the furled Genoa?

Boat Beneteau Oceanis 321 Thanks Alan
 
Laundryman said:
Just bought one with a snuffer. Ive never used one before. Ive been watching videos on you tube so know roughly whats needed. What i need to know is

a. I have an aluminium toerail with holes. Will it be a strong enough anchorage for the aft sheet blocks? Probably, but another approach if you don't have suitable padeyes, is to rig turning blocks onto the aft mooring cleats.
b. Do i tie the sheets to the sail or use some kind of shackle. If so what type? It's usual to use a snap shackle.
c. What size sheets, same as Genoa that fit st winch? That means big blocks! Lighter than genny sheets but thick enough to handle comfortably. Maybe 12mm
d. Do I really need the collar that fits round the furled Genoa? No

Boat Beneteau Oceanis 321 Thanks Alan
Click to expand...

:)
 
a) Your profile says your boat is a Beneteau 321, in which case if I am correct the toe rails are bolted through the hull/deck joint. In that case they are probably strong enough, though on my bigger Jeanneau I have a pair of blocks secured to pad eyes. If you decide to do that however you must remove the balsa or foam core around the pad eye bolts and fill with something stronger like epoxy with a filler in it. Position them carefully so that the sheets do not foul the stanchions.
b) Tie the sheets on with a bowline, you particularly do not want to a steel shackle hitting anything or anyone. For early attempts just rig one sheet, and sail with the chute on a single tack. Its less complicated. I have even gybed with a single sheet, by walking it forward and passing it round the forestay.
c) My Genoa sheets are 16mm, cruising chute sheets are 12mm and 10mm would probably be OK. For your size boat you could go smaller but anything less than 10mm can be hard on your hands, so try a 10mm sheet first IMHO.
d) If you mean a Tacker, I have one and use it because it ensures that the tack line does not foul the pulpit. I don't follow the instructions for it, but simply fit it just above the furler, with a block attached to it for the tack line to run though. Attaching the tack to a short removable bowsprit to get it forward of everything else is actually the best idea, but I don't have a bowsprit. The Selden ones look a good idea.
 
I'd disagree with Norman on 2, but that's OK. Just that I prefer to be able to put the sheets and tack line on and off quickly.

One problem to tackle with a snuffer is the snuffer line. Make sure it doesn't get twisted around the sock, make sure it doesn't go one side of the forestay while the sail goes the other, make sure it doesn't twist around the forestay when you gybe. I've found best for me is to tie it off back from the foredeck to keep it away from the sail and forestay. Seen here (mid blue line) tied off to grab rail on coachroof.

chute.jpg
 
Last edited:
On the question of the collar (or "tacker") I think the answer is that you won't know until you have tried it.

I believe there are two purposes of the tacker:

1) To prevent the tack from falling off to leeward, in order to maintain the shape of the sail; and
2) To ensure that neither the sail nor the downhaul chafes on any fixing on the bow (e.g. pullpit, nav light, furling drum, etc).

The layout of stem fittings varies so much on boats that I think you will only know if either of these is a problem that needs fixing once you have tried it for yourself a few times.
 
I totally agree with Twister Ken about the snuffer line. I got it tangled once, and ended up having to drop the halliard and recover the sail from the water.
As for the tacker my purpose for using it is number 2 above. If you use it for purpose 1 you can put a big sideways strain on the forestay. Its far better in my opinion to be able to play with sheet and tack line to get the tack as near to the boat centre line as possible. If the tack of the sail is free and you get it central, you know that you have adjusted things correctly. If its held to the centre, you are guessing.
 
IMG_0880.jpg


I may have posted this photo before, but it serves to show how I use the tacker, which can be seen sitting just on top of the furling drum. The tack line is almost central and the sail is drawing nicely. The photo also shows the disadvantage of having deck pad eyes as the sheet is against the guard wire. Blocks on the toe rail allow the sheet to be entirely outside all obstructions. As can be seen I have only a single sheet rigged.

The black/red line on the primary winch is the sheet, and the yellow line on the other winch is the tack.
 
Somewhere in the past I read that it is a good idea to pass the snuffer's line through a snatchblock on the deck. This means that when you are trying to pull the sock down you are pulling up on a short line of rope rather than pulling down on rope going to the snuffer ring. So if the boat rolls you are much more stable and less likely to fall while holding onto the snuffer line.

Although not one of your questions, I would recommend a spinnaker bag. This is a bag with velcro straps at both ends and another in the middle. You put the front strap through the tack of the sail. Then make sure there is no twist and put the back strap through the clew. Then pack the sail into the bag. Finally put the middle strap through the eye for the halyard. "They" also say do not tidy the snuffer continuous line just bundle it up and put it is at the end. I leave the tack line attached to the sail in the bag but always attach the sheets when about to deploy. Make sure you clip the bag to the guard rail before hoisting. Remember to undo the velcro straps before hoisting (been there done that). I have a bag from North Sails. Curiously they do not have it one their website but I have spoken to them, and then do still sell them for about £80 However there is one for sale (not mine) on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LARGE-SPI...07?pt=UK_Women_s_Handbags&hash=item2ec9a6c47b

Works for me

Tudorsailor
 
I pass the snuffer line through two centreline points set a couple of feet fore and aft apart, this seems to stop the loose lines blowing away, frapping or getting tangles and gives me two hands free with just a nice amount of friction in them to stop the sail popping out again when getting it down , if I should let go of the lines to do something else..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top