Anyone ever vacuum packed a spinnaker ?

B

blackdogsailing

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We allready vacuum bag spare duvets, pillows etc but I am wondering whether it is possible to do it with a spinnaker ? we are struggling to decide on what spare sails to take on board. The spinnakers take up so much room !
Any ideas ?

Chris
 
No idea, but sounds like a good idea.

Maybe use the avon dinghy type reversible pump (sucks or blows).

As 2nd poster says - can do it in a bin bag, (I use 2 to give extra safety margin) - just seal the end quickly.
 
Thanks for that, yes we do carry a small vacuum on board. The boat is 43 foot long so I don't think a bin bag will be quite big enough but worth playing around with until forking out on a large king size duvet bag ( £15 for 2 !)

Chris
 
A good idea, but not an entirely new one. Some of the high performance racing classes have been vacuum packing their storm sails for a while now. Class rules require them to be carried, but at the same time there is not much chance of them being used.
 
Great suggestion - please update us with how it works if you do try it.

The only thing that might worry me would be whether this wrecks the sail-cloth. Spinnakers are much less sensitive than the resined cloths (or worse laminates) of "white" sails, but vacuum packing may make it very crushed. If only use on rare occasions, may be worth folding neatly first (which will reduce size significantly in itself) and then vacuum if still necessary. The problem is then need to unfold before hoisting.
 
dunedin said:
Great suggestion - please update us with how it works if you do try it.

The only thing that might worry me would be whether this wrecks the sail-cloth. Spinnakers are much less sensitive than the resined cloths (or worse laminates) of "white" sails, but vacuum packing may make it very crushed. If only use on rare occasions, may be worth folding neatly first (which will reduce size significantly in itself) and then vacuum if still necessary. The problem is then need to unfold before hoisting.
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I will let you all know how it went ! I will be trying it in a few weeks time. I will be experimenting on the oldest one first in case it does damage the sail. I don't think it will.

Chris
 
blackdogsailing said:
The boat is 43 foot long
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Blimey, a 43 foot boat, and you can't find space to store a kite!? Begs the question as to just how much gear you're carrying, guess you'll need the kites just to keep her moving!

Gentle ribbing asside....

In the racing world, in great contrast to the pampered laminate fore and aft sails, kites are generally abused, trashed, dropped in the sea, slept on/in, ripped, badly repaired and generally not well cared for. They don't really seem to mind though.

So I doubt vacum packing will do much damage, might be worth chucking a couple of silica packets in to stop the damp though, for the smell more than anything!
 
blackdogsailing said:
Well, what with the other 2 spinnakers, No. 1 heavy, No. 1 light, spare furling jib, No.3 and a storm jib, No !:)

Chris
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Ask yourself when it was you last used each sail. Then leave some at home.

The natural tendency with a cruising boat is to take along everything that could possibly come in useful - the sailing equivalent of the garage.
 
blackdogsailing said:
We allready vacuum bag spare duvets, pillows etc but I am wondering whether it is possible to do it with a spinnaker ? we are struggling to decide on what spare sails to take on board. The spinnakers take up so much room !
Any ideas ?

Chris
Click to expand...

while out in the USA I packed everything possible with the Vaccum - Went down to 'Bed Bath and Beyond' to buy a bag for the spinnaker but sadly they did not have a bag big enough.

Great for keeping everything fresh, especially wetsuits and sailing clothing. Throw in some "bounce" pads that you would put in a dryer so when you arrive where ever they are fresh smelling.
 
Woodlouse said:
I struggle to see how a vacuum packed sail is going to weigh any less than one just stuffed in a bag. I think saving space is the main idea, as well as making the package smaller, denser and easier to move.
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Fair enough for a spinnaker, but I don't see how vacuum packing helps with storm canvas (previously mentioned for Ocean racers). My storm jib packs very compactly without needing vacuum packing.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Fair enough for a spinnaker, but I don't see how vacuum packing helps with storm canvas (previously mentioned for Ocean racers). My storm jib packs very compactly without needing vacuum packing.
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Well, although slight there will be a difference in the eventual size. Also, the vacuum bag would negate the need for a sail bag, so you would end up with a compact little bundle, instead of a compact little bundle in a baggy bag. I agree that the overall effect is so small as to be unnoticeable, but these are boats that worry about the windage caused by their sheet winches.
 
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