Are all snuffers equal?

[eddystone]

I know the answer to this is probably not but would you expect one supplied by Crusader with a chute to work properly? They seem to major on the Magic Furler so I wondered whether their snuffer is now an orphan child. I'm not sure how often I would use a cruising chute and was looking for second hand but the savings on what I've been quoted don't seem worthwhile if Crusader stand by their quote at SIBS last week. I could pay several £hundreds more and get one from Sanders who have supplied recent sails who use ATN snuffer - I've total confidence in Sanders but if the Crusader one does the same job....?

 

[Yngmar]

All snuffers are not equal, but it mostly boils down to the design of the mouth. It needs to be very smooth to have as little friction as possible, it needs to be curved, so it can funnel the sail into the sock without dragging it over any sharp turns, it needs to have the right sort of attachment points (bridle) so it pulls straight and doesn't shear/twist, and it needs to be large enough for the sail to easily fit inside.

Interestingly, the latest ATN ones have a canvas mouth, instead of plastic/fibreglass. Certainly an advantage when it gongs the foredeck person on the head.

The ATN one also has a separate channel for the control line, which can otherwise become entangled with the sail. Having seen that happen, it's something I'd look for.

I can't find any snuffer pictures on the Crusader website, so not sure what theirs looks like, but I'm sure they can provide you with a photo or description.

Lastly, as you're familiar with Sanders, why not ask Peter the same question and listen to his advice. I've found he gives honest advice, rather than try to sell you stuff, and he certainly knows his domain.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Basically, if you load a snuffer properly you'll swear by it BUT if you just shove the sail into the snuffer any old way you'll end up swearing at it. I found this out the hard way but I have regularly used asymmetrics for fourteen years on my previous boat and a snuffer was the first thing that I bought for my present boat almost seven years ago. I wouldn't sail without my asy and its snuffer; I hasten to add that I sail mostly solo and (hopefully) I shall be seventy-two next December.

p,s, The present boat is a Centurion 32 while the previous one was a Centaur.

 

[TQA]

The snuffer rope that runs inside the sleeve MUST have a separate channel. If you buy one that just has guide rings for that rope be prepared to live in interesting times.

The snuffers with the smooth plastic bucket at the mouth and a Y lead from the bucket to the douse rope are MUCH easier to use than the floppy canvas ring. If crossing oceans carry a spare bucket. They do not seem to be UV resistant. At least mine wasn]t.

 

[duncan99210]

The snuffer we have was supplied by Jeckells and we’ve never had a problem with it. It has a steel ring for the mouth and three legged bridle to haul the sock up and down. The line runs free inside the sock, never a problem. As others have said, care loading it the first time to avoid the sail tangling with the lines and snuffer pays dividends. We spread the sail out on the ground and then loaded it into the snuffer by walking it down the sail. Since then, no problems. The sail doesn’t get a lot of use because the wind isn’t often right for it (too much or from the wrong direction...) but when we can use it its a great addition to have.

 

[RupertW]

We have a Crusader sniffer and mostly it works a treat ( works every single time when snuffing) but will catch a third of the way up if the tack line is too loose and I’m not keeping tension on both ends of the snuffing line - and that technique is now so natural I have only seen it tangle recently when I was showing somebody how to unsnuff.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I bought a Jeckells one, and they simply use a wire loop to keep the mouth open. That means that there's a lot less weight at the masthead when the sail is in use, a factor I thought important. They also made a big point that the fabric of the snuffer should allow air to escape through it, which makes sense - in other words, the snuffer isn't made of the same sailcloth as the sails.

I've only used it a few times, but once I'd got it figured put, it works perfectly well.

 

[eddystone]

Slightly confused - seems to be a consensus that the control lines need to be in an inner sleeve but Jeckells don't and 2 people can affirm that it still works; also, need a rigid bellmouth at the bottom, but the ATN, which some consider to be the best snuffer/squeezer, now doesn't.
I think I'm going to go with Crusader as their price with SIBS discount is pretty good and RupertW says it (the squeezer) works.