Are snuffers the work of the devil?

[Daydream believer]

Then I watch the nutters on Figaros with kites up in 35/40 kts and am almost glad I'm not 25 any more!

Oh come on !! you do not really mean that
25 years old ,fit & no fear & the chance to go for a mad blast with every sail up in strong wind!!! It is what living is all about!!!!

Come to that (I am 68) ----if someone else was paying the bill---- I would happily jump on to a winch & bring back a few memories

 

[charles_reed]

My experience with a snuffer on a cruising chute makes me feel they are more trouble than they are worth and I have removed it. What do you think?

IMHO, totally unnecessary with an asymmetric, but probably of value with big spinnakers flown short-handed.
I routinely fly a 56m2 spinnaker single handed without one and would find one a major handicap on my genniker.
I have sailed, once, on a boat with one and wouldn't consider it.
But then I'm 79 and have single-handed in W Approaches and the Med on my current boat for the last 26 years - there's a saw about old dogs and new tricks.

 

[Tomahawk]

Oh come on !! you do not really mean that
25 years old ,fit & no fear & the chance to go for a mad blast with every sail up in strong wind!!! It is what living is all about!!!!

Come to that (I am 68) ----if someone else was paying the bill---- I would happily jump on to a winch & bring back a few memories

Surely you mean wench....







......................running for cover

 

[Seven Spades]

That's why I quickly stopped using the snuffer on the last boat. I didn't see the point of sending somebody up to the foredeck when there was more than enough to do in the cockpit. And what do you do with the snuffer lines once the kite is set? I found I had to tie them to the guardrails or a mooring cleat and hope they didn't get in the way when gybing. And once or twice the sausage wrapped itself round the foresay between hoisting and raising the snuffer.

The new boat currently doesn't have any downwind sails but is a masthead rig and 14.6m from the deck to the spinaker halyard block. So handling a chute or spinaker with just the two of us will take some careful thought. Currently leaning towards a furling assymetric but plenty of time to think about it as I save up for the eye-watering price of one of those systems.

Please explain how you drop a spinnaker and release it from the pole, stow the pole all without leaving the cockpit.

 

[DJE]

Please explain how you drop a spinnaker and release it from the pole, stow the pole all without leaving the cockpit.

I was talking about a cruising chute. But a pole can be set up before the hoist and taken down after the drop so it doesn't conflict with the time of maximum activity in the cockpit.

That was on a 29ft boat too. I am thinking carefully about the options for short-handed sailing on the new boat which is a 10 feet longer and 3 tonnes heavier.

 

[Daydream believer]

Surely you mean wench....

I think not. Even I know my own limitations





......................running for cover

 

[dom]

I am thinking carefully about the options for short-handed sailing on the new boat which is a 10 feet longer and 3 tonnes heavier.

I think you holed it in one ^^^^ somewhere! I set an inner jib using a 2x purchase halyard and a Facnor continuous fastfurler and it's brilliant. So are their asymmetric furling systems (several friends have them but not me) and they are also brilliant.

Alas, as you say this equipment carries a punchy price-tag and is pretty hard to justify on a "per use" basis, unless one is racing around the oceans light handed in which case such systems are now standard.

That said, if Santa Claus did exist .....

 

[Greenheart]

I've re-opened this old trunk because I remembered that in spite of the thread's title, contributors came out in favour of the snuffer by about three-to-one, assuming that the item was designed, fabricated and used correctly, and especially in the absence of available crew. So, no need here today, for anti-snuffers to revive their bad memories or antitheses.

My question is, what weight/type of fabric to buy or otherwise acquire? I have a very elderly genoa that is more like a greasy cotton bag, and which I'm sure I'll never again hoist as a headsail. Might that be suitable for cutting into a snuffer? I'm concerned it might be a bit heavy.

I don't mind spending a week of evenings sewing, but is there a pattern anywhere, to follow? Or is it too simple a design to need a plan? Thanks for any suggestions. :encouragement:

Lest anyone feels inclined to say I shouldn't need a snuffer, I know; I thank them, and I want one anyway. Big unballasted boat, no crew, no hands free for handing spinnaker.

 

[dom]

I
My question is, what weight/type of fabric to buy or otherwise acquire? I have a very elderly genoa that is more like a greasy cotton bag, and which I'm sure I'll never again hoist as a headsail. Might that be suitable for cutting into a snuffer? I'm concerned it might be a bit heavy.

Waaaaay to heavy!!

What you need is basically a thinnish mesh which will easily breath. Regarding the shape, depends a bit on the cloth, but up near the head a diameter of something like 15cm should be fine, tapering out to the appropriate diameter to fit the snuffer body. Just scrunch up your assy and stick a measuring tape around it to tweak the dimensions such as to achieve a nice snug fit.

Happy sewing

 

[rogerthebodger]

Mine is made from the same material os the spinnaker, light nylon,

I had 2 coloured stripes attached to my snuffer so it was easy to see if the snuffer was twisted.

The only problem I have is hoisting the snuffer as it tends to catch in the clew but hauling down is no problem.

 

[bedouin]

I think most are made of lightweight spinnaker material (0.75oz)

Note that both of mine have a formed plastic mouth - rather like a large funnel - that helps to gather up the spinnaker when snuffing. I am not sure if one would work without that.

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks for these pointers gents...I'm hopeful that the fabric can be acquired cheaply, since it needn't be as tough as real sailcloth. Would something like tent flysheet fabric suit?

 

[flaming]

Thanks for these pointers gents...I'm hopeful that the fabric can be acquired cheaply, since it needn't be as tough as real sailcloth. Would something like tent flysheet fabric suit?

Is this still for the Osprey...?

 

[Greenheart]

Quick answer yes, hate the damn things.

Flaming, you're a top sailor and I always read your perspectives on racing with as much interest as I can summon up, for racing...but I don't need your viewpoint here, thanks!

 

[James_Calvert]

Thanks for these pointers gents...I'm hopeful that the fabric can be acquired cheaply, since it needn't be as tough as real sailcloth. Would something like tent flysheet fabric suit?

 

[James_Calvert]

Depends on what you're going to catch it on when pulling it up or down, how sharp it is and how hard you pull....

 

[DJE]

Flaming, you're a top sailor and I always read your perspectives on racing with as much interest as I can summon up, for racing...but I don't need your viewpoint here, thanks!

But is this still for the Osprey?

 

[Greenheart]

How would that affect the best fabric to use for a spinnaker snuffer?

 

[flaming]

How would that affect the best fabric to use for a spinnaker snuffer?

Well, if it is for the Osprey it would probably be the smallest snuffer ever built to start with. With the possible exception of the demo models at boat shows. So my guess would be that it could be a lot lighter than the stuff on my Dad's snuffer for a 100sqm kite! I think that's about .75oz nylon btw. Anything that you think wouldn't have a danger of ripping hoisting it up the rig would be adequate at a guess. I think split pins etc are probably a bigger risk to it than the strength required.

But if it is for the Osprey then really it's an intriguing project, and I wasn't actually seeking to impose my viewpoint, just follow an interesting project. That I wouldn't do it myself doesn't mean I'm not interested to see how you get on with it!

 

[Greenheart]

That I wouldn't do it myself doesn't mean I'm not interested to see how you get on with it!

Alright, I'm sorry. I was afraid you were going to give me just what I'd particularly hoped to avoid - an earful of scorn about something you wouldn't need yourself.

Yes, it's for the Osprey. Not the most terrifying spinnaker area ever, but at 175sq ft, not exactly a beach umbrella either - and since when I'm alone in more than about eight knots of breeze, I tend to need all my 70kg just to keep the boat upright under working sail alone, I'm glad to consider anything which will enable me to depower the spinnaker in a hurry, leaving me free to tend main, genoa and helm. And trapeze, gulp. So a snuffer seemed like a good option, at least until I'm more familiar with the whole handful in action.