Butler Verner 'Coaster' sail advice

[simonafloat]

Hi all

My signet 20 came with an asymmetrical spinnaker called a coaster - says so on the sail bag. Definitely not a 'ghoster'.

I've used it several times and it seems ok - however i spotted an old comment on this forum saying that it doesn't rig like a normal asymmetrical. I've got it rigged on the jib halyard with the tack rope under the bow roller to a nearby cleat.

Has anyone else got this sail? What's different about how it should be rigged? Should the tack attach and slide on the forestay wire, then down to the stemhead?

many thanks

simon

 

[Concerto]

Welcome to the forum.

I have not heard thename Butler Verner for a very long time. I remember my parents buy a suit of racing sails for our new Nicholson 30 which was lauched in 1972. The business only lasted less than a decade. So the sail you have is over 40 years old, so I doubt you will find anyone of their coaster. I would guess it is an early version of a cruising chute. My worry would be the strength of the fabric of that age.

 

[Tradewinds]

Welcome to the forum.

I have not heard thename Butler Verner for a very long time. I remember my parents buy a suit of racing sails for our new Nicholson 30 which was lauched in 1972. The business only lasted less than a decade. So the sail you have is over 40 years old, so I doubt you will find anyone of their coaster. I would guess it is an early version of a cruising chute. My worry would be the strength of the fabric of that age.

I've got a Nicholson 39 and still have the original BV coaster! It came with a spinnaker turtle bag. I put a snuffer on the sail and used it exactly as the OP did ie as a 'cruising chute'. I have only used it occasionally as I felt it was more 'skinny' than the cruising chutes I'd had in the past and didn't give any worthwhile benefit for all the effort of raising the blessed thing (I'm a lazy sailor).

BTW when I bought my boat in '92 she was 12 years old with the original BV roller headsails. These had already done 2 transatlantics - I did a circumnavigation with them, the much used No1 Genoa finally giving up the ghost bigtime off Dartmouth on our arrival back in the UK. I still carry the No2 & 3 just in case. . .

 

[simonafloat]

I've got a Nicholson 39 and still have the original BV coaster! It came with a spinnaker turtle bag. I put a snuffer on the sail and used it exactly as the OP did ie as a 'cruising chute'. I have only used it occasionally as I felt it was more 'skinny' than the cruising chutes I'd had in the past and didn't give any worthwhile benefit for all the effort of raising the blessed thing (I'm a lazy sailor).

BTW when I bought my boat in '92 she was 12 years old with the original BV roller headsails. These had already done 2 transatlantics - I did a circumnavigation with them, the much used No1 Genoa finally giving up the ghost bigtime off Dartmouth on our arrival back in the UK. I still carry the No2 & 3 just in case. . .

Welcome to the forum.

I have not heard thename Butler Verner for a very long time. I remember my parents buy a suit of racing sails for our new Nicholson 30 which was lauched in 1972. The business only lasted less than a decade. So the sail you have is over 40 years old, so I doubt you will find anyone of their coaster. I would guess it is an early version of a cruising chute. My worry would be the strength of the fabric of that age.

You are correct, it's very old, but it's in excellent condition, it was clearly either not used or was stored very carefully. The boat is a 1967 hurley signet so it's all quite old!

 

[simonafloat]

I've got a Nicholson 39 and still have the original BV coaster! It came with a spinnaker turtle bag. I put a snuffer on the sail and used it exactly as the OP did ie as a 'cruising chute'. I have only used it occasionally as I felt it was more 'skinny' than the cruising chutes I'd had in the past and didn't give any worthwhile benefit for all the effort of raising the blessed thing (I'm a lazy sailor).

BTW when I bought my boat in '92 she was 12 years old with the original BV roller headsails. These had already done 2 transatlantics - I did a circumnavigation with them, the much used No1 Genoa finally giving up the ghost bigtime off Dartmouth on our arrival back in the UK. I still carry the No2 & 3 just in case. . .

Thanks for the reply, can you remember how you rigged the tack? Mine is current attached to a rope that goes under the bow roller (the most forward attachment point) and tied off to the bow cleat. However, I'm wondering if the tack should be attached to the forestay wire with a slide then down to a block. So the tack can slide up and down the forestay (I have hank on headsail so the forestay is empty. Only one halyard so it's chute or jib, not both. Thanks

 

[Tradewinds]

Thanks for the reply, can you remember how you rigged the tack? Mine is current attached to a rope that goes under the bow roller (the most forward attachment point) and tied off to the bow cleat. However, I'm wondering if the tack should be attached to the forestay wire with a slide then down to a block. So the tack can slide up and down the forestay (I have hank on headsail so the forestay is empty. Only one halyard so it's chute or jib, not both. Thanks

Hi, it's 27 years since I last deployed it! As I said, I rigged it as I would a cruising chute which more or less the same as you have done - the tack held down near the bow roller with a tack line that could be adjusted if necessary. Flown free away from the forestay. HTH.

 

[Concerto]

Thanks for the reply, can you remember how you rigged the tack? Mine is current attached to a rope that goes under the bow roller (the most forward attachment point) and tied off to the bow cleat. However, I'm wondering if the tack should be attached to the forestay wire with a slide then down to a block. So the tack can slide up and down the forestay (I have hank on headsail so the forestay is empty. Only one halyard so it's chute or jib, not both. Thanks

The rope via the bow roller and on to the cleat will work just fine. All you now need is a day with light winds to try it out. I would recommend having your mainsail up and genoa furled/dropped. When it comes to drop the sail then tighten the sheet so the sail colapses under the main and then drop and stuff the bulk of the sail down the main hatch. Then remove the halyard and untie the tack. Tidy up on deck and later repack the sail. To repack, find the tack and clew and make sure there is no twist in the sail and keep them out of the bag, then stuff the sail in making sure the luff and leech remain straight. The bag should have ties to hold the head, tack and clew from moving to prevent a twist in the sail when you next use it. Have fun.

 

[simonafloat]

The rope via the bow roller and on to the cleat will work just fine. All you now need is a day with light winds to try it out. I would recommend having your mainsail up and genoa furled/dropped. When it comes to drop the sail then tighten the sheet so the sail colapses under the main and then drop and stuff the bulk of the sail down the main hatch. Then remove the halyard and untie the tack. Tidy up on deck and later repack the sail. To repack, find the tack and clew and make sure there is no twist in the sail and keep them out of the bag, then stuff the sail in making sure the luff and leech remain straight. The bag should have ties to hold the head, tack and clew from moving to prevent a twist in the sail when you next use it. Have fun.

Thanks, I've already used the sail and found it very useful. Just not 100% sure it was set up correctly hence this post. Did it single handed too!