Chute snuffers

[Impaler]

Does anyone have any comments on cruising chute snuffers? I have wrestled with a live chute and sailing solo a lot find myself reluctant to use it when alone. They ain't cheap so are they worth it? They seem simple enough to use, any disadvantages?

 

[flaming]

any disadvantages?

There are a few....

They're not totally foolproof, and if it jams (which I've seen happen) you're still left with a kite up the rig, with the added complication of a snuffer to tangle on things as you drop.

They don't help in broach situations, if you broach and get pinned you will still need to dump 10 foot or more of halyard to get the boat back upright, with the snuffer lines going slack - with attendant snag risk.

When it comes to a drop, you have to go to the foredeck, and if you're alone and dropping because the wind has built quickly you're totally trusting your autopilot to keep the boat under the rig whilst you're up there....
Unlike if you're dropping into the main hatch, when you don't have to go forward until it's down. (assuming you have your halyards lead back)

If you gybe you will find that the snuffer lines have to be lead around the end of the pole, and around the forestay before they're again on the right side to snuff. Easier said than done...

I've sailed a lot with snuffers, and even more shorthanded racing without them. I wouldn't have one on a boat as I simply don't see it as solving any problems that aren't better solved by improving your sailhandling technique.

 

[lw395]

I half agree with Flaming, but for sailing with a big kite as a couple, a snuffer is worthwhile, because it makes hoisting much easier. You can preset everything then un-snuff, removes the drama of hoisting a kite which fills when its halfway up. The tangles with snuffer lines etc should not happen with a bit of care.
It does not trivialise the power of a big kite though, care preparation and good sailhandling are still paramount.

 

[ChrisE]

I recognise some of the problems that Flaming alludes to and I'd add one further point. I believe that the question needs to be answered in the light of the size of the craft. On, say, a sub-30 foot boat then probably marginal on bigger boats, ours is 38 foot then the loads and general size of the chute rises dramatically and the chute snuffer becomes more useful.

Or at least it does for me.

 

[claymore]

I agree with that Chris. As we tend to sail 2 up we are mindful of changing conditions so snuff the spinnaker in plenty of time and thus far have avoided the snags alluded to. Up to now we have not had an autopilot that you could trust to steer whilst working on the spinnaker so I have found the chute invaluable in flying and snuffing the sail whilst Dear Heart steers

 

[fireball]

I concur too ...

Don't think of the snuffer as a resolve to all the kite problems - but it is really helpful if you wish to hoist & drop in "cruising" conditions...

once the wind picks up it takes more and more effort to pull that snuffer down - and at some point you're gonna be putting most of your weight on the snuffing line - I wouldn't want to be in that position!!

 

[MoodySabre]

As a non-racing cruiser sailing for less than 10 years and never used a spinnaker, I find that using a snuffer with a cruising chute is a doddle and gybes without getting caught (although snuffing and re-rigging with one sheet can be even easier). There are usually two on board. Can't think why I wouldn't have it.

 

[flaming]

I believe that the question needs to be answered in the light of the size of the craft.

Good point, and on something very big (45-50'+) I might consider it, purely due to hoisting, and having to get the kite to the top of the tall rig before it fills... That said I have flown a kite 3 up on a swan 48 without a snuffer with no problems.....
It does worry me the number of cruising sailors who say things like "I'd never fly my kite without the snuffer" and rely on it to fly coloured cloth in fresh breezes without having the skills required to cope when the snuffer fails them.

Just noticed that the OP is talking about a 24 footer. I'd be pretty sure that a snuffer will solve no problems on a 24 footer.

 

[ChrisE]

Well you are right, we aren't hairy arsed racers like your goodself, but as a pair of dodderers we've managed to get the kite and chute up and down without too many problems in 15 years in winds up to about 20 knots.

Anyway even I wouldn't bother with one on a 24' boat the hassle would easily outdo any benefits.

 

[jimi]

I use a snuffer and it means I use the chute a lot more than I would otherwise cos it make handling the beast a lot more manageable!

 

[claymore]

That's no way to speak about ra missus jamesie

 

[Impaler]

I don't race, just potter about and really only want to make things simpler. I have seen a colleague use one and it was so much easier than faffing about with bags on the foredeck. I am pretty cautious so wouldn't fly it in anything too strong. Sailing single handed a lot means I am looking for simplicity and ease of handling.

 

[Aeolus_IV]

I don't race, just potter about and really only want to make things simpler. I have seen a colleague use one and it was so much easier than faffing about with bags on the foredeck. I am pretty cautious so wouldn't fly it in anything too strong. Sailing single handed a lot means I am looking for simplicity and ease of handling.

A spinnaker on a 24 footer is going to be reasonably small, and the snuffer equipment itself disproportionately large and heavy. Most of the issues with getting a spinnaker up can be avoided through setting it up right in the first place and having the process clear in your head. Something you should do with or without a snuffer. Not having the spinnaker filling early can be avoided with the elastic band or string approach if you don't have a snuffer and are concerned. Learning how to get a spinnaker down without using a snuffer is a good idea, even if you use a snuffer. One day Mr Muphys Law will enact itself and a string will break, fly away from the boat out of reach or simply wind itself into a knot.

On the whole I don't use a snuffer (on my own or otherwise) because I absolutely hate the look of all the bundled material and bits jammed right at the top of the mast. It simply isn't pretty.

Jeff.

 

[DJE]

I used one with a cruising chute for one season and it's been in the loft at home ever since. One simple reason: there are only two of us on board and the snuffer needs one of us on the foredeck. Hoisting out of the bag and dropping into the hatch we're both in the cockpit for the critical operations. No contest.

 

[TQA]

On a heavy 37 footer I used the chute with a snuffer quite a lot mostly, effectively, singlehanded.

I learned to be carefull that it does not twist when you hoist it for you will be able to pull the snuffer up but not back down.

I would not have flown it without the snuffer.

 

[flaming]

I would not have flown it without the snuffer.

Out of interest, is that because you wouldn't be confident in being able to handle it, or because you view it as just too much hassle to fly without?

 

[pampas]

Does anyone have any comments on cruising chute snuffers? I have wrestled with a live chute and sailing solo a lot find myself reluctant to use it when alone. They ain't cheap so are they worth it? They seem simple enough to use, any disadvantages?

Made my own with a plastic bucket and the material that scaffolders use and cable ties, works a treat, main snag is that its very slippery to stand on, advantages, slips up/down the sail without much effort and allows the sail to dry quickly.

 

[temptress]

do yo uneed one on a 24ft boat?

On Temptress (47f) we have 3 kites. Two symmetrical and one asymmetric. When cruising or racing two handed we use a snuffer on the two symmetrical kites but not on the asymmetric. With two BIG kites we find we need the snuffer to handle it properly in a blow. Yes the snuffer can get caught but so can a kite without one. The asymmetric is used only with the wind on or slightly abaft the beam and even in strong winds we can handle it behind the main.

On a 24ft boat I would question whether you need a snuffer at all as practice and the right technique should be enough even in very strong winds. Also I would think going onto the foredeck on a boat that size with no-one in the cockpit will alter the trim and handling enough to give most autopilots a problem.

 

[Impaler]

On Temptress (47f) we have 3 kites. Two symmetrical and one asymmetric. When cruising or racing two handed we use a snuffer on the two symmetrical kites but not on the asymmetric. With two BIG kites we find we need the snuffer to handle it properly in a blow. Yes the snuffer can get caught but so can a kite without one. The asymmetric is used only with the wind on or slightly abaft the beam and even in strong winds we can handle it behind the main.

On a 24ft boat I would question whether you need a snuffer at all as practice and the right technique should be enough even in very strong winds. Also I would think going onto the foredeck on a boat that size with no-one in the cockpit will alter the trim and handling enough to give most autopilots a problem.

I'm not that fat!

 

[doris]

Does anyone have any comments on cruising chute snuffers? I have wrestled with a live chute and sailing solo a lot find myself reluctant to use it when alone. They ain't cheap so are they worth it? They seem simple enough to use, any disadvantages?

With a kite smaller than about 70sq m I can't see the purpose of a snuffer. Much easier to letter box it. Once you get bigger I am a big fan of snuffers. Having been using them for about 12 years I have found that all the problems arise from either not packing them correctly or not hoisting correctly. Get them right and they dont go wrong.