convert spinnaker sail to para sail

[lancsjohn]

Hi as anyone tried to convert a spinnaker sail to para sail by adding a slot and wing if so, what dimensions did you use? and was it a success? I want to convert mine so I can handle it single handed. many thanks John

 

[lancsjohn]

nobody seams to have tried

 

[Gsailor]

Sounds like a big ask.

Don't know if sailmakers are on here.

I wouldn't know how to start.

If you have a go you may be the first.

Should be worth an article at least.

 

[awol]

I wonder what makes it difficult for you to fly a normal symmetrical spinnaker by yourself?

 

[jlavery]

When you consider the complex construction and different panel/seam arrangements in a parasail, I reckon it would be very difficult and probably disastrous! It's not "just a slot and a wing". The wing construction is complex, and stress relief on the cut seams important.

As others have commented - what problem are you having flying a spinnaker single handed? Not sure a parasail would be any easier, apart from its stability (I assume).

I'm sure you can get plenty of constructive (and not!) advice here on how to handle the spinnaker single handed!

What boat is it on? What are your sheet arrangements? First suggestion would be a snuffer. As racing sailor for 30 years, I took against them - until cruising short handed on my 36 footer changed my mind.

 

[Refueler]

The only conversion to a Spinny that I have considered is to tack one lower corner like a cruising chute ..... my spiny is about 75% size for a boat like mine - so I think it would do it OK. If it was bigger - then I doubt would be success.

 

[dunkelly]

I made up an atn tacker for use when im singlehanded . Home made shute and it's a doddle to handle - not something I would have considered in my early years but these days make life much more manageable

 

[MisterBaxter]

Easier to make or buy a cruising chute with a snuffer, I would think.

 

[Topcat47]

My Parasail is about twice the size of the spinnaker it replaced. The material used is NOT the same in both cases. The Parasail cloth is a modern Parachute material. I'm no sailmaker but I very much doubt it's a viable project.

 

[deeb]

I made up an atn tacker for use when im singlehanded

Would you explain this

 

[Tranona]

google.com/search?q=atn+tacker+video&ei=xpSbY4fFCo2DhbIPhNKvgA8&oq=ATN+tacker&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQARgFMgQIABBDMgUIABCABDIGCAAQBxAeMgUIABCABDIECAAQQzIFCAAQgAQyBAgAEB4yBAgAEB4yBggAEAUQHjIGCAAQBRAeOgoIABBHENYEELADOgoIABCABBCxAxANOgcIABCABBANOgcILhCABBANSgQIQRgASgQIRhgAUIweWK4oYK53aAFwAXgAgAFjiAG7AZIBATKYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

explains it all

 

[lancsjohn]

my yacht is a 9M Catalac and came with 2 spinnaker poles each 14 foot long which is also the beam of the yacht. My only experience of flying a spinnaker was a few years ago on a 26 ft mono hull racing round the I O M . I was one of 3 crew one on the helm , one handling the sheets , one handing the spinnaker sail and single spinnaker pole that was in light breeze condition sailing downwind. there is no way I could have done that single handed. I have sailed on a 30ft mono hull using a parasail no pole required it was far easier to set the sail and helming the yacht was much easier too.
thanks for all your comments please keep them coming but I would still like to get some dimensions and work out the modifications required.

 

[Tranona]

Suggest you look at the various links here google.com/search?q=parasailor&ei=Jp6bY5_vBvjk7_UP2tCh2As&ved=0ahUKEwifmqTP1Pz7AhV48rsIHVpoCLsQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=parasailor&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQAzIFCAAQkQIyBQgAEJECMgUIABCRAjIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDToKCAAQRxDWBBCwAzoHCAAQsAMQQ0oECEEYAEoECEYYAFCyG1i_J2CkQGgBcAF4AIABY4gBtAGSAQEymAEAoAEByAEKwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

and you will see that (as already suggested) a parasailor is not a modified conventional spinnaker but a completely different design that the originators spent many years perfecting and patenting. Few other sailmakers have even tried to "copy" it simply because it is very expensive and the market is inevitably very small. That is not to say it is not suitable for your requirements, but the only feasible way is to have one made for your boat. Alternatively many single and short handed sailors have found a cruising chute, particularly if set on a furler is the best value offwind sail unless they intend doing a lot of dead downwind sailing when the cost of a parasailor might be justified.

 

[lancsjohn]

thanks I will look

 

[geem]

Suggest you look at the various links here google.com/search?q=parasailor&ei=Jp6bY5_vBvjk7_UP2tCh2As&ved=0ahUKEwifmqTP1Pz7AhV48rsIHVpoCLsQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=parasailor&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQAzIFCAAQkQIyBQgAEJECMgUIABCRAjIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDTIHCAAQgAQQDToKCAAQRxDWBBCwAzoHCAAQsAMQQ0oECEEYAEoECEYYAFCyG1i_J2CkQGgBcAF4AIABY4gBtAGSAQEymAEAoAEByAEKwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

and you will see that (as already suggested) a parasailor is not a modified conventional spinnaker but a completely different design that the originators spent many years perfecting and patenting. Few other sailmakers have even tried to "copy" it simply because it is very expensive and the market is inevitably very small. That is not to say it is not suitable for your requirements, but the only feasible way is to have one made for your boat. Alternatively many single and short handed sailors have found a cruising chute, particularly if set on a furler is the best value offwind sail unless they intend doing a lot of dead downwind sailing when the cost of a parasailor might be justified.

I had an interesting discussion with somebody who has one. They used one a Lagoon crossing the pond. I am sceptical of the benefit of them over a cruising chute, especially on a cat where you have a wide deck where in my experience an asymmetric spinnaker works very well.
I was saying I keep hearing about people having them up in 30kts. He laughed and said that because they can be really difficult to snuff. The wings job is to stop is collapsing. Trying to get the snuffer over the wing was the problem. Then yesterday on my Facebook a Yachting Monthy article popped up about down wind sail solutions. One of the things said about the Parasail was the difficulty of snuffing it. They were in light winds as well.

 

[deeb]

explains it all

Thanks- I've not come across that way of rigging a cruising chute, and although I can't see any particular benefit, I'll consider myself enlightened. I've never been a huge fan of the inside gybe, either, but am more used to assymetric spinakers than cruising chutes.