Cruising Chute

[Guest]

Hi
I'm thinking of buying a cruising chute for a Bavaria 34, usually lightly crewed.
Any advice on things to look for in a cruising chute spec, other than just price - is bigger better, is 0.9 oz nylon better than 1.5oz, advantages of tri-radial versus radial head?

Thanks for any advice
Gavin

 

[bedouin]

There have been a number of discussions this year about aspects of spinnakers and cruising chutes - try doing a search - they will give you some more background.

For cruising, (as opposed to racing), 0.9 oz is probably the better choice. It is easier to handle and lighter than 1.5 oz - that means that it sets better in light airs, but can't be used in when the wind picks up. In comparison the 1.5 will not set in light airs, but you could probably carry it in a full gale. Most cruising sailors will be happy enough with white sails once the wind gets outside the range for the lighter chute - but then many cruising sailors will hoist the iron topsail if the wind gets so light that the 1.5 won't set.

Size wise, bigger gives you more pull, but is harder to handle and will overpower the boat more quickly. There seems to be a general concensus that cruising chutes are about 60%-75% of the size of a full symmetric so that is probably a good place to start.

Tri-radial is "better" than radial cut in that it holds its shape better, which is especially important when reaching. For a basic cruising chute aimed at broad-reach/run there is little practical benefit.

Best advice - find a good sailmaker and discuss your particular requirements with him. Any spinnaker is a compromise between a lot of different factors - telling the sailmaker what you are looking for will enable him to optimise the design to your requirements.

 

[tony_brighton]

Ordered a Cruising Chute from Kemp Sails for our Bav34 at the 2001 Soton Boat Show. Excellent value. Discussed it extensively with them at the time - opted for the 0.9oz cloth which the sailmaker advised would fly comfortably up to around 15kts. Like you we sail fairly short handed and figured that flying the chute above 15 kts was requiring more skilled resources than we were likely to have available on a regular basis.

We did opt for a snuffer - makes it easier to work with although I'd recommend going for a large mouth on the bucket - ours is a little tight but hoping it will become easier over time.

As standard, the Bav34 doesn't come with extra halyards - the options were for a halyard for a cruising chute and a different one for a spinnaker - make sure you've got the right one! The approach to gybing usually requires you to ease a tack line forward so the sail clears the gib and pulpit - I need a permanent solution for this on ours but at the moment I rig it through the third reef deck organiser to the coachroof winch so we can control it.

Something I do need to sort out yet are decent turning blocks to get a good lead to the primaries + chose sheets 1 size too small!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Sheet size.

Your remark re sheet sizes - in light airs it often pays to sheet any chute with the lightest string you can comfortably handle, and bowline it to t e clew, rather than use a shackle. The weight of a heavy sheet and shackle can really muck the shape of a chute up in light airs. We keep some 5mm dia three ply polyprop just for this.

 

[tony_brighton]

Re: Sheet size.

I'm using the smallest/lightest sheets with a bowline; the problem is that the dont grip well in the self-jamming winches because the diameter is too small. As std the Bav 34 doesn't come with separate spinnaker winches so needs to fit around the primaries unless I want to spend some serious cash.

 

[bedouin]

Re: Sheet size.

Yes - I've just replaced my Spinnaker Sheets with some two sizes smaller (now 8mm) in the hope of improving the performance in light airs. I'm worried that any smaller than that will make handling it difficult.

 

[tony_brighton]

ps - I've just ordered myself a telescopic pole from Selden which should help when coming round more onto a run. With the wind aft of about 155% it was starting to collapse which made for an uncomfortable ride.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Sheet size.

Sorry, but the ex-racer in me says that you shouldn't be cleating up a spinny sheet or a chute sheet come to that. In light air, once around the winch, keep it in hand and play it.

Different in heavier and steadier airs, but then you can change to a conventional sheet

 

[bedouin]

Re: Sheet size.

I certainly agree from the racing/performance side - I also wonder if there is a safety aspect to this as well. If you begin to broach every second counts and having to get to the sheet to uncleat it can make the difference between an unpleasant moment and being wiped out.

Having the sheet cleated suggests firstly that you don't necessarily have anyone standing by, and secondly that you have probably over-sheeted the chute anyway to keep it stable, increasing the tendency to broach.

That said, if you ask me privately I might admit to cleating the spinnaker sheets when cruising - but I'll never admit it publicly!

 

[bigmart]

Re: Sheet size.

I'm not a racing sailor at all. In fact I do my best to avoid competetive situations when sailing. I go sailing to relax.

To this end although I have owned boats with Spinnakers & now have a Cruising Chute I rarely use it. I went mad at LIBS & bought a Snuffer for the Chute so I am intending to get some more experience this summer.

Your comment about playing the sheet cought my eye. Recently I have got the impression that the chute can be used when the wind is anywhere but on the nose.

My question to you is surely it would not be neccessary to play the sheet when on a broad reach or would it? I know from experience that it is usually neccessary when on a dead run but, as usual I am looking for the easy life.

Martin

 

[Viking]

Re: Trimming its called

I think you'd better get out there a play with it! Even cruising, all sails need adjusting from time to time, thats what sailing all about isnt?

 

[bigmart]

Re: Trimming its called

Yes I agree but, being lazy, I don't want to be staring at the thing all the time & missing the scenery.

Martin

 

[Strathglass]

Re: You \'ve got it all wrong

Sailing those days is about ordering a new piece of white plastic at one of the boat shows.The more burr walnut or other exotic internal finish the better. Planting it in a south coast marina while it is decked out with all sort of 'essential' electronics. Going on a short course to get a piece of paper which states 'this person is qualified'.

Then there is nothing more than setting the autopilot and unfurling the sails and lo and behold. Thet's them on the way to a transatlantic.

Oh I almost forgot. A posting on several forums stating
'I have virtually infinite resources what should I add to my already overloaded Yacht'

Am I correct?

Iain

 

[bigmart]

Re: You \'ve got it all wrong

As you seem to be an expert, can I ask your opinion as to the best way to adjust my White Plastic Autopilot for setting my Burr Walnut Cruising Chute on those odd occaisions when I'm not motoring for safety.

I love pretentious arseholes.

Martin

 

[Strathglass]

Re: You \'ve got it all wrong

The white plastic I was refering to was the whole craft not the autopilot. I certainly would not claim to be an expert in either.
Every time I have tried to use electric autohelms they have decided that they are not up to the task of working when it is damp.
I imagine that the best way to adjust White Plastic Autopilot (if you would suffer one) would be to wiggle the wooden stick which projects into the rear of the cockpit of your Colvic. I envisage that would be much more satisfactory to yourself than playing about with plastic knobs and buttons

Iain

 

[bigmart]

Re: You \'ve got it all wrong

From your posts so far I can't imagine anything electric working for you. Modern electronics are quite intelligent you know.

As to the wooden stick you mention I wouldn't presume to wiggle it, I find that being firm & decisive is the way to tame anything unruly. I will leave the wiggling to you as you obviosly have a great deal of experience getting your thrills in this way.

Martin

 

[Strathglass]

Re: You \'ve still got it all wrong

My original post was meant as a posting against the relatively inexperianced people whom become overconfident after a little instruction and then proceed to get out of their depth by purchasing a craft based on it's internal appearence rather than on its sailing ability.
You obviousy do not fall within that group both in your sailing ability and choice of craft. My sugestion that you just wiggle the tiller was to infer that you would recover the situation with the minimum of aparent effort on your part basically because of your skill and experiance level. It was intended as a compliment although obviously not taken in that way.

BTW I am the named 'inventor' on several patents taken out by my previous employer ( a large electronic defence company)

Iain

 

[bedouin]

Re: You \'ve got it all wrong

You err sir,

Modern Lumps of White Plastic don't come with bits of wood to wiggle, they have massive steel wheels instead (or even better 2 small ones so you can walk directly from the companionway to the walk-through stern come bathing platform).

 

[Strathglass]

Re: You \'ve got it all wrong

Yes,
They are offered at amazingly low prices and are very good value for money if their paramaters match your anticipated use.

Iain

 

[Twister_Ken]

Parameters

I haven't got one of those. Do Simrad do them?