Cruising Chute

[Daverw]

We have a Cruising chute on board which we’ve never used or seen rigged. Looking at possibly trying it this year but not sure how it’s rigged. It has a snuffer, I can see the uphaul but the foot does not seem to have fitting on the bow apart from a small welded hoop on the top of the pulpit rail. This seems to be the only point ahead of the furler, would this be a point to use? How strong does it need to be? The boat is a Kelt 29.

Also I assume that the snubber only needs a down haul.

 

[savageseadog]

We have a Cruising chute on board which we’ve never used or seen rigged. Looking at possibly trying it this year but not sure how it’s rigged. It has a snuffer, I can see the uphaul but the foot does not seem to have fitting on the bow apart from a small welded hoop on the top of the pulpit rail. This seems to be the only point ahead of the furler, would this be a point to use? How strong does it need to be? The boat is a Kelt 29.

Also I assume that the snubber only needs a down haul.

Halyard is the normal spinnaker halyard. The tack fitting should be forward of the forestay and should be at least as strong as the normal jib tack fitting, 50% stronger would be good. We fly from the anchor roller which is very strong, a tack line with shackle passes through an attached block back to the cockpit via a clutch.

 

[RupertW]

Halyard is the normal spinnaker halyard. The tack fitting should be forward of the forestay and should be at least as strong as the normal jib tack fitting, 50% stronger would be good. We fly from the anchor roller which is very strong, a tack line with shackle passes through an attached block back to the cockpit via a clutch.

We are the same. Regarding the snuffer it's well worth practicing again and again until you know which ropes go where especially as the sheets can get looped into the snuffer ropes - once up it will come down easily but getting it to unsnuff needs all the leads to be right.

The other thing to get right is to have the sheets leading as far aft as possible.

 

[Skylark]

Having a CC on board but not using it suggests that you’re missing a good deal of fun and excitement from your sailing ?

Some people swear by them but I personally think that a snubber is the work of the devil.

Depending upon crew strength, it should only take a bit of practice to get it up, flying and back down again.

I don’t like the sound of attaching the tack to a fitting on the pullpit, though. My tack line arrangement is same as savageseadog.

 

[Slycat]

I see your boat is 29'

I'm looking for a cruising chute for my own boat a Comfort 30' Do you or does anyone else know the dimensions I should be looking for when buying a chute?

 

[Laysula]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFAzEc1UTaw

You tube is your friend. I found this video brilliant.

 

[Daverw]

Hi Slycat,
I have the original instructions at home which I’m sure include dimensions.
I will scan them for you

 

[Daverw]

Having a CC on board but not using it suggests that you’re missing a good deal of fun and excitement from your sailing ��

Some people swear by them but I personally think that a snubber is the work of the devil.

Depending upon crew strength, it should only take a bit of practice to get it up, flying and back down again.

I don’t like the sound of attaching the tack to a fitting on the pullpit, though. My tack line arrangement is same as savageseadog.

This is our second session with her so now the time to challenge ourselves further.
Will look at adding to bow roller, should this be a fixed strop or pulley and line? Assume that I need to clear the pull pit or do I fly in front of it?
Also never used one before so will evaluate snubber or more importantly gauge the reaction of the admiral who should be doing it.��

 

[RupertW]

Having a CC on board but not using it suggests that you’re missing a good deal of fun and excitement from your sailing ��

Some people swear by them but I personally think that a snubber is the work of the devil.

Depending upon crew strength, it should only take a bit of practice to get it up, flying and back down again.

I don’t like the sound of attaching the tack to a fitting on the pullpit, though. My tack line arrangement is same as savageseadog.

I don't like to mix the social, cooking, drinking, sleeping bits of the boat with the sailing parts so find a snuffer great for avoiding anything saily getting into the cabin. It can remain up there but snuffed in case the wind or course changes enough for immediate reuse then be dropped onto the foredeck as a long contained sock to squash into a bag. It is slightly more hassle to hoist but much easier to drop tidily and pack.

 

[Gunfleet]

I use one singlehanded, snuffer and all, where I wouldn't consider flying the spinnaker single handed. I'm not saying flying the spinnaker can't be done single handed (that's obviously not true) but I wouldn't be confident of doing so.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I use one singlehanded, snuffer and all, where I wouldn't consider flying the spinnaker single handed. I'm not saying flying the spinnaker can't be done single handed (that's obviously not true) but I wouldn't be confident of doing so.

I do the same.
The main thing with using a snuffer is to ensure that the sail is properly loaded into the sock. This is best done on land, preferably on a windless day, at the start of the season before taking it to the boat. Done properly it ensures that there are no twists in the sail, thereby avoiding toffees, hourglasses, or whatever they are called in your part of the world.

 

[Tranona]

I see your boat is 29'

I'm looking for a cruising chute for my own boat a Comfort 30' Do you or does anyone else know the dimensions I should be looking for when buying a chute?

There are many different varieties of "cruising chutes" so suggest you talk to a couple of sailmakers about the options and pros and cons. Many like Kemps, Crusader, Sanders etc have information on their websites explaining the basics. The choices include cut, size, fabric and handling arrangements which will vary according to what you expect from the sail and to an extent your particular boat.

 

[MoodySabre]

I thnk that there are a olot of people who have a chute but never use them. I acquired one with my boat about ten years ago and it all seemed quite straightforward. One day early in the process I knew that we would be using it and so I hoisted it in the snuffer whilst still in the marina. Three people came up to me to say they'd got one but never used it and how was it done. One even followed me out in his dinghy so he could watch it being deployed.
Learning by trial and effort seems to be something of which many are afraid.

 

[Iain C]

I also think the snuffer is a brilliant bit of kit for sailing short or singlehanded. It massively reduces the chances of you dropping the kite in the drink and running over it, or getting flicked over the side to your doom by a wildly flogging kite. The other thing is that even if you only snuff a third of it you effectively kill most of the power of the kite...very useful if you get caught with your pants down in a squall...that said it takes literally seconds to snuff the whole thing, and of course it can stay aloft, snuffed.

I would recommend that as well as understanding the actual rigging part of the kite, you also understand where to point the boat when using it. A cruising chute won't work on a run as it's hidden behind the main, you then have a "power" zone with the breeze off the quarter where it will work, and then a zone where the wind comes forward and essentially just increases heel up to the point of broaching. The stronger the wind, the more aft your apparent wind needs to come from to avoid trouble. Also, start to think less about heading, more about VMG/CMG and if in any doubt just "keep the boat under the rig".

 

[coaster63]

I also think the snuffer is a brilliant bit of kit for sailing short or singlehanded. but to make life even easier last summer knocked up a copy of The ATN Tacker using cut up old fender & webbing strap , the odd occasions conditions suited using the chute improved confidence in deployment ,trimming & dowsing considerably , another brilliant bit of kit/idea.
http://www.atninc.com/atn-tacker-sailing-equipment.shtml

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I use a cruising chute with a snuffer. If you are single handed then a snuffer is a must.

 

[tudorsailor]

We use the snuffer occasionally. It is sometimes referred to as the "divorce chute"

Nevertheless my two bits of advice would be

1 - pass the continuous up/down control line through a snatch block on the deck. Then when you are letting it up, you can control it more easily. More importantly, when taking the chute down you are not hanging onto a line that can swing wildly from side to side, but you are pulling on a line from a fixed point on the deck.

2 - Have a way to adjust the tack. On our boat I can use the drum independently of the gypsy and so I wrap the tack line around the drum before making it off to a cleat. I can then pull the tack line in using the power of the windlass. I let it out as you would any line on a winch, before making it off again

TudorSailor

 

[Gunfleet]

I also think the snuffer is a brilliant bit of kit for sailing short or singlehanded. but to make life even easier last summer knocked up a copy of The ATN Tacker using cut up old fender & webbing strap , the odd occasions conditions suited using the chute improved confidence in deployment ,trimming & dowsing considerably , another brilliant bit of kit/idea.
http://www.atninc.com/atn-tacker-sailing-equipment.shtml

That man in the video is on the foredeck of a boat wearing no safety equipment at all. Shocking ;-)

 

[savageseadog]

Better than a snuffer is a top down furler but expensive

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I also think the snuffer is a brilliant bit of kit for sailing short or singlehanded. but to make life even easier last summer knocked up a copy of The ATN Tacker using cut up old fender & webbing strap , the odd occasions conditions suited using the chute improved confidence in deployment ,trimming & dowsing considerably , another brilliant bit of kit/idea.
http://www.atninc.com/atn-tacker-sailing-equipment.shtml

Me too! This is my version: