Do I need downhaul on cruising chute tack?

[fredrussell]

…or can I just use a short strop between stem and tack and use halyard to control luff tension? I ask because most of the YouTube how-to vids show a line run from tack back to cockpit via block at stem.

 

[andsarkit]

Do you want to drop it like a spinnaker by pulling it under the boom into the cockpit?
If so, the you need to be able to let the tack out from the cockpit.
If you drop it onto the deck like a genoa, then no problem having a fixed tack.

 

[awol]

Do you want to drop it like a spinnaker by pulling it under the boom into the cockpit?
If so, the you need to be able to let the tack out from the cockpit.

Or send someone to the bow to let it fly.

 

[fredrussell]

Do you want to drop it like a spinnaker by pulling it under the boom into the cockpit?
If so, the you need to be able to let the tack out from the cockpit.
If you drop it onto the deck like a genoa, then no problem having a fixed tack.

Sorry, should have said - it has a snuffer.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Isn't there also an issue to do with the angle at which the chute draws? By letting it out from the tack, don't you increase the "lift" at the bows, while letting the halliard out would have the opposite effect?

 

[fredrussell]

Hmm, hadn’t considered that AP, cheers. It’s not difficult for me to add a tack up/downhaul line, obviously- I was just thinking of keeping things simple as I mostly singlehand.

 

[eebygum]

Hmm, hadn’t considered that AP, cheers. It’s not difficult for me to add a tack up/downhaul line, obviously- I was just thinking of keeping things simple as I mostly singlehand.

I have the tack line lead back from a pulley on the bow roller to the cockpit when I’m flying the cruising chute singlehanded.

The first time I attempted it, after raising the snuffer…. I stood bemused on the bow as the chute started to gently float away from the boat….Until I noticed the tack line streaming out ! I had forget to re-engage the rope brake in the cockpit after attaching the tack line to the chute and there was no stopper knot .

Fortunately the winds were light enough to recover the situation, but makes me think the KISS principle is sometimes best applied when singlehanded.

 

[Daydream believer]

Sorry, should have said - it has a snuffer.

You need to get rid of that for starters. Then have an adjustable downhaul with enough line to allow the tack to come back under the boom & into the cockpit. Whilst being controlled from there at the same time.

 

[fredrussell]

You need to get rid of that for starters. Then have an adjustable downhaul with enough line to allow the tack to come back under the boom & into the cockpit. Whilst being controlled from there at the same time.

Maybe so, I’ll see how I fare with the snuffer first.

 

[Beneteau381]

…or can I just use a short strop between stem and tack and use halyard to control luff tension? I ask because most of the YouTube how-to vids show a line run from tack back to cockpit via block at stem.

I spoke to a major sailmaker ceo about this. I have a superb snuffer on it. He said run it on about a mtre line on the tack just above the pulpit. Use the halyard to tension. Thats it

 

[blush2]

We have an asymmetric with a snuffer and find that slacking off the tack makes it much easier to snuff.