How big should my cruising chute be?

[eastcoastbernie]

When I got my boat it came complete with a cruising chute.

Perhaps it's because I'm used to spinnakers and not cruising chutes, but it seems very wimpy to me, which makes me think maybe it's not big enough for the boat. Maybe the previous owner picked it up in a boat jumble or something and it's meant for a smaller boat.

Does anyone know how you work out how big a chute should be?

My boat is a Gibsea 77 (26 ft).

 

[Alfie168]

Try this site for working our your basic dimensions/areas. .

They don't list a Gibsea 77, but do list a 7.6. If no help then you can use the formulae on the home page

http://www.mauriprosailing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/boatspecs.htm

Tim

 

[jhughes]

Well if you want to get rid of it I am after a cruising chute for my 22' Pandora! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Athene V30]

Bernie

If you want a spinnaker you are welcome to borrow mine. I have used it twice in 5 seasons! Seemed HUGE when trying to get it down singlehanded.

 

[bedouin]

It's should be just as big as you want it to be /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Typically I would expect a cruising chute to be in the region of 60-80% of the area of a "full size" symmetric spinnaker.

 

[eastcoastbernie]

Thanks for that. Looks a bit mathematical for me. I was hoping for the actual measurements rather than the area. As my cruising chute seems no bigger, and possibly smaller than my genoa, in all likelihood I am right in assuming it is too small.

 

[eastcoastbernie]

Thanks Peter. One step at a time I think. Going from a cruising chute which is too small to a spinnaker which is too big might be a step too far! Might see if I can borrow Alan's as his ought to be about the right size.

 

[FullCircle]

Bernie, when hoisted from the tack, the sail luff should be taut when the head is fully at the top of the mast, and about a foot clear of the deck tack block arrangement.

The clew should come round to be about 160-180% of No3 Jib, i.e. distance from tack to level with the mast and then 6/10 to 8/10ths more.
Some are quite high cut, a bit like a Yankee staysail and so the sheet on the clew maybe 5 or 6 feet above deck level.

If you can find out what size in sq ft the Spinnaker should be, then the Crusing chute is between 70 and 85% of a running kite.

Full Circles chute is short by a foot at the tack, and is high cut, but is full in the shoulders, and is about 750sq ft as opposed to the Kite size of 850sq ft. That makes it a bit wobbly hard on the wind (about 60 degrees app), but is much quicker off the beam.

 

[FullCircle]

BTW Alans ploddy rig will be far smaller than yours, you racy lady.

 

[eastcoastbernie]

So does that mean that if I measured from the point at the top of the mast where the spinnaker halyard comes out, then deducted about a foot, that that would be the length of the luff?

If so, I imagine the rest would be in proportion and then I would have the right size.

Since the cc doesn't have an airing very often because it is such a disappointmnet, I can't quite remember how it looks, but I don't think the head of the chute reaches right up to the sheave. Also it flies very high, so the only advantage over my huge genoa is that forward visibility is greatly enhanced.

Racy Lady eh? I'll have to change my email handle! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[William_H]

If your cruising chute has been bought cheap and was made for a smaller boat it will typically be quite short from top to bottom.
With a normal spinnacker a smaller size should be still full height but shorter along the foot so we might expect a deliberately smaller cruising chute to be full height and shorter along the foot.
A short spin is unstable when dangling on a long piece of halyard. Much better when top is near the mast.

Now if you want a cruising chute as an optional larger foresail then it must be significantly bigger than full jib. (or largest genoa).

If however you want to run the cruising chute in paralell to the genoa then under some conditions you may be glad the cruising chute is small. But mostly you would want it as big as jib.

good luck olewill

 

[lw395]

The tack should be just above the pulpit.
The head should be pretty close to the halyard sleeve.
The luff should not be tight, it should curve, so maybe 5 or 10% more than the straight line between tack and head.
A small chute is ok but will need more wind and can be unstable as other have suggested, but with good helming can be fun in a lot of breeze, if your boat will surf!
HTH.