Is this a Spinnaker or Gennaker?

[JerryRhum]

My 'new to me' boat came with a mystery sail.


I can't tell if it is a spinnaker or a gennaker, I don't understand the difference.

The reason I ask is that I am hoping to sell it and don't want to mislead buyers. The boat will be used on inland waterways so I won't ever need it.

It is 6m (19' 8'') from Head to Tack, straight edge
4.83m (15' 10'') from Head to Clew, curved
2.93m (9' 7'') from Clew to Tack curved


Its made of a shiny, plasticy material and is very thin and light.




many thanks

 

[vyv_cox]

A spinnaker is symmetrical, the lengths from the head to the tack/clew exactly the same. What you have looks like a cruising chute to me

 

[Concerto]

Why not have a chat with Kemp. They will certainly be able to assist in identification (boat name and previous owner's name would be helpful) and give sail setting details.

 

[jac]

I agree re cruising chute.

The labels indicating tack and clew imply that one corner will always be the tack and therefore the edge from that to the head MUST be a luff.

a symmetrical spinnaker could have either long side as a luff.

AIUI a true gennaker would often have a wire / rope luff as they are designed for use closer to the wind.

 

[Greenheart]

Clearly it is an asymmetric (often misspelt). What is the boat that it came with?

If it was a conventional spinnaker it would have both long sides the same length, and there'd be no need to distinguish tack from clew (although it's the first time I ever saw any sail with those parts marked). It also looks much fuller (baggier), suiting use downwind, than would befit a gennaker.

The dimensions you quote lead me to think I'd quite like it myself, as another possible non-standard shorthanded downwind sail. It looks clean, but very crumpled. Is there any damage or apparent wear? How much do you want for it?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Clearly it is an asymmetric (often misspelt). What is the boat that it came with?

If it was a conventional spinnaker it would have both long sides the same length, and there'd be no need to distinguish tack from clew (although it's the first time I ever saw any sail with those parts marked). It also looks much fuller (baggier), suiting use downwind, than would befit a gennaker.

The dimensions you quote lead me to think I'd quite like it myself, as another possible non-standard shorthanded downwind sail. It looks clean, but very crumpled. Is there any damage or apparent wear? How much do you want for it?

Obviously it is as you say. However, on board the good ship Chiara, you will also find the corners of the sail named. It’s of huge assistance in deciding what to tie it to.

 

[JerryRhum]

Thank you to everyone who has replied, but I'm still confused.

Are an asymmetric spinnaker and a cruising chute the same thing?

It's off a Mirror Offshore mk1. There are some slight mildew stains one one side of the Head reinforcement, but other than that it looks like its hardly been used.

It's definitely baggy.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Thank you to everyone who has replied, but I'm still confused.

Are an asymmetric spinnaker and a cruising chute the same thing?

It's off a Mirror Offshore mk1. There are some slight mildew stains one one side of the Head reinforcement, but other than that it looks like its hardly been used.

It's definitely baggy.

A cruising chute is smaller in the foot and flown from the bow. An asymmetric is the bigger beast, often flown from a bowsprit. Big brother and little brother.

 

[Tranona]

Thank you to everyone who has replied, but I'm still confused.

Are an asymmetric spinnaker and a cruising chute the same thing?

It's off a Mirror Offshore mk1. There are some slight mildew stains one one side of the Head reinforcement, but other than that it looks like its hardly been used.

It's definitely baggy.

"cruising chute" is a sort of generic term for an off wind asymmetric lightweight sail and there are many different variations. A Mirror Offshore is not the sort of boat where such as sail would be common although i would imagine it would be quite helpful to achieve some sort of speed in light airs. As dancrane says it is of a size that would be useful for cruising on a fair sized dinghy like his Osprey but cannot imagine any small cruisers that could make use of it at less than 15sqm.

 

[Greenheart]

It might be worth advertising it on eBay just as a Mirror Offshore asymmetric kite...

...or if you want a quick sale, tell me what you want for it and we can perhaps come to terms.

Bit of a gamble on my part, but I haven't got a red one, yet.

 

[Daydream believer]

Mine is labelled similarly. Makes no difference. I still manage to hoist it sideways. Or even upside down on a good day.

 

[Greenheart]

Aren't the respective angles of the head, clew and tack corners, unmistakeable even without labels? If they were labelled to facilitate attaching of lines while most of the sail is still in the bag, isn't there a risk of it coming out horribly twisted?

 

[JerryRhum]

A bit of googling makes me think that this goes with it?

187cm long.

 

[Greenheart]

That looks like either a jib-stick for poling out the clew of the genoa (opposite the mainsail, dead downwind)...

...or it could be a pole for an as-yet unseen symmetric spinnaker, if both ends have the spring-loaded clip?

 

[JerryRhum]

Yes, both ends are spring loaded.

Does this mean I should go digging through the rest of the bags to find something else like the red sail?

 

[Greenheart]

I would definitely advise looking at all the pieces, before attempting to put the puzzle together. PM sent.

 

[Tranona]

Pretty standard pole which could be used with the genoa or the chute. You should find a ring on the mast for the fixed end.

When you say you are using the boat on inland waterways does that mean you are not going to sail but just motor? If so seems a waste of a perfectly good motorsailor. It would make sense to keep all the rig and sails should you want to sell the boat in the future as what you have would be valued by anybody using the boat in coastal waters.

 

[Daydream believer]

Why can one not use a cruising chute on inland waters?
I would have thought it quite fun in light airs on certain legs.
It is not as if it is a massive sail, so 2 people can handle it with relative ease.

 

[JerryRhum]

I'm keeping her on the Grand Union Canal, and I don't know how to sail (although I am planing on getting some lessons later in the year).

In terms of any future owner, the Penta MD1 engine has seized and I have only got a 85lb thrust electric motor and a 1.5hp outboard on her, so she could not be safely taken anywhere with a current or tide. Also, the bracket (I don't know the correct term, can anyone tell me what it is called?) where the mast would attach to the top of the boat is missing, so I can't even try to put the mast up.
It should be just forward of the hatch in this picture:


I suspect that for the cost of putting these things right, you could buy a newer / better boat.

Whilst I agree it's a shame she may never sail again, my boys and I are having great fun cleaning her up, and taking her out for day trips. Once the weather warms we will be going off for weekend adventures. Surely that is better than her sitting, empty in a boat yard somewhere?

 

[Tranona]

You may find this keepturningleft.co.uk interesting. In he first 4 or 5 sets of videos he is using a Mirror Offshore. Lots of references to his woes with the MD1. He is very keen on outboard power. A 4 or5hp outboard would make your boat very usable or better still a proper electric outboard but guess that would cost far more than the boat is worth.

No reason why the boat could not be used in coastal waters with a decent outboard so worth keeping the rig as unlikely there is any demand for it on its own. The missing bit is called a mast step and no reason why a new one could not be fabricated.