Re-cut spinnaker to cruising chute?

[neil1967]

Hi

When I bought my Van de Stadt 8m earlier this year, it came with a very new looking symmetric spinnaker and snuffer, but no pole. I only do gentle cruising in the Solent, with the possibility of going further afield in the future - may be cross channel. Can anyone recommend a sailmaker that might be able to re-cut the spinnaker into a cruising chute (Gosport/Solent prefered!), and has anyone had this done? Is it recommended? I normally cruise with SWMBO and I'm not keen on using the kite when short-handed in the Solent. Many thanks, Neil

 

[Loginname]

My guess is that the change would need to be so great that it wouldn't be worth getting it recut.
It may well be better to sell the spinnaker as it is and then buy a purpose made chute.

 

[Ecosse120]

I spotted this on the sea teach website a while back, never used one but may be of interest ???

The Tacker™ is the device that lets you use your conventional (symmetric) spinnaker like an asymmetric spinnaker (gennaker or cruising chute when on a beam reach or broad reaching without the need of a booming-out pole

http://www.seateach.com/Tacker.asp

 

[Twister_Ken]

Not sure like the idea of the tacker. A sideways loading at a single point on a forestay and a furler is not what the rig is designed to handle. An undoctored spinny is also gonna make a very big & very full cruising chute!

 

[William_H]

I am sure your boat has a bow rail so that could be used to attach the tack of the chute. You coulkd even get it a bit to windward by attaching at the side of the rail. This would be much better than the "tacker".

Much depends on the shape of your spinacker you have. If you don't want to sell it or can't then you can recut it. A sail maker can make it smaller quite easily or you can try yourself.

What you can do easily is make it more narrow and flatter. You lay the spin out on the ground then fold along the centre line. If it is flat you will see that the fold curves outward which is from the belly in the sail. Mark a line from the top to the centre point of the bottom. This can be straight for a flat chute or still slightly outward curved for some belly. Pin the two halves togehter along this line.

You then sew a line of stitching along the line using a domestic sewing machine and a heavy polyester thread. My shop sells it as upholstery thread.
Cut the excess cloth off and resew the edges to fold over the ragged edges and add another line of stitching. Give the chute a try.

I should have said that you should try the chute as is before deciding to cut it down. If you cut the chute from top to a point in from the centre at the bottom you can make it much narrower which usually means easier to control.

I must say that if you sail with a crew or an autopilot that using a spin pole in the usual way can give much better performance especially down wind. The pole enables the chute to be flown to wind ward and clear of the mainsail. On the other hands a flat chute may perform better at beam reach or closer to the wind.

good luck olewill

 

[michael_w]

Why not buy a pole? In any event, cruising chutes/assymetrics set better off a pole compared to being merely tacked to to the stemhead.

 

[seumask]

If you get a pole you can also use it on the jib or genoa, a combination which is much underated IMHO, and one we use more often than the Spinnaker we have.

 

[LORDNELSON]

I tried this some years ago on the spinnaker of my Marieholm 32. The re-cut was done by a well known sailmaker who said it would only be a partial success. He was right. I think the problem is that spinnakers, in general, are cut fuller than cruising chutes. My experience was that the re-cut would pull ok on a broad reach but was not happy as one got the wind slightly more foreward.

 

[pappaecho]

I have both a cruising chute and a spinacre on my boat. I used the chute on Friday, came up th western Solent fine from Yarmouth, and then turned east at Cowes to go down the eastern Solent, and then remembered how difficult it is to tack a cruising chute. On a spinacre, you just move it from one side to the other and re attach the pole.
Anybody want to buy a secondhand cruising chute with snuffer which does not work and jams?

 

[William_H]

Just to avoid confusion Papaecho you don't tack a spinacker. It should be down and stowed sailing on jib as the wind moves forward of abeam. What you are describing is the gybe of the spinacker which of course is easier as you swing it from one side to the other. olewill

 

[BAtoo]

Flew Sails Ltd

Unit 12, Wicormarine,
Cranleigh Road,
Fareham,
Hampshire
PO16 9DR

Tel: 01329 822676

This guy recut a spare spinny to a chute for me; did it well; tho' the sail not great -still too full - but useable.

Cost £200 iirr.

 

[neil1967]

Many thanks. Going to compare the cost of a new chute and selling the spinny, against re-cutting. Useful info - once again, thanks

Neil

 

[bluebosunsmate]

What type of boat is the cruising chute for??