Reverse Spinnaker snuffing.

[eise]

Has anyone used a"Snuffing system" similar to that common on dinghies at one time?

The Spinnaker was launched/stowed via an under-deck tube or chute. An endless halyard was attached to the Head and two points on the "inside of the sail", so that when dropping,(or literally "pulled" down), the sail was "folded or concertined" as it entered the tube, ready for the next launch.

For cruising purposes, a semi rigid bag or box, attached to pulpit, with halyard led through bottom would do similar job.

Just a thought.

P.S. use normal snuffers on my boat, hate them, always finish up with a cats cradle of ropes.

 

[Blueboatman]

Have used the semi rigid pullpit bag for deployment,have brought it down through the forehatch,under the boom and into the companionway and single handed prefer the standard spisqueezer sock arrangement with jammers at the mast for dropping but halliard led aft for the hoisting..Still got lots to learn about spinnakers but dont like the idea of an underdeck chute 'cos it would scoop up water,no?

 

[eise]

Thanks Blueboatman,
The first two paragraphs are to explain idea.
Have no intention of cutting large hole in foredeck!
On the other hand we don't have a shower, so perhaps............

 

[homa]

Re: above deck spinnaker shute.

Yep,

My last boat a Hunter Delta 25 had such a system.
It was fractional rig though, so spinnaker is not all that big for a 25 footer
Previous owner had made up a rigid mouth piece in fibreglass that fitted exactly onto pullpit, he had a sock made that ran down the deck and was secured to the fibregalls mouth piece and at intervals along the deck to stanchion bases.
Had a light line attached to a patch sewn in the middle of the spinnaker for the downhaul that ran through the moth piece, sock and back to the cockpit.
Worked just like any dinghy spin shute. I had no problems using it singlehanded as all the lines were led to the cockpit.

 

[eise]

Re: above deck spinnaker shute.

Thanks Homa,
Have purchased Westerly Typhoon, trying to work out simple system that can be used either singlehanded or with crew. At present, using "convential "snuffers on chute and spinnaker, the suggestion/command, that we hoist either, means the crew rapidly develop urgent need to disappear down below!!!

 

[homa]

Re: spinnaker shute vs snuffer

Not sure what size your boat is but the shute method doesn't really deflate the spinnaker very well whereas the snuffer system does exactly that. I sail a 33' cruiser racer now and can launch & recover my kite in light to moderate winds when singlehanded. In this case the autopilot is the most important bit of kit ...keeping a steady course. I'm not sure I'd want to use the shute method on my boat, a lot of the kite would end up in the water before being pulled into the shute.
Advantage of the snuffer is the sail can be snuffed when full and under load. You can't really do that with a shute - not with a big sail anyway.
Just a thought..