Singlehanded Spinnakers - Snuffer or Chute?

[Little Rascal]

I'm trying to make my spinnaker a bit easier to handle when single handed. It's only a small boat (19ft Europa) so with crew on board I can hoist it from the main hatch under the boom.

I'm considering making a snuffer/sock to remove some of the 'urgency' when hoisting it singlehanded. The other option would be to make a chute from a bucket rim and fabric tube, mounted on the fordeck/pulpit. The spinnaker has a downhaul patch.

Just wondered if people have any opinions on which would be easier to handle? I know it's overkill with a small spinny but I will be trying to do lots of things at once...

 

[tom_sail]

Snuffer i would suggest. I'm personally not a fan of things on foredecks, its another thing to trip over

 

[TSB240]

I'm trying to make my spinnaker a bit easier to handle when single handed. It's only a small boat (19ft Europa) so with crew on board I can hoist it from the main hatch under the boom.

I'm considering making a snuffer/sock to remove some of the 'urgency' when hoisting it singlehanded. The other option would be to make a chute from a bucket rim and fabric tube, mounted on the fordeck/pulpit. The spinnaker has a downhaul patch.

Just wondered if people have any opinions on which would be easier to handle? I know it's overkill with a small spinny but I will be trying to do lots of things at once...

My experience of spinnakers with either a chute or a snuffer is when they work they are great. But when they dont you need a crew!

They make handling a kite very easy.
Why dont they work ?

If you have an old spinnaker they are not as slippery over the snuffer or the plastic chute and sock as a nice crinkly new one. There are treatments available though.

If the kite is old and and wet forget about the idea all together

I launch our old linen out of a bag in lighter winds off the pulpit setting the pole after getting the kite filling. George on the helm. Swmbo's current rules are that if I cant handle launching it it on my own then It doesnt go up!

I have learnt that in stronger winds I will set the pole and launch out of a bag usually tied to the toe rail just aft of the shroud plates or as far forward as I can reach from the cockpit. This keeps the spinny in the lee of the main as much as possible when hoisting. I then always trim the guy and pole first. If the kite fills it flies like a flag until you go for the sheet. I find this gives me time and control.

Recovery in stronger winds is the reverse procedure tighten the sheet in hard and let the guy off to spill the kite then pull in directly under boom into the cabin blanking the sail with the main. Works for me.
Having a second pair of hands just to ease guy and haliards at the correct time would make it so much easier. Strangely I usually get some co-operation in pulling it down!

 

[flaming]

Snuffer on a 19 foot boat....?

Even when singlehanded that is somewhat akin to taking a sledgehammer to open a nut.

Just make sure that you are on a broad reach to hoist / drop and use the lee of the main and jib.

 

[Little Rascal]

Hmm... I see what you are saying flaming.

The problem is I will probably have the tiller between my knees during a drop or a few seconds of 'autopilot' provided by my pair of high tech, infinitely adjustable bungee cords.

I will probably have a play with adding a downhaul and see if that makes a difference, having a rope to pull appeals more than trying to gather a luff...?

 

[tom_sail]

I don't know if this is the right or wrong way but it works for me. I have a snapshackle on the sheet and guy to the clew and tack. When I'm ready to drop I release the tack with the snapshackle the spinnaker then flys out like a flag. Pulling in on the sheet down the companionway.