snuffer

[pete]

Hi All
I have just been given a snuffer for my spinnaker, but I have never used one before.

I assume that the wire eye (top)connects to the spinnaker halyard and the head of the spinnaker is tied to the thin line protruding from the cowl ( that connects internally to the bottom wire eye) it would be impossible to connect the spinnaker head directly to this eye as the complete wire strop is only about 9 inches long.

is this right

many thanks

Pete

 

[jb2006]

The control line emerging from the top needs to connect to the bottom to haul the snuffer up.

I would be inclined to attach the head of the kite directly to the halyard shackle- we fitted a second shackle to the halyard about 4 inches above the main shackle to carry a small block for the snuffer control line. This worked very well.

 

[pete]

Hi JB
Thanks for the reply There is no way out at the top of the snuffer for the spinnaker head to go through to the halyard just a up/ haul line tube and a wire strop with an eye on either end about 9" long (one end you can see the other end is inside but connected to the thin line exiting from the cowl.
If I understand you correctly
Pete

 

[Skyva_2]

Pete,

The head of the spinnaker attaches inside the snuffer as you think. Normally this would be a shackle not a rope attachment.

We used a snuffer on a spinnaker and it was less friendly than we hoped, so we reverted to a 'free'sail. When short handed and with practice it might work well. I think they work better on cruising chutes.

 

[pete]

Hi Skysail

I think I will join an extension wire strop to the existing one so as it just exits the cowl and join them internally with a shackle.

Many thanks

Pete

 

[Mudplugger]

Normal practice with a spinnaker snuffer is to have the spinnaker head shackled to the eye in the top of the snuffer and the snuffer attached to the halliard....the first time you attach the head gives you the advantage of making sure that the spinnaker is not twisted inside the snuffer...in effect you are packing it head first!..when hoisting the resulting sausage, keep spinny in the snuffer until you have attached sheets & guys, pole etc..and when happy, haul away on the uphaul.. you will find that if it is set up properly, the sock will leap skywards almost on its own accord,and concertina at the top in a small bundle, in stronger winds take a turn around a cleat. Otherwise burning sensation in hands quite likely! (got the T-shirt). To dowse, free sheets and pull uphaul down! Must admit that I alway,s kept a turn on the nearest cleat when using the uphaul/downhaul. HTH

 

[pete]

Hi Mudplugger
Thanks for the info, that is how I thought it should be but thought as the internal eye was so high that the cowl would prevent the head of the spinny from opening.
I may be able to try it this weekend.
Pete