Spinnaker Questions

greatly dependent on the size of the boat & pole.
small boat ok assuming the eye is adequate in strength

Agreed. Normally you would have a bridle from each end with a ring in the middle, with the rong sitting maybe 1/3rd of pole length below the center of the pole. Same for uphaul above pole.
 
I intend to fit a down haul, from eye on centre of pole via snap shackle to base of mast via 2 turning blocks to spare jammer on cabin top. Is this geometry OK or would I be better running the downhaul to the deck further forward?

This set up may be OK for a smaller spin and for mostly downwind work. I tend to end up running my spin quite shy and have not been able to make that system work. That is what was supplied with the boat. You might need to try 2 or 3 purchase tackle. Or as you say forward of the mast is better but then needs to be readjusted if you go from shy to running as length will change with pole in or out. As I said for my 21fter I have settled on tweakers for down haul. good luck and keep trying different methods olewill
 
This set up may be OK for a smaller spin and for mostly downwind work. I tend to end up running my spin quite shy and have not been able to make that system work. That is what was supplied with the boat. You might need to try 2 or 3 purchase tackle. Or as you say forward of the mast is better but then needs to be readjusted if you go from shy to running as length will change with pole in or out. As I said for my 21fter I have settled on tweakers for down haul. good luck and keep trying different methods olewill

Thanks. Previous boat had a turning block mounted on fore deck perpendicularly below clevis on pole (limbo 6.6). As you say required adjustment.

I'm reluctant to put a turning block on the foredeck of current boat - tripping hazard, water ingress etc. The alternative would be to rig a detachable line across the boat from the perforated toe rails with a turning block rigged on the centreline.

Comments?
 
Just a few comments on previous suggestions, on a small boat I find a downhaul from the outboard end of the pole to a block fitted around the jib tack fitting area works well although it needs constant attention as the pole is moved fore and aft. Some-one mentioned letting the pole forward onto the fore stay when dropping a spinnaker. Don't do it. If you are fortunate enough to have a foil it will soon be a broken foil, the potential for a broken pole is high and even worse twanging the fore stay and dropping a mast is a remote possibility. Apart from that enjoy the thrill of a kite when the wind gets up!
 
Some-one mentioned letting the pole forward onto the fore stay when dropping a spinnaker. Don't do it. If you are fortunate enough to have a foil it will soon be a broken foil, the potential for a broken pole is high and even worse twanging the fore stay and dropping a mast is a remote possibility.
I was always taught to do it this way and have always done it this way. I've never bent nor broken foil or pole. RYA has the same method on its site... http://www.rya.org.uk/cruising/handling-sail/Pages/Spinnakershoisttrimanddrop.aspx

How should it be done?
 
Monday morning report on spin flying yesterday. Despite my advocating tweakers we had a problem. I wanted the pole a little higher because it was very shy. Ahead of the beam. Just a short run of about 500 metres before we turned to bear away. A higher pole gives a looser luff which lets it set better when shy. (On my spinny anyway.) We eased the tweaker and the pole got away going skyward and mangling the pole end on the mast. It has happened many times before. As I said a tweaker leading from well forward gives more pole control but further aft gives more room for pole to come back square. I need it adjustable on a track but that would be OTT.
You need alot of power to control the pole when shy. olewill
 
Thanks everyone for the responses so far. I'm gradually getting my head around what's needed. :) I'm going to run the spinnaker halyard aft to a cam cleat (most likely) near the cockpit and have a suitable block on the top of the mast.
How should I route the halyard from running down the mast to run horizontally aft to the cleat? Is hooking it under a simple mast cleat acceptable for hoisting and lowering the halyard?
Time is of the essence so I don't want to try and get too clever this year.
 
Thanks everyone for the responses so far. I'm gradually getting my head around what's needed. :) I'm going to run the spinnaker halyard aft to a cam cleat (most likely) near the cockpit and have a suitable block on the top of the mast.
How should I route the halyard from running down the mast to run horizontally aft to the cleat? Is hooking it under a simple mast cleat acceptable for hoisting and lowering the halyard?
Time is of the essence so I don't want to try and get too clever this year.

I would hope that you can stretch to a pulley set into the cabin top with a saddle and a bit of backing underneath. Your spin halyard will present quite a load for a crew person to hoist from cockpit and any added friction like a bend around a horn cleat I think will get complaints. But by all means try it. olewill
 
I would hope that you can stretch to a pulley set into the cabin top with a saddle and a bit of backing underneath. Your spin halyard will present quite a load for a crew person to hoist from cockpit and any added friction like a bend around a horn cleat I think will get complaints. But by all means try it. olewill

I'm sure I can stretch to a bit of techno-wizardry. When you say Pulley and saddle, do you have any specific ideas? I'm not the best with all this deck hardware choice. :D
 
prob not an option now the mast is stepped , but if you sandwich a plate between the mast step and the desckhead you can secure turning blocks to that without drilling thro' the deckhead, but for now I would think a cheekblock on the mast would do for the halyard as the direction of pull is predictable.
 
prob not an option now the mast is stepped , but if you sandwich a plate between the mast step and the desckhead you can secure turning blocks to that without drilling thro' the deckhead, but for now I would think a cheekblock on the mast would do for the halyard as the direction of pull is predictable.

Hi there,

No the mast isn't stepped yet. It's hinged on a kind of tabernacle I'd guess. Was thinking of a cheek block though. Seems a fairly inexpensive / conventional route. :)
 
For Fire 99 this is a saddle
http://www.biasboating.com.au/37mm_Stainless_Plain_Saddle_p/7649.htm
For a pulley you can use whatever you have or find that is big enough for the halyard with a decent sized sheave. (wheel)
something like this should be adequate.
http://www.biasboating.com.au/Ser_29_Single_Block_Loop_Top_p/9040.htm
I just drill through the cabin top and fitted the saddle with block attached with 4mm bolts and nuts and large penny washers to spread the load. The load will not be so great anyway considering you are pulling spin up by hand.
If you have a lining in cabin or don't want todrill you may be able to attach the pulley to the mast base in some way. good luck olewill
 
For Fire 99 this is a saddle
http://www.biasboating.com.au/37mm_Stainless_Plain_Saddle_p/7649.htm
For a pulley you can use whatever you have or find that is big enough for the halyard with a decent sized sheave. (wheel)
something like this should be adequate.
http://www.biasboating.com.au/Ser_29_Single_Block_Loop_Top_p/9040.htm
I just drill through the cabin top and fitted the saddle with block attached with 4mm bolts and nuts and large penny washers to spread the load. The load will not be so great anyway considering you are pulling spin up by hand.
If you have a lining in cabin or don't want todrill you may be able to attach the pulley to the mast base in some way. good luck olewill

Ahh I'm with you dear boy. That makes perfect sense. Many thanks.
 
I have found a slight issue which would limit putting a saddle and block on the deck for the spinnaker halyard routing. My cabin roof is higher than the deck position of the mast. This would mean that if I mounted a block on the deck by the mast, the halyard would have to go up a step to run along the cabin top. If I mount the block on the cabin top, the halyard wouldn't be running vertically down the mast but at about 20 or 30 degrees aft. Would I be right that the best option would be to mount a cheek block on the mast?
 
You may find that the block needs to be on the tabernacle to be at the right height to run along the cabin top.

Thanks for that. I was a touch concerned with drilling into the tabernacle to mount a block though I have no specific reason for that :D
 
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