Symmetric as a cruising chute?

[BenMurphy]

I’ve just come into possession of a symmetric spinnaker for my British Hunter Horizon 27. I don’t have a whisker pole (nor do I want to faff around with one) - can I rig a symmetric like an asymmetric / cruising chute and use without a pole??

 

[dom]

Not really, the cut will probably be all wrong. Although if the sail is quite flat it might sort of work on some angles but you risk suffering a lot of drag which compensates the sail's added forward drive. This in turn increases the risk of getting overpowered.

Basically I'd be careful unless you are confident in what you're doing. and even then it will probably only work at all well in circumstances where the pole would be on the forestay.

 

[dulls]

I think google will have posts on this. I think it is an either or situation. You will need a pole for the symmetric regardless. You might be able to get it cut to asymmetric though? I am a cruising guy so my experience is limited with both. The racing types might be better to answer this.

 

[doug748]

One of our members shows you how to use a Tacker device here:

An earlier video shows you how to make one................might be of interest, don't know how handy it is, never used one myself.

.

 

[BenMurphy]

I think google will have posts on this. I think it is an either or situation. You will need a pole for the symmetric regardless. You might be able to get it cut to asymmetric though? I am a cruising guy so my experience is limited with both. The racing types might be better to answer this.

That’s the thing, I only really want it for light air cruising, not racing.

 

[[3889]]

I’ve just come into possession of a symmetric spinnaker for my British Hunter Horizon 27. I don’t have a whisker pole (nor do I want to faff around with one) - can I rig a symmetric like an asymmetric / cruising chute and use without a pole??

I had a Hunter 272 with a symmetric and a pole. It really wasn't hard to fly it solo and I never raced. Even without a kite I'd consider a pole essential for sailing below 160Deg. I'm always amazed how people can put up with flogging gennys when sailing deep. Gybing downwind isn't always an option.
Go on, treat yourself to a pole, you'll never look back! Great boats, BTW.

 

[BenMurphy]

I had a Hunter 272 with a symmetric and a pole. It really wasn't hard to fly it solo and I never raced. Even without a kite I'd consider a pole essential for sailing below 160Deg. I'm always amazed how people can put up with flogging gennys when sailing deep. Gybing downwind isn't always an option.
Go on, treat yourself to a pole, you'll never look back! Great boats, BTW.

I love it, such an easy boat to sail.

Any idea where I can one and/or dimensions needed??

 

[[3889]]

I love it, such an easy boat to sail.

Any idea where I can one and/or dimensions needed??

Cheapest option is to watch ebay. Or else buy ally tubing and suppy end fittings from Z spars or the like (C. £200 as a guestimate). Or bite the bullet and buy ready made from Selden, Z spars etc.
For a cruising spinny a pole length between J measurement* and J+20% is about right (The longer the better for use as a whisker pole with the genny).

*foot of mast horizontally to point where forestay meets deck

 

[Lucky Duck]

Cheapest option is to watch ebay. Or else buy ally tubing and suppy end fittings from Z spars or the like (C. £200 as a guestimate). Or bite the bullet and buy ready made from Selden, Z spars etc.
For a cruising spinny a pole length between J measurement* and J+20% is about right (The longer the better for use as a whisker pole with the genny).

*foot of mast horizontally to point where forestay meets deck

Assuming the boat does not already have them - then pole uphaul and downhaul lines, blocks, etc will need to be considered as well.

 

[BenMurphy]

Assuming the boat does not already have them - then pole uphaul and downhaul lines, blocks, etc will need to be considered as well.

I’ve got a halyard that runs to about a third of the way up the mast that looks like a pole up. Where does the pole down usually fix - through a block and back to the cockpit?
Also is a guy line a must-have or will it work on a smaller boat with just the pole-up/ down and the sheets?
So much to learn...

 

[Lucky Duck]

On my current boat the downhaul goes to a block fixed to a pad eye just aft of the anchor locker and then back to a clutch.

Given your boat size and intended use I don't think having separate sheet and guys is necessary.

Probably worth having 'tweekers' to bring the sheet/guy down to deck level when required

 

[TernVI]

When you price up all the odds and ends, fittings like an eye on the front of the mast don't come cheap, neither does all the string, blocks, jammers for up and downhaul etc. it might be better in the long run to buy a cruising chute or asy.
I'd suggest getting a few rides on similar sized boats equipped with spinnakers and cruising chutes.

 

[Concerto]

If your boat has all the fittings for the spinnaker, except the pole, then definitely buy a pole. I regularly use a spinnaker singlehanded like in my phot avitar. I have a Westerly Fulmar, 32ft but ¾ rigged. I used to race a lot and a spinnaker is still my favourite sail to use. You certainly do not need anything complex, as single sheets will be fine, that is all I use. Set the pole in roughly the correct position square to the apparent wind before hoisting, leave the genoa unfurled until the spinnaker is hoisted and set, then furl it as this will stop a forestay wrap. I never use a squeezer on a spinnaker, they just do not make things any easier than a straight drop. To drop you will need to use a snatch block on the toe rail at the forward end of the cockpit to hold the sheet stable behind the mainsail. Trip the snap shackle at the end of the pole so the luff flies freely. Now gather the foot behind the mainsail as this removes all the wind from it. Release the halyard with one turn still around the halyard winch and pull the sail down into the cockpit. Unfurl the genoa and trim. Now sort out the spinnaker pole and running rigging. finally pack the spinnaker always ensuring both luffs are packed on each side of the launch bag to stop having a twist in the sail. I regularly sail singlehanded with the spinnaker with up to 15-18 knots of apparent wind speed and as close as 100 degrees off the bow. Do try it with less wind as the spinnaker will become a sail you love. For some real spinnaker experience try and sail on a good race boat as you will learn lots about spinnakers which will increase your confidence in handling one.

 

[Lucky Duck]

When you price up all the odds and ends, fittings like an eye on the front of the mast don't come cheap, neither does all the string, blocks, jammers for up and downhaul etc. it might be better in the long run to buy a cruising chute or asy.
I'd suggest getting a few rides on similar sized boats equipped with spinnakers and cruising chutes.

At the time when the OP's boat was new Hunter offered what they called a 'scopper' which was basically an asymmetric to give the boat more power off the wind where the self taking jib tended to be at its least efficient

I had one for my Hunter 265 which had a good deal of use but it was limited in its ability to run deep off the wind.

 

[BenMurphy]

If your boat has all the fittings for the spinnaker, except the pole, then definitely buy a pole. I regularly use a spinnaker singlehanded like in my phot avitar. I have a Westerly Fulmar, 32ft but ¾ rigged. I used to race a lot and a spinnaker is still my favourite sail to use. You certainly do not need anything complex, as single sheets will be fine, that is all I use. Set the pole in roughly the correct position square to the apparent wind before hoisting, leave the genoa unfurled until the spinnaker is hoisted and set, then furl it as this will stop a forestay wrap. I never use a squeezer on a spinnaker, they just do not make things any easier than a straight drop. To drop you will need to use a snatch block on the toe rail at the forward end of the cockpit to hold the sheet stable behind the mainsail. Trip the snap shackle at the end of the pole so the luff flies freely. Now gather the foot behind the mainsail as this removes all the wind from it. Release the halyard with one turn still around the halyard winch and pull the sail down into the cockpit. Unfurl the genoa and trim. Now sort out the spinnaker pole and running rigging. finally pack the spinnaker always ensuring both luffs are packed on each side of the launch bag to stop having a twist in the sail. I regularly sail singlehanded with the spinnaker with up to 15-18 knots of apparent wind speed and as close as 100 degrees off the bow. Do try it with less wind as the spinnaker will become a sail you love. For some real spinnaker experience try and sail on a good race boat as you will learn lots about spinnakers which will increase your confidence in handling one.

Great clear guidelines, thank you!

 

[BenMurphy]

At the time when the OP's boat was new Hunter offered what they called a 'scopper' which was basically an asymmetric to give the boat more power off the wind where the self taking jib tended to be at its least efficient

I had one for my Hunter 265 which had a good deal of use but it was limited in its ability to run deep off the wind.

That’s precisely why I’ve been looking for some sort of spinnaker. I still have the self- tacking jib, which is great as I usually sail solo or short handed. But frankly it’s about as much use as a chocolate teapot when sailing anything deeper than a broad reach!