Not sure how many of you have a spinnaker and mast-up storage, but for those that do -- how do you run your spin halyard?

I don't keep the spinnaker or pole on the boat, so to rig (which I've only done twice now) the halyard after setting up the pole it seems I have two options:

.Leave the halyard on the boat and tie it to the head of the sail and then to/through the patches

.Leave a 'chaser' line rigged on the mast and leave the halyard on the patches. Attach the halyard to the chaser line and pull it through, rig it, and tie it to the head of the sail

I've done option #2 so far, as that's what the previous owner did, but taping the lines together is a bit of a pain, and risks coming apart as it passes through the block at the top of the mast. I don't think the block is large enough for sister clips (I assume it's a 29mm) or that's the route I would go.

What do you guys do?

If I could find little clips like sister clips that fit within the 3/16" diameter of the halyard that seems like it would be optimum..

Maybe I'm overestimating the trouble of running the halyard through the patches and tying it, though, just because I've never done it.

I'm new to these newfangled puffer sails.

Thanks,

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
--

Your two option descriptions are a little vague, but . . .
I would leave the halyard on the mast and just untie the snuffer end and pull it out and tie it to the bridle or mast base, and untie the head and tie it to the bridle. Reefing it through the patches is really easy. Use your hiking stick to pull it through the sock and then reef the patches. Don't make it complicated.

Are you an endpole or midpole?

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Philip
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Thanks. Endpole.

I just leave the spin in the snuffer bag, so reefing the line involves an extra step in removing the sail and putting it back...that may be the biggest reason for my reluctance.

Related: Should I swap the halyard out with a small HMPE line? I've currently got 3/16 staset I believe.

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
--

If I'm sailing several weekends in a row, I leave the spin pole and halyard on the boat but remove the spin.
If not, I remove the spin and pole but leave the spin halyard on the mast.
Over the winter I replace the spin halyard with a small diameter line, 2mm, I have put a flemish eye on the snuffer end of the halyard.

How to make a flemish eye

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Ron
Nacra F18
Reservoir Sailing Assn.
Brandon, Mississippi
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Awesome, thanks.

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
--

I leave the spin in the snuffer, and have a custom Sunbrella cover that protects both the snuffer and the spin from sun and rain. The spin stays dry(provided it's dry when it goes in), and I don't see any evidence that this shortens the life of the chute. And keeping the sock out of the sun is paramount if you want more than a couple of seasons out of it.

Dave

Dave, who did your cover?

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Ron
Nacra F18
Reservoir Sailing Assn.
Brandon, Mississippi
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I had one for the HT done by a guy no longer doing canvas work. I took it to my local upholstery shop and had them copy it for the F16(which has the same snuffer system, slightly shorter bag}. Then I showed that to my local sailmaker in Kalispell, Phil at Taylor Sailmaker, and he scaled it up and made one for the ARC22. Dennis at SNU will build one for his system as well. I would think anyone who works with sunbrella could do a nice joy if they've got the ability to measure your snuffer. If you want, I could take a pic of mine laid out, and you and whoever could see the basic shape, and snap and material (mesh underneath) locations.

Dave



Edited by davefarmer on Dec 11, 2011 - 04:36 PM.

dave is right, protect or replace your snuf sock

With mast up storage, why not just take the spin home? it's not that hard to rig (although not real fun) but if you are worried about theft/vandles/UV... just take it home, your bag/pole is not more at risk then your tramp from vandles. Plus its good practice to be able to rig your gear

we (all the guys who sail regulary here) leave the spin in the sock, pole (and sock) on the boat, uncovered all weekend at the beach. I have used a tarp to keep the sun off the bag (on beach), but i hardly do that anymore... even at home

when we leave the beach, unless you have a brand new spin... we all (most) leave our spin in the sock and take the boat home like that. We all trailer our cats backwards (wont fit with a pole forward) and store it all week long at home like that.

my socks lasts only a year or so. my second one (1 year old?) is close to death. I plan to make a template out of it and try letting my pal make me a new sock vs. the $435 for a new one from the C2 dealer

If i didnt use my spin all the time, or it was brand new, i might take it out, rinse/dry and flake it.. .haven't done that in years..



Edited by MN3 on Dec 12, 2011 - 01:04 PM.