[C38] sock is the most important, ATN tacker too (but another expense and really not necessary).

Don Strong drstrong at ucdavis.edu
Fri Jan 12 13:39:26 EST 2007 

Max: For an asym to be serviceable without a foredeck crew (aka "gorilla 
gang"), the sock is the most important device. Socks take some work 
before they perform for you: spinnaker halyard outside of forestay, spin 
sheets led properly outside of forestay, sock positioned and fixed on 
deck, downhaul on ATN tacker or line loop, etc, etc., etc. Unfurl and 
furl the asym from the sock at the dock in zero wind 5 times before you 
try it at sea. First times at sea, make sure to have more hands than you 
need. Remember, spinnakers love keels and spinnaker sheets love props! 
They were made in heaven for one another.
    We inherited an ATN tacker from the previous owner, it works ok. 
Much less expensive options work too, such as a loop in a line with 
attached snapshackles. The early "tackers" were looped line through a 
bunch of small balls drilled through the center; these can be fabricated 
for $20. We used these back in Florida in the 70s with a recut 
symmetrical spinnaker cut to be an asym.  (By the way, you can pick up 
an old sym and recut it yourself pretty cheap. It probably will look 
weird but they work for a while; it will have cost you much less than a 
new sail and you will have the most valuable of sailing properties, 
experience!).
    You will love an asym. They are huge sails and in big winds can 
overpower your C38 in ways that you have not experienced with the 
smaller head sails; the stern will lift out of the water. When you can 
no longer steer, release the sheet.
    My pals and I have had gobs of fun with the asym (although my wife 
would rather not hear the word "spinnaker." When she is on board, we 
have a "spinnaker moratorium.").

Don

Max Soto wrote:
> What about the ATN tacker???
>
> It is supossed to work with a symetrical spinnaker, does it??
>
> Max
>
>
>   
>> From: Don Strong <drstrong at ucdavis.edu>
>> Reply-To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
>> To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
>> Subject: Re: [C38] 0.75 vs 1.5 oz spinnakers
>> Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:15:08 -0800
>>
>> Dear Max: We recently purchased at a very favorable price from a good 
>> friend a 1.5 oz gennaker, asymetrical (or what ever you want to call it) 
>> spinnaker for Discrete Charm. The sail had the romance of "having been used 
>> once to cross the Tasman Sea from Japan to Darwin, Oz.
>> We had previously used the 0.75 standard, built for a pole, symmetrical 
>> spinnakers that came with the boat.
>> First, the standard spinnys suck when not on a pole. They have very 
>> restricted range and collapse easily if not on that perfect just off the 
>> wind tack.
>> Second, the asym is wonderful, has great range and adds a huge dimension 
>> for sailors like Karin and me, who don't have a foredeck crew to handle the 
>> pole and the sail.
>> Third. The 1.5 oz aspect makes it voluminous in the bag, heavy, and quite 
>> difficult to get from the quarter berth to the foredeck. When my son is 
>> with us, I ask him to carry the sail (he carries it, I drag and wrestle it, 
>>     
> >from cabin to foredeck in the bag). Without a great deal of folding and a 
>   
>> crew member forward and below, the sheer volume makes it difficult, nigh 
>> impossible to get out and in through the foredeck hatch.
>> We have it stored in a sock, which is also 1.5 oz and which adds to the 
>> volume and weight. However, what are you gonna do but store it in the sock, 
>> if it is ready to use on the boat (again, if you dont have a foredeck 
>> crew)?!!
>>
>> Conclusion, 1.5 oz is more durable but twice the weight and much more 
>> volumnous. Difficult to use without a big crew.
>> I would buy a 0.75 oz if I had the money.
>>
>> Don
>>
>> Max Soto wrote:
>>     
>>> Hi guys,
>>>
>>> thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I'm going to consider all of them.
>>> To be honest I've never been on a place that cold before. We'll see how it 
>>> goes.
>>>
>>> Regarding the spinnaker that I'm thinking to buy, what should I get?? a 
>>> .75 or 1.5oz??
>>> Is there such thing as all around spinnaker? I mean one that I can use the 
>>> most??
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Max
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> From: Les <hlhowell at pacbell.net>
>>>> Reply-To: hlhowell at pacbell.net,Catalina 38 Listserve 
>>>> <listserve at catalina38.org>
>>>> To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [C38] Going to CA!
>>>> Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:06:20 -0800
>>>>
>>>> Forgot the weather.
>>>> 	Currently cold (about 55 today and cooling tonight) windy (>20kts in
>>>> gusts), and good surf for surfers with rain.  Sat should be better, but
>>>> I don't know how much.  Tomorrow (Friday) will be rain and cold.  Not a
>>>> good time for a boat trip.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Les H
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>         
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>>>       
>> --
>> Donald R. Strong
>> Professor
>> Section of Evolution and Ecology
>> University of California Davis
>> 95616
>> 530 752 7886
>>
>>     
>
>
>   
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-- 
Donald R. Strong
Professor
Section of Evolution and Ecology
University of California Davis
95616
530 752 7886

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