Pearson Boats - Common Systems > Standing & Running Rigging and Fitting/Tuning

Spinnaker sheets

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selene:
Like both of you guys, I am taking this slow, one step at a time, so I am only partially through understanding and optimising the setup and process.

Loops: Yes, I do have the anchor platform (which I also call a bowsprit, 'cos real sailboats have bowsprits). Will take a photo.

Stern blocks: Initially I used soft shackle to secure blocks to the stern cleats. This meant very long sheets were needed!  However, I did not like the shape of the sail, so moved the blocks onto the track.  I later learned that, whereas with a sym spinnaker sheets should be led as far back as possible, and asym acts more like a very big genoa (makes sense) so the sheets are often further forwards. So now the sail shape looks better - fuller, fewer creases.

Forces - yeah, I worry about that.  But the track is through-bolted, and like I said, I limit myself to lighter winds. I have seen a fair share of broaches and one dismasting from a spin at 20-25kn. My favorite discussion with a friend of mine in a larger boat: "We were racing well, spinnaker up, but the wind crept up and we had difficulty bringing it down". "So what did you do?""Left it up until it exploded"."What did you learn from this?" "Well, I really need a range of spinnakers of different weights - 3 at least". <ahem>. Not on my budget....

Dolce_Vita:
Oh my!  If you're talking about that tiny little loop that's welded down and used to tie down the anchor then I would be concerned!  That weld is small, and I'm sure that it had less attention given to it's fabrication than a "mission-critical" weld would have. And then there's the matter of the off-center and un-opposed force applied at the end of a long lever arm.

My bowsprit has a small vertical hole drilled through the SS platform just aft main tube at the farthest forward point which suggests itself as an attachment point for the tack.  But again, I was unwilling to use it without installing a bob-stay to offset the large upward force that would be applied at the end of that long unsupported lever arm. And that SS sheet didn't seem thick enough to not flex and fatigue crack over time.

Instead, I've been considering somehow using the bolt that attaches the bowsprit to the stem fitting.  This is already anchored to support the full force of the forstay and jib.

selene:
Agreed on all points.  I also noticed some other boats have a bridle from the back of the stem fitting to the front of the forestay (sometimes just a long u-bolt).  We have 3(?) holes in the top of the stem fitting, so that could work...

rbrtfeld:
Great Posts everyone. You might like to see the web site for the  ATN Tacker and Sleeve. This is what I use and it works great. Here is the web site you can copy and paste, they have a short video showing how it works. Fair winds to all.

Bob

http://www.atninc.com/atn-tacker-sailing-equipment.shtml

Dolce_Vita:
I like it!

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