We're looking into adding a downwind sail to our boat MK1 Standard rig. We don't have a spinnaker pole, and at this point I'm not overly interested in buying all the hardware required, so I was wondering who out there has an Asym, or a gennaker that is tacked down near the furler, what the dimensions on the sail are, what kind of cut is it, and do you like it?
Alternately were were talking about using some parrellel beads, or an ATN Tacker inorder to use a symmetrical spinnaker, and I'd be interested in those stats too.
We're not racing the boat, so we're just looking to get something second hand at some point later this year or next year.
I was surprised that I couldn't find this online anywhere, maybe something good to add to the owners encyclopedia?
Alex & Caitlin
S/V Windswept
Vancouver, BC
1985 C-36
SR/FK M25
Alex there is a guy in Vancouver selling a cruising A-kite off a Catalina 36 right now. It's on SailingX.com. Comes with a snuffer if that's your thing.
Any J/105 spinnaker will fit the boat too if you want to go that route.
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Alex, I am not sure I am answering your question, but FYI:
We have an undersized asym that works well for us. I use an ATN Tacker over the furled high-clew 135% headsail for the tack. If it is a deep downwind angle, I will usually just let the tack rise until it stops at the rather high location where the sheets wrap around the furled sail. If I want to reach higher, I have a line to adjust the tack height. Flattening the luff allows me to reach up to about 70 degrees apparent.
To keep the equipment simple, I added strong padeyes to the top of the genoa cheek blocks and run the spin sheets through snap shackle blocks on the padeyes to the genoa primary winches. For the adjustable tack downhaul, I attach a snatch block near the center of the anchor roller (not at the end where the loads can threaten to rip it off) and run the spare genoa halyard down through the block and up to the ATN Tacker. With that arrangement, you can pull the luff tight or let it fly high and loose.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Simple rule - spin luff length roughly genoa luff length (no longer than headstay length), and widest girth no more than 180% of J (in this case, 25.7 feet) will give you a kite that sets properly.
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada