I think it did make the spinnaker more slick. We could really tell a difference when flaking it. However, it did very little to solve our spinnaker extraction problems...but I didn't do the sock too - perhaps that would make a difference? I'm about to do an in-depth snuffer study to try and figure out why that N20 spinnaker balls up so badly and becomes a PITA with that mid-pole snuffer. It's like birthing a baby every time you try to hoist it.

Not trying to teach granny to suck eggs but...

• Does the spin have 3 retrival patches vs. 2 (mid poles need 3, end poles work with 2)
• Is the snuffer bag held taut or is floppy? We rigged small lines at the back corners of the bag tied to the dolphin striker and an eyestrap on the front cross beam to hold it in light tension. This made a big improvement to how the spin slid in and out the bag. It can't bunch into a ball so easily if the bag is taut.
• Have you tried a knot in the halyard between the top retrival patch and the next one down? This knot starts pulling the spin into the sock progressivly, rather than trying to pull a big ball of cloth into the bag.

Chris.

I had success with this, even with the end-pole snuffer

Personally, I can say yes to all three of the above. The knot between the top and middle patches made a big difference, but its still a real PITA to hoist.

No problems here! Any thoughts toward a solution are great!

I do separate the top patch from the middle ones but mostly to get the head of the spinnaker at the opening (IMHO, the top patch is too close to the head and sucks the head of the sail well inside the bag if left alone).

I do need to try and separate the middle snuff points.

Sock is plenty tight and spread out at the back.

My F18 spinnaker snuffs very easily - this N20 mid pole is ridiculous by comparison.

Jake:

I could be wrong, but isn't the hoop for the N20 and the F18 the same size?

Wouldn't that mean that we're trying to jam more chute through the same openning?

Does skipper give the sheets a little tug just prior to hoist? That helped us when I remember to do it.

yeah - the hoop is the same and I believe the bag might be the same too (not sure about that though).

It sometimes helps to tug the sheets, but often it didn't help much at all. It usually makes the remainder of the hoist more difficult since the spinnaker was half sheeted when it comes out of the bag.

well now that we know that the hoop is the same, can we find out whether or not it was designed for the F18 chute or for the N20?

The Nacra F18s had the midpole snuffer long before it was offered on the 20.