Hey guys, I was hoping that one of you could get me a picture of how the umbilical line is on your spinnakers for using a snuffer. I would really appreciate this, a detailed explanation will suffice if a picture cannot be taken. I'm just not sure that the entire kite will fint in the bag I'm making with just 1 line attached in the middle but I can't think of how to make more sail pull into the bag.

Hi,

for some old information, check Lars Gucks pages.

Today, most use a two patch system. The lower patch has a small metal ring you thread the retrieval line trough, and you secure the end of the line in the top patch.

While dousing, the line slides trough the lower patch w/ring until the upper patch comes down to it and pulls it into the snuffer.

Most Tornados uses a two patch system, and has a snuffer about three meters long. It varies tough..

I think you are asking about the retrieval line. This exits the sock (at the front!), goes through the patches on your spinni and ties off at the top patch. The patches should have small loops for this purpose. It is recommended to tie a bowline at the top patch, with a 7 inch loop. The top patch should have a separate line to the top of the sail (mine does), presumably to aid total retrieval.

Cheers
Simon

See I don't have any patches in the spinnaker, so I'm trying to figure out how many and where they go, I think i'm starting to get the picture, but these details are elusive.

AHHHHH, thanks for the link Rolf, it all makes perfect sense now, those were the details i needed. Thanks again.

Be careful, if you have an old chute where the fabric is not "siliconized" there might be a lot of friction..

Good luck tough, snuffers are great!

>>careful, if you have an old chute where the fabric is not "siliconized" there might be a lot of friction..


I have the plain rop stop nylon spi (from 2003) that I snuff without much friction. design of the snuffer ring or tube is very important. When it is done right than the friction can be low with plain cloth as well.

Wouter

I'm using three patches (more or less) with a 2 mtr long sock. the 3rd patch is actually located right on the foot of the spi halveway between tack and clew. Better is to have this one about 1 meter up as well. Now the other two can move up a little bit and all comes down in a neat package of only 2 mtr length. It is remarkable how easy she still snuffs with three patches and normal rip stop cloth. I put it down to the smooth aluminium ring and the material of the sock.

Of course on a 16 foot boat I can't have a 3 mtr sock or tube without being killed on windage.

Wouter

What would you say is the general diameter of your sock Wouter?

I think Wouter is using the aluminum AHPC Taipan snuffer. I have attached a photo of it on a T4.9. With the exchange rate right now the ring and sock should be about $185 USD. The 40 mm ring mount should slide right onto a 1.5" pole that you should acquire locally. I'm reeeeeealy close to taking the leap. Almost....

That is a difficult question, because the sock is made of a stiff cloth just like the guck system and what is used for your mainsail (but thinner). It is shaped in such a way that it keeps a very flat ellipical shape. However it is very flexible and when the spi goes the side can be pushed out when necessary. It never flaps in anywind and has a nice smooth and realively flat elliptical profile upwind.

I would give the sock a rough 300 mm by 150 mm rectangle or ellips as crosssection. Is about 1 foot by 1/2 foot. I snuff a 17.5 sq. mtr spi with a 8 mtr luff. However the same setup is used on the Capricorn F18 with its 21 sq. mtr. shute as well. With my spi I have no problems and I think it is better than any other I've tried except for the snuffer system used on the RS800 skiff but that was special.

Wouter