Hi There!

I am looking for leading infos to fit a spinnaker on my Hobie 20.
the sail
1. Any idea which Brand or type, area works better? 21 or 27m2? Hobie's 20 spinaker kit or Tiger kit?

Any spinnaker snuffer systems in particular I should look at? Links?

Cheers

CHARLEY from Toronto

Charley,

The factory spinnaker system for the 20 is cut very large and full. It's more of a downwind sail than a reacher like the Tiger or Inter 20. Fully sheeted, it gets pulled all the way back to the rear crossbar. I have a spinnaker setup for my H20, but want to recut it for better reaching performance. This setup is, of course, not leagal for class racing, but makes the boat useable for distance events and makes it faster overall than the Tiger, which can't match the 20's upwind speed, but still slower than the I20.

We played a bit with a spin on our H20 this season. Started with the original spin which was cut way too big and launching from the tramp was no fun. We borrowed a Tiger spin and snuffer bag and had a ball with it. But the Tiger sail just isn't big enough. So we recut the big sail (ourselves) and tryed it with the snuffer. When we tryed it we went faster down wind than up!!! But suffice it to say we still have some tweeking. (tore out the gromit and couldn't use it to race) As crew I think that the H20 has a advantge with the spin because the jib is bigger than the F18. I work both and can get extra speed. Once you get a spin it is hard to go back. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Have a blast!

Hi Charley

For the Hobie 20, have Skip Elliot build you a spinnker, the Tiger spinnker is not big enough and won't be as fast. The Skip Elliot sail sheets to the side stays, using two ratchet block each side. This allows the crew to hand hold the sheet even in high winds. For the spinnaker pole use 1 1/2" to 2" anodized aluminum tubing. Have your local sailing shop build wires for the front, old trap wires work well. For the snuffer ring and bag you can build your own or buy a stock system off a production boat.
The sail hoist point needs to be below the top of the mast about 3 ft. If you need it I can send you my measurements.

Sail Smart

Scott

Used Tornado spinnakers work well. The Great Texas Catamaran race has been won by a Hobie 20 with this set up. Just make sure you add stays to the top of the comptip if you want to reach - or you stand a reasonable chance of snapping it off.

For a pole a new or used carbon fiber windsurf mast works OK.

For a mid pole snuffer the performance hoop/bag works OK but is a bit pricey. If you are going to distance race/fun sail it then a bag launch would be a cheaper option.

Chris.

I think based on the comments the standard hobie 20 sail sheeted to the rear beam is just not as fast as a modern high aspect spin. The F18 is too small and I assume no one is suggesting the I20 spin is the H20 has a comptip or shorter mast.

I would try to find someone who has already had one made. If you cant find one, you have to go custom. The good news is you will save money; the bad news is that it is it will take some tweaking. It is worth it though. Start with reading this article.

http://www.geocities.com/kustzeilen/Genaker/GenakerWord97.zip

It will give you some info on how to rig the spin. For example, you can use Amsteel line for the spin pole bridle instead of having a metal one made.

Next you need to find a sail maker, here are some I considered and a quick comment on what I found:

Calvert Sails (much more expensive than the other quotes I got, they must feel that they have a significant advantage)
Ulman USA (mid range price, great sail shapes)
Landenburger USA (mid range price, great sail shapes)
Wirlwind Sails (low price, they use landenburger mold shapes for their sails)

Good luck,

Matt

If you are a do it yourselfer check this out:

http://webpages.charter.net/jakekohl/howto/snuffer_ring.htm

If the H-20 rig can take a Tornado spi, you dont get much better shapes than that. Large used market and online tuning tips available. It should be more affordable than having a custom spi buildt, and result in better performance.

Although it would be mixing blood, you might also want to look into an I-20 spin.

Trick will be to measure the luff lengths on the T or I-20 sails to make sure they're not too long. If so you'd have to re-cut or go custom.

The Tornado spi is a BIG son of ...

And it is cut for a 3 mtr wide boat which the H20 isn't if I recall.

This can really stuff up sheeting angles and angle of attack angles (may stall this spi too easily on a H20).

I-20 sounds like the better option to me right this time.

But customs sails are a very real option.

Also look at www.glasersails.com

Wouter

I forgot about them, good quote, good people. When I went to ask a few follow up questions, I could not get a hold of them and ended getting sold on another sail maker. They never did return my messages.

If you have tried them in the last couple of months they may have not been able to get back with you. They were very busy! We, ABYC, had the I-14 Worlds going on and they, Glaser Sails, were on call to fix sails as well as making sails before the event. They also were in the middle of a large 505 order.

Now would be a good time to get hold of them, I think.

They do a very nice job on Asymmetrical spinnakers. Jay and Pease are getting pretty committed to the Fast Dingy and Catamaran classes. They like having sails on the fastest boats on the course.

Later,
Dan

Dont dismiss the Tornado spi just yet. On the Tornado the spi is sheeted to the inside of the hull. Sheet it to the outside gunwale and the difference in sheeting angle should be next to nothing.


Glaser definately know what he is doing when building catamaran sails!