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Asymmetrical spinnaker tack line problem

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James Simmons
1st Mate

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USA
41 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/05/2009 : 20:19:15

I am rigging my 81 Standard Rig fixed keel with an asymmetrical spinnaker. Thanks to all who answered an earlier message regarding my using the existing jib halyard.
Problem: I have a CDI roller furling attached to the bow stem and the drum is in the way of attaching a tack block. I can't figure out how to get the block out in front of the drum without it hitting or rubbing the drum in some way. I assume there will be a lot of pressure on the tack line which make this unacceptable. I would appreciate any input from anyone who has addressed this problem.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2009 : 21:10:39

My spinnaker pole does the job of getting tack line forward so you might have to rig a line from your bow eye and to short lines from your bow pulpit to keep the block forward of the drum. If you jibe the spinnaker you will find out very fast if you have room to switch sides. I'd try the sail in light winds with help. Good luck.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2009 : 09:14:17

I do not have a CDI furler, but I can picture your problem.

I would think that, like Jim implied, you could set up a short fixed-length (1-foot long) pennant from the bow eye upward and forward to hold the block. Then, depending on the geometry of the spin block on this pennant and the furler drum, you may also need a second turning block down at the bow eye to bring the spin tack line under the furler drum and aft to the cockpit. That would be a 2-part solution to the problem.

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James Simmons
1st Mate

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USA
41 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2009 : 11:43:01

Thanks for the input!
Has anyone used 'tacker'? This device fastens around the furled headsail in some fashion and keeps the spinnaker tack above the furling drum. Supposedly you can fly a symmetrical spinnaker without a pole with this. (Which is not my problem in this case as I am purchasing an asymmetrical spinnaker).

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2009 : 14:04:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by James Simmons
 Has anyone used a 'tacker'?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes...and they don't float!

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 10/07/2009 : 05:17:33

My asymm has a "tacker", and it is a heavy dacron piece with grommets at both ends that wraps around the furled jib or forestay. It slides up and down and holds the tack of the asymm about a foot forward of the furled jib or forestay.

The tack line and the tack of the sail also attach to the "tacker". The tack line is then used to either set the tack at one height, or with an adjustable tack line to set the tack at various heights depending on the point of sail. The tack of the sail is moved lower for a beam reach and higher for a broad reach. Asymm spinnakers do not maintain their shape easily on a run, since there is no pole.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 10/07/2009 : 06:41:38

If I understand your problem correctly, I had a similar concern when I rigged my present boat for an assym., but my concern was not well-founded, because, when you fly an assym, it's downwind, and the pressure on the sail should push the tack line forward, clear of the furling drum.

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buzzardsolo
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 10/07/2009 : 18:34:41

Jim,

I have the same problem, and I asked nearly the identical question a few months back. Unfortunately, in spite of all the well-intentioned suggestions and tips, none of them seemed to work for my application (I also have the FF4).

If you get SAIL magazine, the cover of the August 2009 shows a Hunter 41 flying an assymetrical spinnaker. To truly fly the A-sail forward and outside of all the other lines and rigging, the tack block needs to be forward of the stem fitting. The SAIL cover illustrates this perfectly.

Even though the tackline will have the tendency to be pulled forward, the tack block must be forward of the stem/FF4 drum. Otherwise, attaching the block aft of the forestay/FF4 attachment point on the Cat25 stem fitting will result in the tackline running forward to one side or the other of the drum. On one tack it might work, but after gybing it will be rubbing against the drum.

JohnP mentioned above that he uses an ATN tacker to solve the problem, but I would think that the tackline block would still need to be forward of the stem, or it would rub the forestay/furled sail. The ATN tacker website (http://www.atninc.com/tacker.html) also shows a photo with a tackline block forward of the furler drum.

Both the ATN photo and the SAIL photo show the tack block attached to an anchor roller. I've decided that I need to either go this route, or have a custom bowsprit made. Catalina 27 tall rigs came with factory bowsprits. Although it's much longer than what I think I'll need, I'll probably use it as a basis for my design. Although I haven't made any measurements yet, I'm thinking that a 6" bowsprit would probably work. If it's much longer, the tackline may get pulled into the pulpit.

Hope this helps.

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2009 : 15:37:47

I am running the CAT 25 with the same CDI furler and an asymmetrical spinnaker. Ya, the tack line rubs against the furler drum a little but so what? The force on the tack line at this point is forward. buzzardsolo's comment "attaching the block aft of the forestay/FF4 attachment point on the Cat25 stem fitting will result in the tackline running forward to one side or the other of the drum. On one tack it might work, but after gybing it will be rubbing against the drum." may be true but it just doesn't matter. It will not get tangled. It will allow you to adjust the tack length of the spinnaker. If you can meet those requirements, your tack line is functioning as needed. There is no way you are going to chafe the tack line enough even though you are against the furling drum a little because so much of the effort is forward and not against the drum.
An alternative would be to attach your forestay one hole back from the most outboard hole. Then put your tack block in the most outboard hole. But even so, you might still rub against the furling drum a little if the spinnaker is riding high. Otherwise look to spending bucks on a bow sprit. That retrofit however, will improve how well the spinnaker pulls.

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