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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Spin sheet advice wanted

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djdurrett
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124 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/13/2010 : 14:17:02

SO, talk me out of spending 100 bucks per sheet for tapered (stripped) flight line spin sheets. What are you guys using out there?

"Belafonte"
79 C25 TR/FK #1130
Bay View Marina
Lake Ray Hubbard
Dallas, TX

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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769 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2010 : 06:21:23

I've got a cruising chute (asym spinnaker). So, 1/4 inch Sta-Set - 100 ft long with a snap shackle in the middle.
Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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djdurrett
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124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2010 : 12:00:35

How does the 1/4 inch do on your hands?

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2010 : 12:09:45

Why not buy some 5/16 or 3/8 Sta Set (or whatever) and strip it yourself? Just open the cover, squeeze a loop of core out, cut, and pull. (...and pull, and pull...) Try it with a leftover piece of double-braid. It might save you the majority of that $200.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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Response Posted - 08/14/2010 : 14:46:16

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djdurrett
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124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2010 : 21:35:17

I only want about 12 feet of it stripped for light air. The Flight Line has a dyneema core that is really strong. The end product is also called "tapered sheets." The part in your hand would be 8mm or 5/16 but from the block to the clew is just core and really light. If I had an asymmetrical spinnaker, I would have it "y" spliced like what you find on sport boats like J80's and Melges 24's. On inland lakes you can get some really light air and light sheets make a huge difference.

1/4 inch would probably work fine and its a whole lot cheaper! Afterall, I don't plan to be trimming it! I use ratchet blocks and no winches. The only winches on my boat are the primary winches.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2010 : 04:44:56

buy two sets - 5/16's with some decent shackles and some 3/16" or smaller with the funky plastic shackles. Just pick the set you need for the expected conditions. After 15 years of racing I was only in on race where we swapped out spinnaker sheets.

You really don't need low stretch for the sheets, just the halyard. Find some novatech on ebay and you'll probably spend 100 bucks for all 4 sheets.

Edited by - Champipple on 08/17/2010 11:37:23

Bill Holcomb
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Response Posted - 08/15/2010 : 08:19:17

The 1/4" Sta-set doesn't bother my hands since I only use the cruising chute in breezes less than 10 or 12 knots.... never racing.... In stronger breezes the genoa jib pushes the boat almost as fast and is simpler to use.

Yes, I also have some 4mm sheets with the "funky plastic" snap shackles for really light winds too.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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3285 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2010 : 21:19:34

You really need low stretch for the sheets. I use 8mm VPC. I have 2, 50 foot sheets. I have 1/4 inch stayset-x for the light air sheets. These can tear up your hands. I once had 3/16 but it cuts your hands too badly.

When the pole is forward and the wind is 15 knots on the beam and the big 18 foot chute is up, you'll want the low stretch sheets. You will also want twingers (or tweakers) or you will be breaking stanchions (I broke all 3 on one side in a race in a big gust).

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djdurrett
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124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2010 : 06:32:32

Jim, do you have any pictures of where and how your twingers are run?

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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3285 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2010 : 07:59:46

I don't have any pictures of the twingers, but what I did was get another set of genoa cars. I have these set at the widest part of the boat (about halfway down) on the rail. On these, I have a large stainless carabiner. This is where I hook up the twingers.

You 100% need the twinger on the guy in strong winds when the pole is forward, unless you want to break stanchions (or bend them). Also, the twinger can be set on the sheet to choke the chute when downwind in too strong winds.

That race where all 3 broke on the port side (or were bent to the deck) was an expensive lesson.

I have a very novel set up that eliminates the need for 2 extra winches in the cockpit for the sheet and guy.

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djdurrett
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124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2010 : 08:17:02

How are the stanchons getting broken?

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2010 : 05:05:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djdurrett
 How are the stanchons getting broken?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This issue isn't just a C-25 thing. Depending on Point of sail, the spin sheet and/or the guy (but moreso the guy) runs tightly agains the stanchion on the way back to the block. One good blow and it will bend that thing in an instant.

I'll agree to disagree on the need for low stretch for spin sheets. If you have someone constantly trimming it (as is normal in a race condition) then in my opinion stretch isn't much of an issue.

As for the small stuff - if you are using it in very light wind - 7 or less - then you aren't going to have any rope burn issues.

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djdurrett
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124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2010 : 08:05:15

That make sense... Most of my sailing has been on boats without lifelines! LOL!

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.