Asymmetrical Questions

[beang]

Hurray!  My new .75oz Asymmetric has arrived!  Now, to get it rigged.  I've set up to run the tack back to the cockpit and plan on using 50' of line.  My question is what diameter?  Likewise, what diameter of line are people using as sheets? Half inch? 9/16?  I used 7/16 and 3/8 (a.k.a. "dental  floss") on my 28.

[jentine]

My chute came with the boat and Catalina supplied the same size as the genoa sheets (1/2").
Jim Kane

[Ted Pounds]

George,

You want to go with 3/8" for the spinnaker sheets.  I went with 9/16 for mine (same as the jib sheets) and it was way too heavy, and cumbersome to coil.  I ended up stripping the cover off mine for the portion that runs from the winch to the tack.  That improved things a bit but I wish I had just gone with 3/8.  I will probably buy new new ones in the future, but I used this year's allotment of money on other stuff.  

Ted

[Bill Sedgwick]

I use 3/8 for the sheets and 7/16 for the halyard, however I have a new Sampson Xls extra jib halyard and would use the 3/8" xls extra if I were doing it again. Plain dacron double braid is fine for the sheets and 7/16 dacron is cheaper than the low stretch stuff. Unlike jib and main halyards, the stretch isn't as important on the spinnaker.

If you want performance reaching, you need an adjustable tack. I rigged a 3:1 led to a cam clete on the side of the cabin near the cockpit. A single line extends from the forward block to through a single block attached to the anchor roller structure. I'd probably do a 4:1 if I were doing it again but it works very effectively and permits about 6 ft of tack adjustment. In smooth water, letting the tack off will let you go much deeper downwind.

[rirvine]

George:

Welcome to the fun world.  I used 3/8" Sta-set X with a 2:1 block system for the tack.  I moved the boomvang from the inboard starboard stopper to a jam cleat on the cabin top and used that stopper for the tack â€" easier to get at and the cabin top winch can be used if needed to adjust the tack. I used 7/16" Sta-set for the sheets.  One idea - If you have not replaced your halyards as yet, replace them with low stretch T-900 and use the old halyards for spinnaker sheets.

Enjoy!

l

[Rick]

George,
I too have 1/2 sheets, but they are definitely too heavy. My tack line goes through a clutch mounted on the outside rail, then around a snatch block attached to the stern cleat. If there is a big load, we use a winch, if it's light you don't need any purchase. One thing with an asymmmetrical on our boats is that you can wing it for ddw.  It works great. Drop the halyard about a foot and  it will rotate out.  Have fun!  

Rick Niles,
Gentle Storm #1294

Rick Niles
Rick@ranfit.comˇ