[C320-list] Asymmetrical spinnaker sheets

[Martin Raphael]

Thanks Denny -- that's great information.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Denny Browne" <dennybrowne at verizon.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Asymmetrical spinnaker sheets


> You can use 3/8" Sta-set with little problem, but it can get a little 
> heavy
> in light air, particularly if it gets wet. It's double braid polyester,
> which absorbs water. That pulls the clew down and misshapes the sail.
>
> I use 10mm (about 13/32") Spect-set from New England ropes, but it's
> discontinued. It's a spectra, or Dynema core with polyester cover. Spectra
> (Dynema) does not absorb water. I stripped the cover for about 20 feet so
> there is very little weight pulling down on the clew and way more strength
> than the application requires. The stripped core is also far easier to put
> an eye splice in. The result is that it'll fly in very light air 
> eliminating
> the need for light air sheets, although I have those too. The 8mm 
> Spect-set
> II would have been fine, but the 10mm is a little easier on the hands
> because the larger size is easier to grip, especially when it's a little
> windy and I found a screamin' deal from West Marine on it a couple of 
> years
> ago. I find the 8mm to be a little stiff, too, but that may work itself 
> out
> as a spinnaker sheet.
>
> West Marine has a special on green 8mm Spect-set II for 56 cents a foot. 
> The
> 8mm Endura Braid is great, probably the best, but it's $2.43 a foot today.
> Another spectra core option is Maxibraid Plus. Better Dynema core, but 
> also
> discontinued and very hard to find. I built two 8mm spinnaker halyards out
> of that stuff and it would be a wonderful, high strength very lightweight
> sheet. If you can find it.
>
> By the way, if you're going to use a tack line, I'd encourage a vectran 
> core
> line for that and lead it aft to the cockpit. The tack line takes a far
> greater load than the sheet (as does the halyard) and you really don't 
> want
> it to stretch. Spectra core is fine for that, but it should be a little
> bigger than the sheet. The stretch probably only matters if you're racing,
> but the light weight sheet will enable you to fly the sail and keep the 
> boat
> moving in pretty light air.
>
> More than you wanted to know, I'm sure. Good luck with the search.
>
> Denny Browne
> A Cappella #935
> Redondo Beach
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of MARTIN and
> SUSAN RAPHAEL
> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 8:23 AM
> To: c320-list at catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Asymmetrical spinnaker sheets
>
>
>
> I recently purchased an asymmetrical spinnaker and am anxious to try it 
> out.
> I need to purchase sheets for it and wonder what you might recommend for
> type and diameter.  I will be sailing in the Puget Sound area, where the
> winds are typically light.  What works for you?
> Thanks,
> Martin Raphael
> Rhapsody #108=
>
>