[C320-list] Spinnaker Hardware: Tack and Turning Block Hardware and Locations

[resloat]

Jason-I don't have any answers on the bowsprit, but am interested in that as 
an option.  I believe the C 445 has it as an option.  We have a Jeanneau 36 
with a portable bowsprit on our dock and one issue the skipper has when 
docking is to make sure he remembers to take the bow spirit off upon on 
arrival.  The boat has to be in the slip so the stern does not stick out 
beyond the fingers so the bow spirit has to be on deck.  Once he came in and 
forgot to take in the bow spirit and ran it into the pier.  It made some 
noise but little damage other than to ego resulted.

I run a UK Flasher asymmetric with the ATN tacker and a sock.

On my Hull 894 the spinnaker turning blocks are attached to Wichard folding 
pad eyes and backing plates installed according to the Catalina deck plan 
from the owner's manual.  I figured if the folks that designed and built the 
boat think this is the best overall location, then go with it.  This 
installation was the first time I drilled any holes into my brand new boat 
so I did a lot of soul searching before committing.  The Catalina deck plan 
shows the spinnaker turning block pad eyes located at the edge of the deck 
opposite each primary winch.  Neither of the pad eye installation involved 
drilling into the cabin space.  The deck core there is anti skid and solid, 
so you can avoid having to drill epoxy the hole then drill again as you 
would where the deck has core balsa or similar material.  Ten years of use 
and no leaks or any deck delimitation issues from water.  The folding pad 
eyes present little trip hazard as the are right next to the fiberglass toe 
rail.

You could pick another location, or if you really want to be able to fine 
tune the spinnaker, install multiple pad eye locations or a track.  Both 
increase trip hazards and involve more installation effort.

I use snatch blocks for the spinnaker sheets that have plastic padding to 
keep the deck from getting beat up if they bang around on the lazy sheet 
side.  I don't remember the brand, but they were pricey as were the French 
folding pad eyes.

On the tack, a Garhauer aluminum snatch block is on the anchor bale.  You 
change the spinnaker tack height depending on your angle of attack lowering 
it when close reaching and raising it when sailing at broad reach to almost 
a dead run.  The spinnaker tack line is run through the snatch block and to 
the anchor windlass.  It fits under the anchor locker cover perfectly 
without obstruction.  The anchor line cleat is used for the anchor and the 
tack line being a much smaller line can be fit on the same cleat over the 
anchor line.  You could install a separate cleat for the tack line, but I 
have had no problems with this set up in ten years of spinnaker use. 
Control of the tack line is simple.  Just go to the bow, uncleat the tack 
line in the anchor locker and raise or lower the spinnaker tack using the 
windlass.  If you are constantly adjusting the tack height you could run the 
tack line to the cockpit, but I have found with my set up you only have to 
wander up to the bow when making large heading changes.  I can do this 
single-handed with the autopilot holding course easily.  With crew, unless 
you are in major weather, the trip to the bow is not a problem for me.

Bob Sloat
Sanannah 894 (2002)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jason Alexander" <alexander.jason at gmail.com>
To: "c320-list" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 6:42 PM
Subject: [C320-list] Spinnaker Hardware


> Hello all,
>
> I'm looking for some opinions on how people setup their spinnaker 
> hardware.
>
> 1.  Is anyone using a bowsprit.   If so what pole are you using and
> would anyone have pictures.   I tried looking on the website but I
> can't get into the technical section anymore.
>
> 2.  How are you mounting the turning blocks for the sheets.   Right
> now I'm just clipping mine to the stern cleats but that not ideal as
> they don't move freely and I'm afraid I'm putting some sideways force
> on the blocks.  I was thinking about putting some padeyes somewhere
> near the stern cleats but I'm not sure.
>
>
> And the unrelated to the spinnaker does anyone have a  good block/jam
> cleat combo for the roller furler.  I'm not very happy with the
> default setup with the small cleat.
>
> Thanks,
> Jason
>