Hi Chris,
The spinnaker style I like, have the most success with, is the tall, long luff sail and it is not max area but it is max luff length. Since most of the forward pull from the spinnaker comes from the front 1/3rd of the sail, max luff length is more important than max area. The max area spinnaker will only sail well deep downwind. When you try to heat it up, sail higher, it overpowers you and you can't hold the boat down in a breeze and it pulls mostly sideways anyway which loads up the daggerboards and makes more drag in the water. The max area spinnaker has a narrow window of successful application. The higher aspect ratio spinnaker will sail well over a wide variety of downwind sailing angles from hot to deep. Unlike the classical spinnaker, the leech of this spinnaker must be flat and quick to twist open and not backwind the mainsail. Remenber that a hooking leech is producing thrust to the rear. When you stand behind your boat in line with the spinnaker leech and the sail is trimmed hot, you should not be able to see the leeward side of the spinnaker. If you can, that spinnaker area is producing thrust to the rear.
The first step to a good spinnaker is the pole. Longer poles are better. They make for longer luff sails and they allow the spinnaker force to lift the bow. Copy the ARC pole support system in general. Select a pelican stricker tube length that puts the pole at whatever height you want it. The pelican stricker tube takes the vertical load from the spinnaker/spinnaker pole and puts it the forestay bridle wires where it goes to ground in the hulls.
Good luck,
Bill