I've seen video of them does anyone know where I would go about getting one? What changes to the rigging or use a different mast altogether?
Thanks,

Charlie,

Contact Chip at www.whirlwindsails.com . I would go with a pretty small chute like on the FX1.

See my thumbnail? I run a Hobie 18SX chute or a F18 chute on this 35 year-old wooden A-cat- that is hydrofoiling (flying 2 hulls) in this pic. She ain't broke (permanantly) yet.

Well...yeah...but you're crazy.

that thumbnail is so tiny dacarls 1/2" sq on my iphone I dont see a spinaker or much of anything have toe take your word on tha hydrofoil. Really that boat is 35? That's awsome!
I read somewhere the A class was started in 1956 same year I landed on this planet.

No real engineering knowledge here, but I'd be nervous about adding the stresses of a spinnaker to my Boyer. Seems like it's designed to be just barely strong enough to handle the forces generated by the main and crew weight. Tread lightly!

Dave

This is the video I was looking at that gave me the thought to look into it. Don't know what the difference between boats is but it looks do-able on a non racing day of course. I don't know about the loads or limits either Dave, AHPC is non-responsive to my email about simple stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cAnYrvAjbY

I have one custom made by Jay Glaser. Appx 13 sq mtrs. Found it to be too much trouble to rig on an XJ (no bows). Also have a carbon snuffer and bag to go with it. Let me know if interested. Rick

Charlie,
I've reconstructed a old broken mast and added some uni to it with the thought that I'd use it for when I add a spin to the Acat.

I wouldnt risk my primary mast, find an older mast, and add some uni to it to stiffen it up.

And dont go more than 1/3 the distance between the hounds and the top of the mast with the hoist on the kite. And keep the main sheeted when you are flying the kite.

Bill

I know a guy in Miami that has a great set up on his Mastrom A. Specificly designed for the A. I know that his boat is for sale maybe he would sell you the spin kit off it?

Thanks everyone,
Rick give me a call reguarding that you got my number in a PM.
Bill I have a second mast and plan to add some uni to that area about 5 ft from the top already and want to re do the clear. What are the Hounds and about how many feet and layers of carbon are we talking about? I can get it in 12" wide roll and a better price over 10 ft whet do you suggest for the thickness available? http://www.cstsales.com/uni_carbon_fabric.html. Also do you or anyone know whats the best paint to use on one of these? I had my primary mast clear redone by a local guy he said he used outboard motor paint.

Rick,
Measure the distance between the top of the mast and the attachment point for the shrouds, divide by 3, dont go any higher than that distance above the shrouds attachment point and you should be ok with the spin.

HOUNDS, the place next under the head of a mast, where it is made more substantial for supporting the trestle-trees and top. (I probably wasnt using the term right, sorry about that)

How much uni? I dont really know, I'd start with one layer of 4oz and see how stiff the rig is. Hang 20lbs off the tip of the mast, and measure the deflection, then do it again when after you add the uni and post the results. The sail is going to act as a backstay, so as keep the sail tight it will help support the mast.

Clear coat, Imron is the best and gives the best finish when sprayed professionally. If you want to do it in your basement and dont want to kill yourself with the fumes, System Three WRU works good, but only lasts a couple of years and it does flake off over time if you scratch it, I but it works for a while, not nearly as long or as shiny as Imron. System Three is waterbased and the fumes are low tox, so its easy to work with in your house. If you spray Imron or any of the 2 part marine paints, you need to have a respirator, if you breath it it can kill you.

You might want to wait until you test out the mast before you sail it, you can always add more uni, or sand some off to tune the rig.

Bill

Mine is less than a third above the shroud attachment. I took Jay Glasers recommendations for measurements when I had the sail made. He kept the attachment point low to protect the mast. I never saw any extra deflection when using it. Rick

Thanks everyone, Thanks for the call Rick I'll keep a look out for some pics here of your spinnaker. I'll see Jay this weekend and ask him more about adding it to my boat since he owned it at one time and told me about the guy that I bought it from. I haven't seen an F18 up close yet maybe the set up will be the same as you said.

Bill I do own a resperator but no basement (west coast thing)I have some automotive clear coat and epoxy paint I was looking for something with UV protection like Awlgrip having a hard time finding something like that.
I will order some of the 3.7 oz uni since sanding it off sounds like a pain. May go with a second layer this mast got pranged taking it down when I bought it so its just a backup at this point I need to fix it up anyway.

Pics of hydrofoiling wooden A-cat
http://www.fastsail.com/catcobbler
Don't see the directions for "attachments" - give an analog guy a break- anybody?
OK- I can score in the top .08 percentile, but I can't figure out how to use Edit/file manager to put a spin pic file name here.

cool pics dacarls! If you want to post pics on the thread I found the switch to full screen reply has the file manager link also if you edit your comment that comes into play.
I was shopping around earlier this year for a trifoiler but couldn't find any for sale when I got into the cat. Adding something like that would be fun and fast! Any spares?

I was told clear Awlgrip was the way to go over carbon.
Todd

That's my A-class on the video that someone ripped to youtube. You can find the original video on the homepage below, it's on my home server with adsl (1 Mbit) so be patient and save it to your hard drive before looking at it. The mast is a standard Marstrom that is quite soft and the spi is a landenberger 17 m2 spi. The boat is a dream to sail with spi, 8 knots of wind and you are on the trapeze flying downwind! I just sold it but will order a new A-class early next year. Marstrom with curved centerboards, spi kit and integrated halyard in the mast to remove some windage.

Check this link for more info about the boat and performance,
http://www.webbo.dyndns.org/~sailing/spi/index.html

/hakan

Hi Hakan, Thanks for your input you know youtube is better exposure than television these days! That yellow cat really moves good to hear your getting a shiny new one soon. Keep us posted.

Please tell us about your new curved centerboards. Such a terrible invention is regarded as having HIV, AIDS and Leprosy all at the same time here in the good old USA.