I need some product recommendations. First, spinnaker sheeting blocks for 20' cat, and second, where do I find a spin bag for the tramp?

There is some ideas for the spinnaker blocks on page 2 or 3 of this forum, called "spinnaker blocks". Spinnaker bags can be made by any reputable canvas shop. They can also be found on this site, Smythteam.com, Murrays etc...

http://www.smythteam.com
http://www.murrays.com

AJ
Nacra 6.0 Express

Eric,

The newest Hobie Tramp bag with clam shell closure is one of the best tramp bags I've used. Before snuffers became dereguer even the NACRA & Mysyere guys were buying them.

First of all I use and recomend Ronstan Smart Ratchet - Part number RF42100...... You could also try Harken Ratchamatic part no. 363

As far as a spinnaker launching system goes..... I do not recomend the bag. Try either a sock style or a solid tube suffer system mounted on the spinnaker pole. You can set or drop these very quickly whilst running some hot angles. The bag has more potential for stuff ups and you have to run alot deeper to raise and set. While running deep you will be rolled by anybody near you running the pole mouted system. Also combine your tack line and halyard so you only have the one rope to pull up. The tail of this halyard should go back through the launcher and up to the kite (2 or 3 retreival points) to reteive the kite back into the launcher. This also tidies up the boat and you have no excess halyard on the boat.

See attached pic off the solid system that Bundock and Forbes use...... These systems can be made yourself or puchased from Marstrom, Nacra, Hobie

Here's a pic of the soft system on Bundock and Forbes boat.

Thanks Tom and Stephen, excellent information and photos. Decisions, decisions!

Is most of your sailing around the buoys? Or is it distance sailing?

Mostly distance races, sometimes large triangles but definatly not bouy bashing

The snuffer variations certainly have their advantages around the buoys, but for boats that will primarily be used for distance sailing, the tramp launched chute can serve you well.

It has been interesting, though, to see the variations of snuffers as the evolve. The idea of a big scoop at the end of the pole never appealed to me for the waters I often sail in, but now that they are coming back to mid-pole (or even through the tramp), the new systems are pretty interesting.

Kevin, can you describe th e thru the tramp system? It sounds clean and efficient.

I've only seen it in photos. There are those on this forum who can probably point you to photos or share personal experience. The system consists of an opening in the tramp with the bag attached to the underside. Downside is you can only launch the chute on starboard tack.

The Stealth F16HP has an in-tramp snuffer option which I got the opportunity to try once. (The boat can also be order with a mid-pole snuffer also.) It was very easy to use, very clean, and was never in the way hanging out in front of the boat. Only downside was that we only set on starboard tack. I may be possible to do it on port, but I'm not sure how.

Contact John Pierce at Stealth Marine and he can give you definitive information as he is the designer/maker.

See this web page for a photo:

http://www.geocities.com/stealthmarine2002/Stealth_F16_details_trampoline_snuffer.html

Good Luck,

I am currently running an under tramp system..... See pic... notice the pink sock stiched under the tramp and the opening at the front port side. The sock is a 49er sock.

We will be very soon, changing to the mid pole system as the tramp system has some disadvantages.

Slower to raise and drop whilst on port - but still possible if you run deeper.

Also you cannot run as hot an angle as those pole systems when rounding the top bouy or approaching the bottom mark.

Whilst setting you have to run a little bit deeper and the pole snuffers just role over the top of you.