Click to see part 2 here
Welcome to part 3.
In 2010, before I even moved onto Gemini Dreams, I found a great deal on a spinnaker. It was a little small for a Vega (295sq/ft+-) and included a snuffer for dousing. We found that with the chute the Vega mast head had very little room for everything all bunched up at the top. Turns out a little small with a snuffer and using an ATN tacker works better than a full cut spinnaker. At the price I couldn't have purchased the snuffer alone. Now that I am single handling the spinnaker hoisting could be accomplished with the autopilot keeping the boat headed in the correct direction with the main providing the drive. Standing on the fore deck tripping over your own feed in all the lines and going overboard in light air isn't too big a deal with two people on board. But with one person on board even at two knots the boat would head off to the horizon without me. While everything in theory could be done from the cockpit once the spinnaker with snuffer was raised we found out that nothing ever goes right.
- The snuffer will not raise.
- The snuffer will not go down.
- The lines for the sock get hung on something that was never in the way before.
- The lines for the sock get kinked upon themselves.
- The sheets get hung on basically everything.
- The autopilot doesn't care if you fall overboard.
- Murphy
With the advent of the readily available commercial endless furling the theory of handling an asymmetrical single handily seems much more friendly. The biggest problem with endless furling? It was developed for racing boats! Which means instead of just sailboat expensive they are RACING SAILBOAT EXPENSIVE! For what is about $60 worth of product you pay between $800-$2,000. You would be stretching to find more than $20 difference in cost to produce the $800 furler and the $2,000 furler. Seriously! A turbocharger which is more material intensive and more labor intensive currently sales for around $400 new. My thrifty (cheap ass) self finally got a deal on a Selden GX endless furler. My plan was to use it with my current spinnaker.
Now it was time to look back into the Code 0. It has been three years since I did the quote collection (see part 1) on Vega sails. With the spinnaker, main and the 135% on the boat I was finally deciding to buy the new Code 0. Boy was I in for a shock! At this point I was just looking for a current quote to make a purchase later in the summer. Of course I went back to Hydesailsdirect.com to start the process.
Did I say shock? I meant HOLY FUCK! In 2015 I listed their code 0 sail quote in the matrix at $826. When I purchased the 135% in 2016 the price was $907. Now that we have had a regime change in the White House and imports are looked upon differently the quote for a Code 0 on 5-5-2018 is $1618! The quote for a custom designed Asymmetrical Spinnaker is $1761! I felt the need to shop arround at this time. Actually, I checked a few other quotes after I came to and got back up off the floor.
I sent off a few emails requesting quotes on a Cruising Code 0, above 90 degrees up to 10 knots.
- Hydesailsdirect.com C0 @1618$ 1.5oz.
- Quantum C0 $1993.41 2.2oz Always quick to respond.
- Neilpride G0 $1417.22 (gennaker).
- North Sails - 3 emails no quote included the last one said "oh we dropped the ball do you still want a sail" I responded yes but still haven't seen a 4th email or quote.
- Yager - email with no quote just 3 pictures and an advertisement "I build a hybrid asymmetrical, it is half drifter or headsail and has off wind characteristics of an asymmetrical spinnaker." (gennaker)
- Sommerset C0 @ $780.00 1.5oz.
With those quotes I was suddenly reevaluating my desire to have a code 0. What were my other reaching light air sail options? Back to the drawing board.
While thinking over the plan for a code 0 I had been giving trivial thought to getting a new spinnaker a more appropriate to the Vega (mine is about 3 feet short). Hydesailsdirect.com does two types of asymmetrical sails. Standard cookie cutter and custom to the boat. I'm not racing so 6 square feet or so and the not perfect tack dimensions are worth a few hundred dollars savings. Also at $1761 for a custom cut .75oz asymmetrical is enough that I would keep the old one I purchased in used 2010. Their cookie cutter sail in 9.2 meter luff (30.18ft & 375sq/ft) would work great for my plans. At $866.43 it was almost half the price of a custom cut and would allow me to put the money toward a "plan B" reaching light air sail. If I could afford one. Maybe the Sommerset? Since I remember the price being roughly the same two years ago for the cookie cutter version I jumped on the buy now button before the Price went up.
color layout similar to this ullmansailsnewportbeach
Current spinnaker is all black
- I was greeted to this in early March on Hydesailsdirect.com. "We will be taking an extended sabbatical and cruising vacation soon. But before we leave, we will complete your sail order. If you have not yet sent in your measurements, please do so by March 10th at the latest, so we can get your sail into production soon.
We are not accepting new orders for custom sails until after we return, because they have a long lead time. We will continue to accept orders for standard sized cruising spinnakers, one-design sails, and hardware.
With best regards,
Judy B & Crew" Good for them everyone needs to take a cruise occasionally. It also guaranteed that I could not buy the code 0 no matter how much I thought I wanted it. - 3-27-18 Clicked the magic button on Hydesailsdirect.com for the 9.2m asymmetrical. They are still selling one design and cookie cutter asymmetricals while on "sail-about".
- 3-29-18 eMail requesting color design.
- 3-29-18 eMail standaard refund agreement.
- 3-29-18 eMail Order conformation, estimated delivery 4-13/4-16 and 80% deposit.
- 4-26-18 eMail Order has shipped with tracking and receipt for final balance.
- 4-26-18 eMail from Judy, Order has shipped with tracking and sail care info.
- 4-30-18 Sail arrived
- 5-08-18 New Hydesailsdirect.com pricing for this sail at $1020.00 (+$153.57).
Hydesailsdirect.com 9.2 panel layout
Once I am able to get it rigged onto the Selden GX and take it for a sunset sail I will add pics to this page. I'll do a separate write up of the GX build once the way over priced anti-torsion line arrives.
Notice as of today I have a 26.5+- foot all black HOOD asymmetrical for sale with HOOD snuffer. Works great with an ATN tacker if you have one. I will be keeping the ATN as it makes a great tack point for my ENO hammock. You guys have first shot at $250 email me
for sale
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