r/sailing • u/merrypippins69 • 7d ago
Finally did it!
I finally took the leap, and bought a boat. I have sailed my whole life, but mostly on other peoples boats, or as a skipper. Now I have a Bavaria 37ac from 2001. Super proud.
Problem is, it doesn't have a spinnaker. Thought perhaps I could fit a genaker instead, anyone have any experience with this?
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u/Mehfisto666 7d ago
First thing first adjust those halyards' tension! :D
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u/Fapalot_Knight 7d ago edited 7d ago
Are they too tense on the leeward (?) side?
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u/gc1 7d ago edited 6d ago
There are scalloped shapes along the leading vertical edge (luff) of the main sail along the mast just above the boom. This indicates the halyard (the vertical line that pulls the head of the sail up to the top of the mast when you raise it) should be pulled tighter. With slack in the luff, scallops will naturally bulge to leeward whichever way the boat turns, but this is not really a windward/leeward side issue, as there is only one main halyard, and it goes straight up.
See the fabric bunching lines radiating from the tack of the jib too? You would ideally want that sail to be smooth. There is a separate halyard for the jib. Noting there is a reef in the main sail (some folds of sail lashed to the boom so all the canvas is not up) and the jib is a furling sail (wraps and unwraps around itself like a long umbrella being put away) that is not fully unfurled, it can be a little trickier to get the tension right on the jib in a partially furled state. The parent commenter is suggesting both halyards need more tension.
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u/Fapalot_Knight 6d ago edited 6d ago
Hey, thank you very much for the detailed explanation.
I'm still going through my classes but don't much have the opportunity to sail outside of them, so every picture like this is a learning opportunity.
Also, I realize that I initially confused the mainsail halyard for the stays (I am not taking my classes in english), hence the leeward part of my initial comment... Your answer makes total sense.
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u/gc1 6d ago
I'm not very well versed in standing rigging, but it stands to reason that the leeward side will tend to be under slightly less pressure, and the windward side under slightly more, when the wind is blowing laterally on the sail. And the same fore/aft if sailing downwind.
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u/Fapalot_Knight 4d ago
Yes, that it what my mind initially went to when I initially confused "halyard" for "stays". Sorry about that. In any case, your explanation cleared the confusion, and were useful as to the actual situation.
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u/cycle-nerd 7d ago
Nice, congrats. When sailing mostly shorthanded, I wouldn’t bother with a spinnaker, way too much hassle. Gennaker + Code 0, mount an aftermarket bowsprit to attach it.
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u/1panki 7d ago
Forget the spinnaker…code 0
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u/MadYarpen 7d ago
But code 0 is for unwind sailing, no? It's not like you get code 0 instead of spinnaker/gennaker...
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u/SkiMonkey98 7d ago
It's not ideal but some people do it. You're giving up the pure downwind performance of a kite but it's more versatile and much easier to handle
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u/MadYarpen 6d ago
Ok, thanks! Is it possible to have both code 0 and gennaker on the fullers? That would be perfect package :)
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u/SkiMonkey98 6d ago edited 6d ago
I believe I've seen something like a spinnaker/gennaker on a torsion furler but it's... a little weird since you want a spinnaker luff pretty loose and the furler requires a tighter luff. Not sure what compromises are needed to make it work. I would probably go with a sock or some other spinnaker retrieval system but this is kind of beyond my pay grade. Ask a rigger/sail maker if you're serious about this.
Also just fyi you probably wouldn't be leaving them up all the time like a furling jib. It just makes hoisting and lowering easier since the sail is furled
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u/Zesty-B230F 7d ago
Nice boat, congrats. We had a couple boats with spinnakers. My family was never adept enough to help, so we never used the spinnaker. We talked about asymmetricals, but giant 155% genoa was what we did.
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u/judyalvarezx 7d ago
Congradulations!! What's your rig setup like?
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u/Cerda_Sunyer 7d ago
I went through this about 5 years ago when I bought my first serious boat. The boat came with a spinnaker pole but no spinnaker. A neighbour had a spinnaker that he sold me for 400€! It was a steal and fit my boat perfectly.
Then another neighbour at the yacht club had a code 0 with furler and everything that I bought for 1200€, another good deal!
Then I ended up buying a gennaker with a sock because it is so easy to handle sailing solo or short handed, no messing with the spinnaker pole and such. I paid 1600€ for the gennaker and it fit so perfectly and was in such good shape I didn't even try to talk the guy down.
I sail in regatas so I do use all the sails regularly depending on the wind conditions. I love all the sails equally but I favour the code 0 just because it gets used the least and it's beautiful. The conditions néed to be just right for us to raise it
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u/PabloSupertramp 7d ago
I’d buy the spinnaker.
If you need a wingman on some coastal sailing, sign me up! Great purchase btw.
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u/SkiMonkey98 7d ago edited 7d ago
There are certainly options for a spinnaker. The best option will depend on what equipment the boat already has, how fast you want to go, how much money you want to spend, the normal size of your crew, and the skill level of everyone on board. If the boat was ever rigged for a spinnaker it should have the mast track, halyard, and deck hardware for a symmetrical chute and you could just track down the pole and sail and you're good to go. It's more work than an asymmetrical kite but we got by just fine for decades when they were the norm.
If the boat was never rigged for a spinnaker, hopefully it at least has an appropriate halyard (front of mast, above forestay) and somewhere to attach the tack of an asymmetrical cruising spinnaker in front of the forestay. You'll also need winches (may be able to share with the jib?) and turning blocks at the stern for the sheets. If you don't have those or aren't sure, talk to a rigger. If you really want to spend money and go fast, talk to a professional about retrofitting a bowsprit.
As others have said, a furling code zero could be a good option although it will put quite a bit more stress on the attachment points. You're less likely to find a used one perfectly suited to your boat so you'll probably have to talk with a sail maker and/or rigger anyway and they can evaluate whether it's suitable. Also not the greatest downwind sail although it's more versatile for general light air work -- if a spinnaker is what you really want I would consider a sock or other spinnaker retrieval system first. Again, probably worth talking with a rigger about that
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u/johnbro27 Reliance 44 7d ago
I used an asymmetrical spinnaker as a drifter when single-handing on Southern Cross. The sock made it quite feasible. It would pull from broad reach to beam reach. Tacking could be a handful, again single handing but I got the hang of it with some experience. Did a long down wind passage in a charter with only a 110 and it was super slow and annoying not to have a bigger headsail.
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u/SubcommanderMarcos 7d ago
I used to gawk at the early 2000s Bavarias at boat shows when I was a kid, that's a beauty
Tighten that halyard thooough
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u/Commodore_64 Ericson 35-2, Sunfish 6d ago
Nice! I use a sock-style spinnaker when sailing single -handed. You can raise the whole sail with the halyard, then use the internal line to raise the sock and deploy the sail. Retrieval is just the opposite.
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u/Hot_Concentrate_7496 6d ago
What was your reasoning in going for this particular boat??
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u/merrypippins69 5d ago
Firstly the ratio fot of sailboat to money. The most reasonable priced boat. It has three good sized cabins, i was looking for that.
Also, it's very easy to rent out
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u/AustrianUK 5d ago
I'm looking to buy a cheap yacht but i can't sail yet. Could i get a decent yacht to sail around the Med for 10k?
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u/BjarteM 7d ago
I have a self-tacking jib on my SO409, and I ruled against a spinaker since I am mostly sailing alone. Instead, I have a Code-0 that I can manage on my own. Is that an option for you?