HOW TO ATTACH AN ASYMETRICAL SPINNAKER TO A PRODDER?

[Savanna]

Hi Forum Members,
I'm hoping that one of you may be able to provide a practical solution to my problem. I have catamaran (Maxim 380) which has a removable prodder (bowsprit) to which the tack of the screecher is attached. The prodder is held down by two lines (one to each bow), and held up by the screecher halyard.
I would love to fly an asymetrical spinnaker, but the technical information I have says to attach the spinnaker tack to a tackline which runs through a block and to a convenient cleat. This allows the spinnaker to be floated a few feet above the deck. However, this means I cannot use the spinnaker halyard to hold the prodder up and steady.
Any practical ideas would be much appreciated.

[Teeto]

We fly our genniker (assymetrical spinnaker/ MPS) from a two way tack to each bow. We have pulleys both at the sail tack and on each bow (to get mechanical advantage) led back to cleats.
This means we can float the tack from side to side and use the sail through a huge range of wind angles.
We do not have a prodder but I think this attachment system could work around the outside of it - or remove the prodder.
We love using it and leave the tack lines coiled on each side of the boat ready to use all the time.
Have fun!

[spiritcat]

You should have your prodder secured from dropping if the screecher halyard is release otherwise it will drop into the ocean below.

The assymetrical spinnaker should go through a block forward of the screecher attachement point and the tack line to a jammer or cleat on the deck. The spinnaker is then raised outside the screecher and the prodder stays in place.

Peter

[mikereed100]

Most people simply attach a line from near the end of the pole to the seagull striker to hold the prodder up when the halyard is released. This line supports only the weight of the prodder and should take no strain.

[Savanna]

Hi All,
Many thanks for the useful responses - I think I now have it figured out in my head, so will now have a go.