Anyone know where I can obtain a cheap set of spinnaker bags for MR908?

Other question! MR908 does not have cut-outs in deck for bags to fit bags, any other ideas/solutions for fixing/storing spinnaker?

TIA

Richard

Plastic washing basket on the floor.

Daddy's MKIX had  netting stretched under one half of the foredeck.

Washing baskets and nets can snag corners, knots and other stuff. Baby baths or plastic buckets serve well. In 1964 the GP14 Nationals was won with small buckets with 8 feet of string holding the bottom to the floorboards. We could hoist the kite and bucket 8 feet whilst still on the wind when the cloth was stuffed hard in the bucket. Then we just tugged a few more feet on the halyard as we bore away. The kite exploded perfectly as the bucket fell into the boat. This is a true story. I was the crew. Simple solutions for simple times eh?

Until the bucket landed on your head?

We made (mother in law is we) two bags out of some dacron sail cloth.  eyelets set at top so that when suspended under the foredeck the mouth gapes like a drunkard's!  Remember to put a couple of eyelets in the bottom so water can drain out and sandwiches stay dryish.

With the gape its a doddle to stuff the spinny into the bag whilst forgetting to bring it in under the jib sheets so its all nicely taffled for next launch.  Cut a hole in the bow end of the deck and make a chute to avoid this confusion!

Thanks for the ideas!

I have some old sails off 908 so i'll get the Mothe in Law to make up some bags!!

Cheers


Richard

1728 had large holes cut in the foredeck with dacron bags below for the spinnaker.  Main problem was when I got her this cut edge of the ply was the very place that the delamination had started probably due to wear on the varnish by the spinnaker itself. This had  eventually spread as rot into the foredeck cross member and ruined the whole mast gate area.  So if you are going down that route I suggest that you protect the ply edge or inspect on a regular basis so that the varnish can be touched up to prevent water getting in.   There are pictures of this on the site under restoration and repairs of 1728 but you need MROA membership and a password to view it I think.  Perhaps Mags can clarify - it appeared in a magazine a few years back.

2315 had been modified during the build by Barry Mourant when spinny chutes came in, but still had 2 square holes in the foredeck with sailcloth bags in for your sandwiches, bits of rope etc.  The hole was faced with small sections of wood (ash probably) to avoid just this delamination problem.

You don't always need to cut holes, surely?

I won't!

I''ll just make up some bags that sit just sit proud of the foredeck either side of the mast step and then work out some sort of fixing detail. Alternatively I like the netting idea.

R

Can't a pair of GP14 ones be doctored to fit?

Blasphemy!

I'm sure they can but I don't really want to spend £60+ quid for a couple of bits of material!!!!

Make your bags from a mesh (as used by fishermen for keep nets) as the water will then drain out. Or just make a mesh bottom section with a tough nylon bag. Point north (profabrics) can supply the materials.

IKEA blue bags from ebay at about £1 each do the trick They even have a hemmed top to run bungee cord throughso they pop back under the deck.

Richard, avoid netting! Everything gets caught up in the mesh, knots,shackles, watch,loose velcro on glove, spinny pole, you name it and it will be caught up in it! I manage to keep a spare hat and waterbottle in the bags as well as the sail. To make the bag mouth gape even more you can put a bit of hosepipe in the hem.  As always KISS is the by word.