Gabby Wray,
1) The colors will NOT bleed...my
current spin is about 9 - 10 years old, and I do use it
, and have put it away wet couple of times....and it still looks good!!!
And, Since I also sail
Catalina C470, have a big asym spinnaker, and use it regularly (with 2 to 3 persons on board, and usually just 2), and have flown it at night, and on long passages, and across oceans, etc...
Perhaps you'll find my thoughts, opinions, experiences helpful....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabbywray
We are live aboards (4 yrs.), on Gabby Wray, 470 Catalina and getting ready to head south and through the Panama Canal.
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2) Please do head over to our C470 yahoo group and join....
C470 : Catalina 470 Sailboat
Be prepared for the good natured ribbing we give each other.....but, you'll
learn a lot!!!
Also, please be sure to check out our C470 Projects and Pictures page....
http://www.c470.jerodisys.com/470pix/foto_bot.htm
And, please don't forget to join our C470 Assoc...
http://www.catalina470.org/
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabbywray
...getting ready to head south and through the Panama Canal.
We are getting ready to purchase our first Spinnaker.
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3) Not sure where you are at, nor which direction you are heading after passing thru the
canal, nor what your cruising plans are....but...
a) But, if heading downwind across the Pacific, I would make sure that you have an effective downwind pole system rigged so that you will actually be able to use it easily/regularly...
Poling-out your
genoa (especially for wing-on-wing, and dead downwind sailing) is going to be more useful than a spinnaker...
So, get a dcent pole rigged now, that you can use effectively and get some experience with it, before you buy a spin...
b)
Buying a asym spinnaker is a GREAT idea, and if you use an ATN sock and/or get used to using/deploying it short-handed, you WILL use it...more than some think!!!
(I find that I use mine about 12% - 16% of the time on long passages /
offshore / across oceans....and I'm NOT sailing downwind in the Pacific, but rather across the Atlantic, and to/from Carib, and
Bahamas...)
Here are links to some videos showing my asym in action across the Atlantic....
c)
Buying a slightly used spin is fine, and much cheaper than new!!! Just have it looked at my a sailmaker first!!!
If you give some more details, we can be even more specific in our answers....
But, until then, I hope this helps...
Fair winds,
John
s/v Annie Laurie