Parasailor

[Alecadi]

I'm curious about Parasailor pluses and minuses
Anyone want to share his/her experience with a Parasailor?
Thanks

[S/V Alchemy]

You might wait some time for this, not because they aren't good, which I suspect they are, but because they are a big investment, and I have not had the impression they have sold hundreds of them to this point.

I see no reason why they can't be deployed and snuffed like most modern assymmetrical spinnakers, however, meaning they are "couples friendly".

[Alecadi]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

You might wait some time for this, not because they aren't good, which I suspect they are, but because they are a big investment, and I have not had the impression they have sold hundreds of them to this point. I see no reason why they can't be deployed and snuffed like most modern assymmetrical spinnakers, however, meaning they are "couples friendly".

More than a spinnaker?
What kind of a price range are we talking about for a 36'?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Alecadi

More than a spinnaker?
What kind of a price range are we talking about for a 36'?

I looked into one a few years ago and the price scared me away. Don't remember exactly but as I recall $5-$6,000 for my 42' boat. Would guess around $4,000 for a 36'.

Guess if I won the lottery I might consider but for me I just don't think they are that good.

[S/V Alchemy]

Because we are planning to spend literally months in the trades, we've considered it as an alternative to poling out the headsail as a way to blunt the roll a bit, but ours is a somewhat specialized ambition, and it's for long passages that I think the thing was made. $3,500-$4,000 would get you a very nice cruising spin, but you'd have to bag it past 16 knots or so. The advantage of the Parasailor, as I understand it, is that you can sail DDW without a pole (due to the lift of the "wing") and still use it close to a close reach (80-70 deg).

What I don't know is how breezy it can get before you risk damaging it. I'd hate to have to sew those seams.

[Tellus]

Few years ago I did a delivery of 45" Cat with parasailor, was absolutly de luxe. We were only two guys, downwind southerly Portugal coast. Up to 5bf / 20kn wind worked perfect. No problem at night with AP. We did the normal watch out. There was a damage because of a weak clevis on masttop, the para came down, has been between the beams but nothing serious happened.

[S/V Alchemy]

That brings up an interesting point: if you can sail this spi up to 20 knots safely (i.e. it doesn't overpower the boat and doesn't approach a level of damage to the sail), do you need to oversize or use "extra-strong" shackles, line, etc.?

[Tellus]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

That brings up an interesting point: if you can sail this spi up to 20 knots safely (i.e. it doesn't overpower the boat and doesn't approach a level of damage to the sail), do you need to oversize or use "extra-strong" shackles, line, etc.?

The shackle was wrong for the para, has bent up (10mm steel).
Important to use a strong one with pin, made for halyards.

[S/V Alchemy]

Yes, I would think so...it would be prone to a lot of pull. I am personally happy with "regular" line for most halyards, but I would be tempted to spring for a hundred feet of Dyneema for the spinnaker halyard.