Visit our site and online store dedicated to spinnakers, code zero, furlers, and accessories, at iSpinnakers.com for much more information, client projects and more.
Spinnakers on a cruise boat are often considered too difficult to handle – this could not be further from the truth. You just need to ask yourself the right questions before choosing a spinnaker and a vendor, and get orientated to the right type of sail for your situation – Asymmetric or symmetric, and possibly consider the use of sock.
If you never had a spinnaker before, click here to read about how to choose your first spinnaker.
Standard spinnakers
Choosing an i-Sails standard cruising spinnaker does not mean you are skimping on design or quality: all our spinnakers are tri-radial cut. This cut offers minimal shape distortion under stress, and increased stability. Originally a racing design, the tri-radial cut is now the quality standard for cruising sails.
Our standard spinnakers are designed with an all around flying shape to maximize the apparent wind angles at which they can be used and for use in a cruising / family crew setting, with reasonable sizes and forgiving cuts – you do not need to have a crew at the sheet all the time.
Finishes are aimed at durability and ease of use– all standard spinnakers have a leech and luff line, stainless Steel ‘O’ rings with heavy duty zig zag stitched polyester webbing at every corner, radial patches, color coded edge tapes, etc.
We use cloth targeted at cruising application, a nylon that comes in 48g/sqm. and 75 g/sqm, and includes a 5 mm ripstop in both directions.
Our “classic” color scheme is white / blue / red.
Standard shape, Custom colors
If you have little more time and your creative mind works overtime, we can use the same standard shape and finishes, in any color scheme you can dream of. The cloth we use comes in a variety of colors and we can customize the color scheme at will. There are hundred of combinations, depending on whether you chose classic star pattern, a one color design, a checkered one….
A custom color spinnaker takes 3-4 weeks from order to delivery, and a side benefit, we can adjust the finishes and construction at no extra charge, since we are making that spinnaker just for you!
Full Custom Design
Perhaps you already have a spinnaker, and you want another one to handle specific conditions that your first one does not cover well – or your boat has a very unusual rig setup; or your prevailing sailing conditions demand further customization; or you wish for a specialized sail?
If a standard design/construction will not do, we can also do a fully custom sail for you as well, starting with a discussion of your specific needs, the development of a custom flying shape for you, selecting the right cloth (if we do not stock it we will get it for you – plan a couple more weeks), and construction and finishes to suit your needs – we will guide you through the process, call us for a consultation.
Our standard cruising finishes
- Corner Rings – Stainless Steel ‘O’ rings with polyester webbing – no pressed rings!
- Radial Patches at each corner distribute loads into the sail and ensure a smooth, light sail
- Polyester Luff, leech and foot lines. Upgradable to Vectran on custom spinnakers
- Head, Foot and Clew have printed identification
- Color coded edge tapes. (Luff in Red, Leech in Green and Foot in White). Other colors can be specified on custom sails
- Each sail comes with a drawstring sailbag stenciled with your boat name (when specified at the time of order)