ATN Tacker

mandolinwind · #1 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006

Has anyone had experience with an ATN Tacker?
It's difficult to get a review on this little piece of gear.
I have a Newport 33 with a symetrical spinaker but sail short handed most of the time so I need an extra hand at times - this unit might do the trick?
Any feed back is welcome
Thanks in advance
Mandolin Wind

trantor12020 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006

do you really need a Tacker? I fly an asymm and have the sail tack between anchor roller and headsail about 1.5 metre up. the asymm luff is free to fall either port or sbd some and its fine. no need to keep luff at centre or held back by the furled headsail. but if you're racing may the ATN Tacker might help gain some knots.

Irwin32 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006

The ATN tacker is intended for use with an asymetrical. It will not help with a symetrical.

trantor12020 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irwin32

The ATN tacker is intended for use with an asymetrical. It will not help with a symetrical.

rightly so but when sailing shorthanded and wanting to fly a spin, we (sailing friends at my club) sometime fly the symm like a big genny. its maynot trim very well but still doable.

TejasSailer · #5 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006

We're using parril-beads for the same purpose as an ATM Tacker. We also have a Tacker, but haven't tried it yet.

PatrickMcGovern · #6 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006

The ATN Web site, suggests it can be used with both Asyms and conventional symetrical chutes:
http://www.atninc.com/tacker.html

The ATN difference is worth it.

The patented "Tacker" has been developed to control the tack of the cruising spinnaker (asymmetric) by fastening it over the furled headsail and it allows you to use your conventional (symmetric) spinnaker like an asymmetric spinnaker from beam reaching to broad reaching without the need of the spinnaker pole

I have not tried it but hope to this year.
Pat