Building a Spinnaker Sock DIY

Spinnaker Socks are super nice for launching and recovering your spinnaker.  My last two boats have had them and after using one the benefits are clear. 1st off, sail handling is much easier especially if you're short-handed. 2nd, safety spinnaker socks let you launch and recover your spinnaker without everything being perfectly packed in a turtle bag another word fewer things to tangle up keeps it safer. Woodstock does not have one so we have not used the Spinnaker yet and our trip to Lake Mac last week would have been the ideal time to use a Spinnaker.  So it is time to look into this.  $17.00 per foot x 28 ft =$476 plus tax.  Hum lets go see what's in the garage. 

Any past readers remember this old post Boom Tent  Well this is one sewing project that didn't work out. However, I still have the material sitting here on a shelf and it is light enough and long enough to make into a sock. Now just to find one of those fancy fiberglass hoops they use to make these things.  *Eyes bathroom trash can, decides no.*   Off to look in the garage again. I know I need something fairly sturdy and round/oval shape.  I read someone made one from PVC pipe but had trouble with the squared edges. After a while, I found this piece of plastic conduit at the bottom of my house parts bin.

With the conduit found I twisted it into a circle my diameter is about 9 inches. 

I shoved a wood dowel into the end's of the conduit and set it with screws. 

Just like that a roundish ring for the bottom of the spinnaker sock.

Next, I laid out my rip-stop nylon. 

I used the ring to determine how much material I would need to remove the edge.  My full piece needed to be 37 1/2 inches wide and my length is 28 ft.

Once things are marked out it is time to cut.  This goes pretty easily once you have a good section started and straight you simply fold it over to provide a guideline for the next area. Working your way all the way to the end.  Now I have a nice 18 1/2 inch by 28 ft piece left over for another project and a good looking 37 1/2 inch piece on the right to make into a sock. Next step, relocate inside away from the mosquitos. 

Inside I started by sewing a hem at the bottom of the sock large enough to slide the electrical conduit through. 

Then I folded the material in half.

Next, I sew the whole length together.  It is a long long run so be sure to fill your sewing machine bobbin before you start. I use a zig-zag stitch the whole length so this will take a bit more thread but it will add a lot of strength. Also, this is the inside of the sock so your stitch won't be visible when you are finished.

Once the entire run is done I did a little trimming and turned the whole sock through its self. It is now right side out and the whole seam is hidden.

With the big part of this done it is now time to put in the bottom ring.  I slide the conduit into the hem at the bottom of the sock. Put in the screws. Then I taped over the joint with tarp tape. This is to prevent water from getting into the conduit and cover the screw heads to prevent chafing. 

The next step is setting up the bottom of the sock for bridals. This is an important piece for raising and lowering the sock. To do this I use tarp grommets this kit was under $5 at Menards. To start I use the marking tool above to set my location. Then cut a small hole in the material.  

This sock will have 3 grommets in it just above the conduit ring.  

With the hole cut, you place the grommet through.

Put the cap on the top.

Line up the stamping tool with the bottom.

Then WACK! 

Grommet

Oh, wait I mean Grommet. 

Three times and you're done. Be selective place them around the circle in thirds. 

 

Now the fun part, stringing up the bridals. The inner one is the easy one it is two parts. I made this with one string placing a larks head in the center and attaching the ends to two grommet points. This will go up inside the sock and get attached to the socks internal halyard. Later you can play with it and adjust it so the sock moves up further or not as far depending on your boats needs. The outer bridal uses all three grommet points and comes down outside.  This will attach to the retrieval line to bring the sock back down and douse the sail. Three points will give you a bit more control when bringing everything back down. 

Now for the sock head mechanics. I started with a nylon strap and a cheek block. I sewed a second nylon strap to the first for additional support and provide a thicker base for the nuts.

Then I added a shackle to the bottom loop. This is the Spinnaker head attachment point. 

To finish off the strap I warped the nuts with rigging tape.

I tapered the top of the sock. Then on the inside of the sock, I sewed a Sunbrella patch to protect the nylon from wearing through.

Attach the nylon webbing to the top of the sock. Be sure to sew above the cheek block and below it. 

With the patches and the webbing secured it is time to close up the top.

I used some dacron sail edging during this process. One of the sides needs to be left open so the sock lift halyard can be run through it. 

 Once finished this is what the head looks like.  The Nyon strap comes out the top for the Spinnaker halyard to attach it to. 

With all the sewing done it's time to lace up the sock halyard.  Through the cheek block to the two-point bridal inside the sock.

Then the 3 point bridal gets a line attached to it as well. Some people will make this one continuous line but I tend the think it works better as separate lines. Plus I color code them this way Green is spinnaker up Red is Spinnaker Down.

The finished project! Now to go stuff a spinnaker into it. 

Now for the test. I found this great tree house to tie the head too.

It deployed nicely. 

Recovery was super slick. 

Now for some dock-side testing up goes the sock on the spinnaker halyard.

Up goes the sock. I have a little adjusting to do on the sock bridal to get it up all the way but things are looking good.

 Now just to find a day to go sailing.