Fireball Spinnaker Launch system

   I am currently restoring a fireball and would like to know more about the spinnaker launching system.It has no chute and no holes for bags. Apparently, it is a chuck launch system. I would just like to know if it is a good idea to just put holes in the deck and put bags in. It's a wooden deck with Grp Hull and I believe the number is 14441 although it is hard to see it. 
Many Thanks
Josh 

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Josh14441 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Josh14441 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Fireball Spinnaker Launch system Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 9:57am
	I am currently restoring a fireball and would like to know more about the spinnaker launching system.It has no chute and no holes for bags. Apparently, it is a chuck launch system. I would just like to know if it is a good idea to just put holes in the deck and put bags in. It's a wooden deck with Grp Hull and I believe the number is 14441 although it is hard to see it. Many Thanks Josh

Noah Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 611	Post Options Post Reply Quote Noah Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 10:08am
	Hi Josh, Can you post some pics? And maybe let us know where you are? Then you may get a volunteer to eyeball your boat. I am aware that some 'balls had a 'scoop' out of the deck either side of the mast and kite bags were, i believe, intended to be fixed into these. Hope this helps.
	Nick D-Zero 316

Josh14441 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Josh14441 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 10:14am


JohnJack Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Mar 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 246	Post Options Post Reply Quote JohnJack Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 10:53am
	You don't necessarily have the cut out in the deck for bags, sometimes the bag or just a barrier was fitted behind the deck, or partly underneath, as long as you could get a kit in there. Interesting hole you have in the fore deck, is that mid repair??

Josh14441 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Josh14441 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 10:58am
	thanks and yes that hole is mid-repair that is a photo from a couple weeks ago so there is a patch in there now

Noah Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 611	Post Options Post Reply Quote Noah Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 11:24am
	Er. Never seen one like that before. Is the hole in the foredeck functional or a repair? There seems to be a hole in the fwd bulkhead. Remains of a kite chute where the foredeck has been replaced, perhaps? However, assuming there is space between the fwd bulkhead and the aft edge of the foredeck, I would look at cutting holes, adding some suitable reinforcement and installing bags, as per the most common system in use today.
	Nick D-Zero 316

Josh14441 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Josh14441 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 12:02pm
	the hole in the foredeck is from the trapeze hook when the previous sailor's crew must have tried to get the spinnaker sheet from under the bow and the hole in the bulkhead is a buoyancy tank hatch and yes there is space to cut holes for bags so i think that is what I will do thanks Edited by Josh14441 - 14 Feb 17 at 12:02pm

Paramedic Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paramedic Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 6:36pm
	Hi Josh. that looks much older than the number you suggest. Not that this is a problem as it looks to be a boat you've rescued from an untimely demise. The hull number should be engraved upon the thwart. if its not there it implies that the thwart has been replaced or the hull never issued a number - the former is more likely.

zippyRN Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 14 Sep 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Post Options Post Reply Quote zippyRN Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 8:43pm
	as Paramedic says i doubt that is a 144xx boat , looking at the image at the full size it just looks older, much older ... stuff like the wooden chocks for the cleats etc ...

Josh14441 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote Josh14441 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Feb 17 at 9:48pm
	That's strange as I looked up other fireballs and 14442 was described as wooden decks with GRP hull although it could be a different number the number is on the port side of the thwart there were definitley 3 4s and what looked like a 1 in front of it and a 1 or a 7 after it although it looked more like a 1. There are 2 stickers aft in the cockpit saying it was registered to the international fireball association in 1994 and 95, I emailed them trying to find info about it a week or 2 ago but had no response. Thanks for the reply Josh Edited by Josh14441 - 14 Feb 17 at 10:13pm