Hi Mike (in Devon!)
Cost last year from Crusader was just under £1,500. That comes with a snuffer, which nicely bags the chute.
They were quite helpful with set up but I had a friend on board who knew exactly what to do. It was quite simple in the end.
Head – you need an extra halyard, basically a twin of the genoa halyard – Most masts have this provision however if not you should be able to attach a block at the top of the mast and run the halyard outside the mast
Tack – you want to have an attachment as far forward of the bow as you can get – attach a 3 metre length of 8 or 10 mm to the tack eye on the chute. Attach a block to take the line low down outside and on the strong section of the pulpit. The line then comes through the block and secures on one of the mooring cleats. Having this line means that the sail can fill away from the pulpit when hauled up. See attached photos. It would be best with a short bowsprit, I have plans to fashion one sometime out of an old windsurfer mast!
Clew – The chute goes outside everything, of course. Attach a long sheet to the clew. Lead back through the ’leading/turning’ block just above the step up onto the aft deck, then lead to a separate block at the same point as that for the genoa sheet, and up onto the winch.
When everything is connected haul the sail up and then pull a line which will ’unsnuff’ the sail. The sail should fill, and this is when you need a mate on the winch.
It is not an easy thing to sail with by yourself. It is simpler to ’snuff’ the chute and then gybe. You need to watch it, if the wind picks up you should get the chute in early, especially if you are alone and sailing on autopilot. I tend to rig it on one side for a longish leg and then stow on the deck by the guard rail going up wind (if you can get up wind in a N33!)
Hope that this gives you an idea – it was much easier than I thought but take care its a very powerful sail which will transform your down wind sailing.
Nick
