I have an '82 Catalina 30 SR which I use mostly for day sails, one 3-day trip each month and one week-long cruise each year. I also race once each year in the crusing division (non-spinnaker) of a large regatta. I always have company on-board (family and/or friends) although usually no avid sailors, other than during the race weekend. In the past I have borrowed a friend's whisker pole to race with. If I have approx. $700 to spend, which would you recommend I buy: A) A line-control whisker pole (Forespar 10'-18') or B) an autopilot (Simrad WP32)?
Autopilot vs. Whisker Pole
- Thread starter David10430
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i vote...
for the auto pilot and search e bay over the next year for the pole ..trust me youll find one for cheap over the next year also try boat resale shops their an item you can find used at good price
for the auto pilot and search e bay over the next year for the pole ..trust me youll find one for cheap over the next year also try boat resale shops their an item you can find used at good price
auto helm
No question about it ... autohelm is great. I use mine to hoist the main and drop it by keeping the bow of the boat in the wind. I also use it when having lunch ... nice to have two hands on the sandwich rather than one. But when I sailed the boat from NY to NC .... it was extemely useful and I can't now think about not having one. Good Luck on your decision JFC
No question about it ... autohelm is great. I use mine to hoist the main and drop it by keeping the bow of the boat in the wind. I also use it when having lunch ... nice to have two hands on the sandwich rather than one. But when I sailed the boat from NY to NC .... it was extemely useful and I can't now think about not having one. Good Luck on your decision JFC
For what it's worth ......
... it would be the Autopilot. Ok, different for me as I singlehand at least 90% of the time and you say you always have crew. I find it is invaluable for: - Keeping the boat into the wind while flaking the main as I wind up the day. - reefing while underway - making tea or coffee or lunch - steering while I check charts or duck below for cruising guides - letting me rig and fly the asymetric solo - allowing me to prep fenders or ground tackle - letting me hang off the bow pulpit to play with/photograph the dolphins - but most importantly .... going below to use the head! If you always have crew then a lot of those situations might not apply ..... and I suppose the whisker pole could be handier for you. (Whisker pole, not spinnaker pole, right?) How often are you sailing in airs light enough to require the whisker pole? Would you be singlehanding if you could? Or you could always send me the cash so that I could purchase an ATN spinnaker sleeve. It can be a bear messing with the asymetric solo! ;-) Craig Ranger 28
... it would be the Autopilot. Ok, different for me as I singlehand at least 90% of the time and you say you always have crew. I find it is invaluable for: - Keeping the boat into the wind while flaking the main as I wind up the day. - reefing while underway - making tea or coffee or lunch - steering while I check charts or duck below for cruising guides - letting me rig and fly the asymetric solo - allowing me to prep fenders or ground tackle - letting me hang off the bow pulpit to play with/photograph the dolphins - but most importantly .... going below to use the head! If you always have crew then a lot of those situations might not apply ..... and I suppose the whisker pole could be handier for you. (Whisker pole, not spinnaker pole, right?) How often are you sailing in airs light enough to require the whisker pole? Would you be singlehanding if you could? Or you could always send me the cash so that I could purchase an ATN spinnaker sleeve. It can be a bear messing with the asymetric solo! ;-) Craig Ranger 28
From a different perspective
I do not have a pole, but I do have an auto pilot I do a lot of cruising and often make passages of 7 hours or more. On the Great Lakes, where I sail, most sail boats are under power for at least half the time when cruising. An auto pilot in these conditions is great and I find it more valuable than a whisker pole. When day sailing I almost never use the auto pilot, unless singlehanding, and even then, only sporadically. I enjoy taking the wheel. A pole would be nice for those downwind legs, but w/o an auto pilot it could only be set with if crew was aboard. If your cruising finds you with crew on board, taking shorter passages, and doing a lot of lazy downwind sailing you just might want a pole. A pole is on my wish list.
I do not have a pole, but I do have an auto pilot I do a lot of cruising and often make passages of 7 hours or more. On the Great Lakes, where I sail, most sail boats are under power for at least half the time when cruising. An auto pilot in these conditions is great and I find it more valuable than a whisker pole. When day sailing I almost never use the auto pilot, unless singlehanding, and even then, only sporadically. I enjoy taking the wheel. A pole would be nice for those downwind legs, but w/o an auto pilot it could only be set with if crew was aboard. If your cruising finds you with crew on board, taking shorter passages, and doing a lot of lazy downwind sailing you just might want a pole. A pole is on my wish list.
Make you own wisker pole
David, Wisker pole does not have to be as strong as a Spinnaker pole. My slip neighbour Catalina-30 has a homemade wooden wisker pole. He used two snap shackles on a 2 inches diameter hardwood (I think it is Mahogany) pole with the ends tapered. It's about the same weight as aluminium. It doesn't retract but most of the time you don't need to anyway. Yes he race with it. Yes, Autopilot is better investment. It allows you to single hand or at least bring non-sailor for a cruise.
David, Wisker pole does not have to be as strong as a Spinnaker pole. My slip neighbour Catalina-30 has a homemade wooden wisker pole. He used two snap shackles on a 2 inches diameter hardwood (I think it is Mahogany) pole with the ends tapered. It's about the same weight as aluminium. It doesn't retract but most of the time you don't need to anyway. Yes he race with it. Yes, Autopilot is better investment. It allows you to single hand or at least bring non-sailor for a cruise.
Auto Pilot, No doubt about it
When i had my catalina 30, single handed sailing was a snap with auto pilot. Need it raise and lower sails, especially when the wind starts picking up. Also frees you up to make 'down below' checks while sailing or motoring. I couldnt have made some solo trips without it. When the wind starts to pick up to 30 to 35 knots quickly, the large Catalina 30 sails are a lot more than a handful for this old man ( age 60 ).
When i had my catalina 30, single handed sailing was a snap with auto pilot. Need it raise and lower sails, especially when the wind starts picking up. Also frees you up to make 'down below' checks while sailing or motoring. I couldnt have made some solo trips without it. When the wind starts to pick up to 30 to 35 knots quickly, the large Catalina 30 sails are a lot more than a handful for this old man ( age 60 ).
Auto Pilot
I agree with everyone else on this. However, I would hold off on whittling a whisker pole. There are still very significant forces on a whisker pole. Save your $ for a while and buy a sturdy aluminum pole that is built for the purpose and adjustable so you don't end up with a telephone pole strapped to your rails.
I agree with everyone else on this. However, I would hold off on whittling a whisker pole. There are still very significant forces on a whisker pole. Save your $ for a while and buy a sturdy aluminum pole that is built for the purpose and adjustable so you don't end up with a telephone pole strapped to your rails.
It’s unanimous!
Thank you for all the replies! I would have suspected there would be at least on "hard core" sailor that would have been in favor of Whisker Pole. I imagine it illustrates the value and convenience of an autopilot. Thanks again. David
Thank you for all the replies! I would have suspected there would be at least on "hard core" sailor that would have been in favor of Whisker Pole. I imagine it illustrates the value and convenience of an autopilot. Thanks again. David
Auto pilot...hands down
Oday 25 - no spinnaker Single hand a lot Race some...with crew Have a whisker but only use it racing. My little buddy "helmer", takes instructions well, doesn't eat much, doesn't talk back, doesn't need sleep, doesn't get hammered, doesn't weigh much, is trustworthy and doesn't panic when the going gets tough. Jmho Buckshot
Oday 25 - no spinnaker Single hand a lot Race some...with crew Have a whisker but only use it racing. My little buddy "helmer", takes instructions well, doesn't eat much, doesn't talk back, doesn't need sleep, doesn't get hammered, doesn't weigh much, is trustworthy and doesn't panic when the going gets tough. Jmho Buckshot
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