The previous owner of my Hunter 25 used a small loop fitting rather than a pad eye and it looks like it has been mangled and looks ready to come apart. I plan to use a proper Pad Eye to replace it. However the front of the mast is elicptical in shape so there is no flat surface to mount one. Should I just use two pad eyes on each side of the mast? I have one specifically made for spinnaker poles but it needs a flat surface to mount it. Do they make one with a curved mounting for these eliptical aluminum mast?
Mounting Pad Eye for wisker pole
- Thread starter KennyH
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The previous owner of my Hunter 25 used a small loop fitting rather than a pad eye and it looks like it has been mangled and looks ready to come apart. I plan to use a proper Pad Eye to replace it. However the front of the mast is elicptical in shape so there is no flat surface to mount one. Should I just use two pad eyes on each side of the mast? I have one specifically made for spinnaker poles but it needs a flat surface to mount it. Do they make one with a curved mounting for these eliptical aluminum mast?
Can you fasten a track to your mast?
I use the spinnaker fitting for our whisker pole. The fitting slides and locks into place over a 2-1/2 foot long track fastened to the mast. It has a spring loaded slug that fits into holes in the track The track gives you a good area to adjust the height of the pole as required for the wind conditions.
I use the spinnaker fitting for our whisker pole. The fitting slides and locks into place over a 2-1/2 foot long track fastened to the mast. It has a spring loaded slug that fits into holes in the track The track gives you a good area to adjust the height of the pole as required for the wind conditions.
Can you fasten a track to your mast?
I use the spinnaker fitting for our whisker pole. The fitting slides and locks into place over a 2-1/2 foot long track fastened to the mast. It has a spring loaded slug that fits into holes in the track The track gives you a good area to adjust the height of the pole as required for the wind conditions.
I use the spinnaker fitting for our whisker pole. The fitting slides and locks into place over a 2-1/2 foot long track fastened to the mast. It has a spring loaded slug that fits into holes in the track The track gives you a good area to adjust the height of the pole as required for the wind conditions.
Curved Base
Forespar makes a pad eye with a curved base; you'd install one at the front of the mast. JimQ's post about a track is preferable, but I'm going with the single pad eye. Paul
Forespar makes a pad eye with a curved base; you'd install one at the front of the mast. JimQ's post about a track is preferable, but I'm going with the single pad eye. Paul
Curved Base
Forespar makes a pad eye with a curved base; you'd install one at the front of the mast. JimQ's post about a track is preferable, but I'm going with the single pad eye. Paul
Forespar makes a pad eye with a curved base; you'd install one at the front of the mast. JimQ's post about a track is preferable, but I'm going with the single pad eye. Paul
Thanks I see they make the curved pad eyes
I checked West Marine and they do make a curved pad eye for these oval shaped mast. Thanks!
I checked West Marine and they do make a curved pad eye for these oval shaped mast. Thanks!
Thanks I see they make the curved pad eyes
I checked West Marine and they do make a curved pad eye for these oval shaped mast. Thanks!
I checked West Marine and they do make a curved pad eye for these oval shaped mast. Thanks!
Thanks I see they make the curved pad eyes
I checked West Marine and they do make a curved pad eye for these oval shaped mast. Thanks!
I checked West Marine and they do make a curved pad eye for these oval shaped mast. Thanks!
Thanks I see they make the curved pad eyes
I checked West Marine and they do make a curved pad eye for these oval shaped mast. Thanks!
I checked West Marine and they do make a curved pad eye for these oval shaped mast. Thanks!
Pad Eyes
I had a '78 hunter 25 and mounted two cast aluminum pad eyes on the forward 1/3 of both sides for a whisker pole. This allows you to let the pole forward or pull it aft till it touches the shrouds and the fasteners are always in tension or compression, not in shear.
I had a '78 hunter 25 and mounted two cast aluminum pad eyes on the forward 1/3 of both sides for a whisker pole. This allows you to let the pole forward or pull it aft till it touches the shrouds and the fasteners are always in tension or compression, not in shear.
Pad Eyes
I had a '78 hunter 25 and mounted two cast aluminum pad eyes on the forward 1/3 of both sides for a whisker pole. This allows you to let the pole forward or pull it aft till it touches the shrouds and the fasteners are always in tension or compression, not in shear.
I had a '78 hunter 25 and mounted two cast aluminum pad eyes on the forward 1/3 of both sides for a whisker pole. This allows you to let the pole forward or pull it aft till it touches the shrouds and the fasteners are always in tension or compression, not in shear.
Paul or anyone
I am considering the same thing. How are you determining how far up the mast to mount your pad eye? Bill
I am considering the same thing. How are you determining how far up the mast to mount your pad eye? Bill
Bill,
Ideally, you would mount the attachment point on a track so that it can be adjusted vertically. On a symmetrical spinnaker, you want the clews to be even while the pole is perpendicular to the mast. This means that you'll need to raise the pole in lighter and/or deeper conditions, and lower the pole in heavier air or when reaching. Using a fixed attachment point takes away a lot of trim options.
Ideally, you would mount the attachment point on a track so that it can be adjusted vertically. On a symmetrical spinnaker, you want the clews to be even while the pole is perpendicular to the mast. This means that you'll need to raise the pole in lighter and/or deeper conditions, and lower the pole in heavier air or when reaching. Using a fixed attachment point takes away a lot of trim options.
Haven't figured out height
Bill, I'll agree with John's posting about the track and the symmetric (fwiw); however, I expect to use my pole only with my 110% jib, so I'm told the pad eye will work fine (but for a few more $, I'd go with a track). However, I am waiting to put the jib up and test where the pad eye should go. Seems like a circus act (i.e. entertaining to watch), but I know of no other way to figure out exactly where to mount the pad eye (and yes, another excellent reason to simply mount a track). I can't see there being any other way, given the range of boats, jibs, etc. Paul
Bill, I'll agree with John's posting about the track and the symmetric (fwiw); however, I expect to use my pole only with my 110% jib, so I'm told the pad eye will work fine (but for a few more $, I'd go with a track). However, I am waiting to put the jib up and test where the pad eye should go. Seems like a circus act (i.e. entertaining to watch), but I know of no other way to figure out exactly where to mount the pad eye (and yes, another excellent reason to simply mount a track). I can't see there being any other way, given the range of boats, jibs, etc. Paul
Duct Tape!
The typical American Male's answer to many problems -- Duct Tape! Duct Tape the fittings on the sides of the mast at the height of the clew of the Genoa when on a reach without the pole. Set the pole and turn to a broad reach and adjust the pole fore and aft till the teltales are streaming the way you want. If the pole is nearly horizontal, you are in the right range. If not -- remove adjust and re-tape till you see what you like best. In light winds you may want to rig a pole topping lift; the position of the sheet itself is somewhat of a down haul. Try the Genoa poled out wing and wing with a vang and preventer on the main sail to see the real advantage of the whisker pole.
The typical American Male's answer to many problems -- Duct Tape! Duct Tape the fittings on the sides of the mast at the height of the clew of the Genoa when on a reach without the pole. Set the pole and turn to a broad reach and adjust the pole fore and aft till the teltales are streaming the way you want. If the pole is nearly horizontal, you are in the right range. If not -- remove adjust and re-tape till you see what you like best. In light winds you may want to rig a pole topping lift; the position of the sheet itself is somewhat of a down haul. Try the Genoa poled out wing and wing with a vang and preventer on the main sail to see the real advantage of the whisker pole.
pad eye location
We installed the forespar padeye on our 356 and it works very well, the track isn't really needed unless you're trying to perfectly trim a symmetrical chute. the corect location will give a horizontal pole when you're using the whisker pole to hold out your clew in your average conditions. For the 356, it's about inline with the gooseneck. Be sure to use an insulator like tef-gel between the fitting and the mast, and on the mounting hardware, to prevent galvanic corrosion.
We installed the forespar padeye on our 356 and it works very well, the track isn't really needed unless you're trying to perfectly trim a symmetrical chute. the corect location will give a horizontal pole when you're using the whisker pole to hold out your clew in your average conditions. For the 356, it's about inline with the gooseneck. Be sure to use an insulator like tef-gel between the fitting and the mast, and on the mounting hardware, to prevent galvanic corrosion.
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