I have a macgregor 21 and I am rigging it for a spinnaker. I know that I need an uphaul and a downhaul, but I am wondering if they need to be adjustable or could i make them fixed. (The downhaul anchored at the bottom of the mast and the uphaul half way up the mast, so that the pole would always be perpendicular to the mast) I just dont want to make it to hard to sail. And I think it would be less to worry about If I didn't have two more lines to mess around with. What do you think I should do? Thanks, John
Spinnaker pole
- Thread starter John Blonien
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I think that's a bad idea.....
.... you need the foreguy (not downhaul) anchored midway on the foredeck so, in conjuntion with the afterguy) you can control the fore and aft position of the pole. Trust me when I tell you you'll want to make adjustmets. ONce you become familiar with everthihg you can put position marks on the topping lift(not uphaul) and mast car/ring. I suggest you get a good sailing manual or better yet go sailing with someone who knows how to fly a spinnaker... you'll see what I mean. My other suggestion is to forget about the pole if you think it's too much trouble. Instead go to cruisingdirect.com and study the rigging for a cruising spinnaker (aka, asymentrical) with that type of chute you don't need a pole. Just a spin halyard and a tack line.
.... you need the foreguy (not downhaul) anchored midway on the foredeck so, in conjuntion with the afterguy) you can control the fore and aft position of the pole. Trust me when I tell you you'll want to make adjustmets. ONce you become familiar with everthihg you can put position marks on the topping lift(not uphaul) and mast car/ring. I suggest you get a good sailing manual or better yet go sailing with someone who knows how to fly a spinnaker... you'll see what I mean. My other suggestion is to forget about the pole if you think it's too much trouble. Instead go to cruisingdirect.com and study the rigging for a cruising spinnaker (aka, asymentrical) with that type of chute you don't need a pole. Just a spin halyard and a tack line.
I think he should mess with lines
It's all part of the sport. And his 21 is for sport. It's not a motorhome that's seen coming off the Hunter line these days. Hell, they don't even have toe rails.
Real men, fly real spinnakers with real poles.
It's all part of the sport. And his 21 is for sport. It's not a motorhome that's seen coming off the Hunter line these days. Hell, they don't even have toe rails.
Real men, fly real spinnakers with real poles.You definitely have to be adjustable
The topping lift (uphaul) and foreguy (downhaul) have to be adjustable to accomodate varying wind directions & speeds. Also, if they're not, you'll have AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME trying to unclip the pole from the bale on the mast when you need to jibe the spin. It will be under too much pressure holding it to the mast if at least the foreguy isn't capable of being loosened. As long as you're rigging it now, do it right or you'll end up doing it over (and then you'll have holes in the deck to fill where you had to move the fittings!)
The topping lift (uphaul) and foreguy (downhaul) have to be adjustable to accomodate varying wind directions & speeds. Also, if they're not, you'll have AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME trying to unclip the pole from the bale on the mast when you need to jibe the spin. It will be under too much pressure holding it to the mast if at least the foreguy isn't capable of being loosened. As long as you're rigging it now, do it right or you'll end up doing it over (and then you'll have holes in the deck to fill where you had to move the fittings!)
robert's answer
i have an 18 foot 33 year old vanguard volant (mint condition, similar to a flying dutchman) it has a tube launched spinnaker. the topping lift is medium bungee cord (enough to support the weight of the pole and spinnaker slightly above perpendicular to the mast. the foreguy is standard line. what this means is that you can adjust the height of the pole with one line. in order to get enough stretch out of the bungee cord, you will need to anchor the bungee cord to the deck, then go up through the topping lift block on the mast. that way, when you need to lower the pole to near deck level for reaching, or just light air, you will have enough stretch without damaging the bungee. this system is so easy to use, i have sailed with spinnaker, jib, and mainsail single handed. it was a handfull though. you may also want to consider tweakers. my boat has them to keep the sheet side level with the tack (or pole). the tweaker i have is a line with a block attached that has the sheet run through it (both sides) there is a turning block on either side of the deck led back to a cam clet close to the helm. if the sheet side trys to ride high, just tweak it down. do not forget to ease it before the jibe.
i have an 18 foot 33 year old vanguard volant (mint condition, similar to a flying dutchman) it has a tube launched spinnaker. the topping lift is medium bungee cord (enough to support the weight of the pole and spinnaker slightly above perpendicular to the mast. the foreguy is standard line. what this means is that you can adjust the height of the pole with one line. in order to get enough stretch out of the bungee cord, you will need to anchor the bungee cord to the deck, then go up through the topping lift block on the mast. that way, when you need to lower the pole to near deck level for reaching, or just light air, you will have enough stretch without damaging the bungee. this system is so easy to use, i have sailed with spinnaker, jib, and mainsail single handed. it was a handfull though. you may also want to consider tweakers. my boat has them to keep the sheet side level with the tack (or pole). the tweaker i have is a line with a block attached that has the sheet run through it (both sides) there is a turning block on either side of the deck led back to a cam clet close to the helm. if the sheet side trys to ride high, just tweak it down. do not forget to ease it before the jibe.
Be careful with a pole
John, Be very careful when flying a spinnaker with a pole. All of the responders have given good ideas on how to position the pole correctly above the deck and why it must be adjustable. Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that the pole will overlap the forestay when it is in the correct position. Hence it must be carefully controlled to keep it from suddenly crashing into (and perhaps breaking) the forestay. In my opinion, even with a 21 foot boat, it takes three knowledgable crew (helmsman plus two) to safely fly a spinnaker on a pole. I agree with Joe, unless you are an aspiring racer,you are probably better off flying a crusing spinnaker without a pole.
John, Be very careful when flying a spinnaker with a pole. All of the responders have given good ideas on how to position the pole correctly above the deck and why it must be adjustable. Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that the pole will overlap the forestay when it is in the correct position. Hence it must be carefully controlled to keep it from suddenly crashing into (and perhaps breaking) the forestay. In my opinion, even with a 21 foot boat, it takes three knowledgable crew (helmsman plus two) to safely fly a spinnaker on a pole. I agree with Joe, unless you are an aspiring racer,you are probably better off flying a crusing spinnaker without a pole.
John, we fly a poled chute w/two crew
but with autopilot and only in light air,10knts or less. Rigged with uphaul, downhaul, sliding mast track for the pole, and two sheet/guy. We have turning blocks clipped to the rail aft of the jib sheet winches and lead the sheet/guy through the block and then to the jib winches. We don't use a foreguy or reaching strut. Since we have an inner forestay we have to do the "end for end" pole gybe, but the "dip pole" gybe would be alot easier. So in direct response to your question, the uphaul has to be adjustable in order to drop or dip the outboard end of the pole to clear the forestay. When you fly the chute for the first few times, leave the main down and fly the chute in 8 knots or less. Scott
but with autopilot and only in light air,10knts or less. Rigged with uphaul, downhaul, sliding mast track for the pole, and two sheet/guy. We have turning blocks clipped to the rail aft of the jib sheet winches and lead the sheet/guy through the block and then to the jib winches. We don't use a foreguy or reaching strut. Since we have an inner forestay we have to do the "end for end" pole gybe, but the "dip pole" gybe would be alot easier. So in direct response to your question, the uphaul has to be adjustable in order to drop or dip the outboard end of the pole to clear the forestay. When you fly the chute for the first few times, leave the main down and fly the chute in 8 knots or less. Scott
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