I have the mast down this winter for a re-fit. I want to install the Schaefer T-track for the car to a spinnaker pole. We have an old symetrical chute that came with the boat (which we have used without a pole), but I intend to set up the system for a properly sized and shaped chute (which I don't know anything about, yet). Our boat is a 27' Starwind, I = 34.5', J = 10.5', P = 29.5', E = 11.2'. What length of track is necessary? I figured a 6' section ... overkill, not enough? Options would be 4', 8', 10'. How about the track, should it be 1" or 1-1/4"? I figured 3/4" would be to small, 1-1/2" would be overkill. The tracks for the genoa cars are 1", and main traveler is 1-1/8". How high should the highest car setting be from the bottom of the mast? I haven't had much luck finding any guidance, so I will appreciate all answers!
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Think about storing
the pole on the mast. If the track is longer than the pole, you can raise the mast end of the pole up and clip the guy/sheet end to the mast base. Neat and tidy.
the pole on the mast. If the track is longer than the pole, you can raise the mast end of the pole up and clip the guy/sheet end to the mast base. Neat and tidy.
Try this,
I think 1 inch track is fine. The pole will never be lower then the boom and not be higher then your shoulder so 4 feet of track is fine. All the best, Robert Gainer
I think 1 inch track is fine. The pole will never be lower then the boom and not be higher then your shoulder so 4 feet of track is fine. All the best, Robert Gainer
Scott, a 1" track will work just fine. If you pick up a used 1 1/4" track and car for a good price, do it. The track should be mounted to allow you to reach the pole at your maximum reach. It also needs to be long enough so that the installed pole sits just off the deck. That would make an 8' track, give or take. A line controlled car would be your best option. Personally I don't like the pole left on the mast for storage. It creates too much disturbed air for the main and it makes for a mess when you need to install the main sail cover. You will also need to install a pole foreguy and pole lift to control the height of the outboard end relative to the inboard. Do not underestimate the need for the foreguy. A skying pole can be nasty.
Old school
Our spin pole attaches to two becket like fixtures attached on the starboard foredeck (also 27' boat, see pic at link below). The poles ends lock in place keeping the it secure. It eats up some valuable walking space but is by no means impassable. If you do a lot of racing I would consider the on-mast storage that has been suggested. Of course, my pole is from 1967 and is fairly overbuilt so I would be nervous keeping it attached and vertical all the time. I am sure there are safe ways of doing this though. If you mostly cruise and use the spin now and then you might prefer keeping it safely in the horizontal. Good luck.
Our spin pole attaches to two becket like fixtures attached on the starboard foredeck (also 27' boat, see pic at link below). The poles ends lock in place keeping the it secure. It eats up some valuable walking space but is by no means impassable. If you do a lot of racing I would consider the on-mast storage that has been suggested. Of course, my pole is from 1967 and is fairly overbuilt so I would be nervous keeping it attached and vertical all the time. I am sure there are safe ways of doing this though. If you mostly cruise and use the spin now and then you might prefer keeping it safely in the horizontal. Good luck.
Spin Track
You didn't say if you plan to do any racing or not. If you are it's not a bad idea to set the track up so that you can slide the car all the way to the base of the mast. That way you can keep the pole attached to the car when you're going to weather and it will be out of way of the jib.
You didn't say if you plan to do any racing or not. If you are it's not a bad idea to set the track up so that you can slide the car all the way to the base of the mast. That way you can keep the pole attached to the car when you're going to weather and it will be out of way of the jib.
Thanks for feedback!
Randy, whether or not we race is a good question! We have very active racing fleets for one design dinghies, scows and multi-hulls on our lake and they race virtually every weekend. It seems that the small cruising sailboats such as ours have no interest in racing. I'm always a little envious when we are out with the fleets because I would love to be involved. I could probably have a crew with our kids, but my wife is more dubious. I'm working on it by trying to convince her that I would be a calm skipper, but the hurdle that I have to get over is convincing her that the activity is FUN! She is thinking more about relaxation while on the boat and would rather not have to move from her position in the sun on the foredeck! It appears to be a moot issue for now until we move our boat to a location where cruisers race. Caleb, I really enjoyed your pictures and they appear to be on the Hudson. I've been wanting to move our boat to Haverstraw, but leaving the convenience of having our boat 5 minutes from our home is another difficult hurdle. Actually, I am installing the spinnaker track in anticipation of moving, eventually, and I'm hoping that we get into some "non-competitive" racing once we do. We barely have enough room for a long enough run with a spinnaker set on our lake. Alan, I have a block to install on the stem fitting for the foreguy, but I was not thinking about a topping lift. Is there a separate lift to install from the top of the mast or is a spare halyard usually used? It appears that the maximum length of a 2" Forespar aluminum pole is 10'. With J = 10.5' this seems like it would be just right. I suppose that I could be borderline for using a 2.5" pole that could be sized to 10.5' exactly. I realize that whisker poles are not the same as a spinnaker pole but it seems that they could be used if we wanted to have one pole to serve both functions. Is the added weight the issue? The whisker pole is described as being designed for more compressive strength and I could use one that adjusts from 10' to 18' for our boat, adding unnecessary weight, I assume.
Randy, whether or not we race is a good question! We have very active racing fleets for one design dinghies, scows and multi-hulls on our lake and they race virtually every weekend. It seems that the small cruising sailboats such as ours have no interest in racing. I'm always a little envious when we are out with the fleets because I would love to be involved. I could probably have a crew with our kids, but my wife is more dubious. I'm working on it by trying to convince her that I would be a calm skipper, but the hurdle that I have to get over is convincing her that the activity is FUN! She is thinking more about relaxation while on the boat and would rather not have to move from her position in the sun on the foredeck! It appears to be a moot issue for now until we move our boat to a location where cruisers race. Caleb, I really enjoyed your pictures and they appear to be on the Hudson. I've been wanting to move our boat to Haverstraw, but leaving the convenience of having our boat 5 minutes from our home is another difficult hurdle. Actually, I am installing the spinnaker track in anticipation of moving, eventually, and I'm hoping that we get into some "non-competitive" racing once we do. We barely have enough room for a long enough run with a spinnaker set on our lake. Alan, I have a block to install on the stem fitting for the foreguy, but I was not thinking about a topping lift. Is there a separate lift to install from the top of the mast or is a spare halyard usually used? It appears that the maximum length of a 2" Forespar aluminum pole is 10'. With J = 10.5' this seems like it would be just right. I suppose that I could be borderline for using a 2.5" pole that could be sized to 10.5' exactly. I realize that whisker poles are not the same as a spinnaker pole but it seems that they could be used if we wanted to have one pole to serve both functions. Is the added weight the issue? The whisker pole is described as being designed for more compressive strength and I could use one that adjusts from 10' to 18' for our boat, adding unnecessary weight, I assume.
Scott
Why not offer her a compromise. Try a 'beer can' race for the fun of it. See how she likes it? My wife doesn't really enjoy racing with us, but I have a free hand to go wherever whenever. I regularly go to do Key West racing and she's great with that. We're doing Bermuda next year. I've got a crew of 8 guys that are chomping at the bit to go. She will fly there to meet us after the race. As for your spinnaker car track, if there is any possibility of racing you will want to have the track start at the bottom of the mast. A side benefit is tacking your Akite to the pole at the bottom of the track and being able to move the tack to weather, a huge plus. If I could also recommend you put the foreguy block back as close to the mast as possible. The advantage of this is each time you move the pole the foreguy will not have to be readjusted. The alternative is that someone must release the foreguy before the pole can be trimmed. Just my 2 cents.
Why not offer her a compromise. Try a 'beer can' race for the fun of it. See how she likes it? My wife doesn't really enjoy racing with us, but I have a free hand to go wherever whenever. I regularly go to do Key West racing and she's great with that. We're doing Bermuda next year. I've got a crew of 8 guys that are chomping at the bit to go. She will fly there to meet us after the race. As for your spinnaker car track, if there is any possibility of racing you will want to have the track start at the bottom of the mast. A side benefit is tacking your Akite to the pole at the bottom of the track and being able to move the tack to weather, a huge plus. If I could also recommend you put the foreguy block back as close to the mast as possible. The advantage of this is each time you move the pole the foreguy will not have to be readjusted. The alternative is that someone must release the foreguy before the pole can be trimmed. Just my 2 cents.
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