What Whisker Pole are you using on a 315 or 310?
- Thread starter VFR750
- Start date
A whisker pole doesn't have to be as hefty as a spinnaker pole. But it's usually desired to be able to extend and collapse it. You can have twist lock or line control.
Here is a sizing chart from West Marine. Scroll down to sizing options. I had a 356 and used a downsized pole with no problems. I did not use the pole in moderate to heavy wind.
As you can see the line control is much more expensive.
I would not bother putting a track on the mast. You do want the pole to be parallel to the deck to push the clew out but I would not obsess about it. If you are in a competitive jib and main fleet - maybe.
Here is a sizing chart from West Marine. Scroll down to sizing options. I had a 356 and used a downsized pole with no problems. I did not use the pole in moderate to heavy wind.
As you can see the line control is much more expensive.
I would not bother putting a track on the mast. You do want the pole to be parallel to the deck to push the clew out but I would not obsess about it. If you are in a competitive jib and main fleet - maybe.
I also wouldn’t worry about a track. We added a padeye and it’s perfectly adequate. The winged-out jib clew doesn’t need to be adjusted up and down the way a spinnaker tack might. Just experiment with a boat hook on a light wind day to get the right height to mount the pole horizontal.
I selected the Forespar LC 10-18 EL-UTR. It's a 2.5" diameter, and extends from 10' to 18'. With my 115% jib, I've only ever extend it to about 12'. I also once used it to align my asymmetrical for deeper downwind angles, and it worked great for that too.
My mast already had a short track on the front with a ring. I didn't bother with the very expensive option of the longer track, toggle, and storage fitting to store it on the mast. While nifty, it would have doubled the cost. Instead I just bought the pole and 2 of their station mount blocks (Forespar 300042).
Most of the time when I fly it, I don't use a topping lift or a downhaul. I just click it into the mast ring, on to the sheets, and then pull the sheet tight to force it up against the sail. This does have the effect of pulling the pole against the forward lower shroud, causing scratching on the pole. I have in the past used the spinnaker halyard as a topping life and rigged a downhaul using a spare block at the base of the mast, which was far more elegant.
I also find that the no-topping-lift method requires moving the jib car all the way back, but even at that angle the sheet is pushing on the lifeline a bit.
In the future, I want to rig a permanent topping lift.
Here's some pics:
My mast already had a short track on the front with a ring. I didn't bother with the very expensive option of the longer track, toggle, and storage fitting to store it on the mast. While nifty, it would have doubled the cost. Instead I just bought the pole and 2 of their station mount blocks (Forespar 300042).
Most of the time when I fly it, I don't use a topping lift or a downhaul. I just click it into the mast ring, on to the sheets, and then pull the sheet tight to force it up against the sail. This does have the effect of pulling the pole against the forward lower shroud, causing scratching on the pole. I have in the past used the spinnaker halyard as a topping life and rigged a downhaul using a spare block at the base of the mast, which was far more elegant.
I also find that the no-topping-lift method requires moving the jib car all the way back, but even at that angle the sheet is pushing on the lifeline a bit.
In the future, I want to rig a permanent topping lift.
Here's some pics:
thanks, this is great info.
I don't have a spinnaker, so it is interesting to know I don't have to add a track.
I do have a Gennaker, and the comments about poling that out too, makes sense.
Adding a topping lift seems to be the biggest thing to consider.
I don't have a spinnaker, so it is interesting to know I don't have to add a track.
I do have a Gennaker, and the comments about poling that out too, makes sense.
Adding a topping lift seems to be the biggest thing to consider.