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Which do you want to use it for?
Jib or Spinnaker? How long of a spinnaker pole / J dimension are you talking about? Are we subject to racing rules? How big of a jib? Are you going to use it for multiple sail sizes? Will it be used for Jibs and spinnakers? Cannot give an intelligent reply without these types of questions being answered. A whisker pole would be more functional under a lot of conditions. A spinnaker pole for others.
Jib or Spinnaker? How long of a spinnaker pole / J dimension are you talking about? Are we subject to racing rules? How big of a jib? Are you going to use it for multiple sail sizes? Will it be used for Jibs and spinnakers? Cannot give an intelligent reply without these types of questions being answered. A whisker pole would be more functional under a lot of conditions. A spinnaker pole for others.
Different uses
Wendell, telescoping whisker poles and fixed length spinnaker poles have completely different uses. A telescoping whisker pole should not be used for a spinnaker, as it cannot witstand the tension forces. A fixed length spinnaker pole is probably not going to be much use to hold out a sail clew since length adjustment is usually required. I use a Forespar telescoping whisker pole for my light air drifter (basically a 185% genoa). If and when I buy a spinnaker, I'll get the specific pole for it. The link below has useful information on the Forespar whisker pole. Good luck.
Wendell, telescoping whisker poles and fixed length spinnaker poles have completely different uses. A telescoping whisker pole should not be used for a spinnaker, as it cannot witstand the tension forces. A fixed length spinnaker pole is probably not going to be much use to hold out a sail clew since length adjustment is usually required. I use a Forespar telescoping whisker pole for my light air drifter (basically a 185% genoa). If and when I buy a spinnaker, I'll get the specific pole for it. The link below has useful information on the Forespar whisker pole. Good luck.
Spin Pole
I have a spin pole on my Cat 27, and use it both for the traditional spin run, as well as to wing out the jib in "whisker pole" fashion. The spin pole is long enough that it will act as a whisker pole for the smaller jibs (up to about 120) if you're going DDW, which I usually am. As mentioned, you couldn't use a whisker pole as a spin pole, as the tubing on all the whisker poles I've seen aren't a large enough cross section to be strong enough to handle the shear or compression load of a spin.
I have a spin pole on my Cat 27, and use it both for the traditional spin run, as well as to wing out the jib in "whisker pole" fashion. The spin pole is long enough that it will act as a whisker pole for the smaller jibs (up to about 120) if you're going DDW, which I usually am. As mentioned, you couldn't use a whisker pole as a spin pole, as the tubing on all the whisker poles I've seen aren't a large enough cross section to be strong enough to handle the shear or compression load of a spin.
POLES
Since I do not race, I prefer a spinaker pole for simplicity in poling out the jib when going down wind. If I was racing without a spinaker I would have the proper whisker pole for my boat.
Since I do not race, I prefer a spinaker pole for simplicity in poling out the jib when going down wind. If I was racing without a spinaker I would have the proper whisker pole for my boat.
Whisker Pole Strength
I'd like to get a whisker pole for my Catlina 27. It has a 140% furling genoa. The racing rules allow us to use a pole length up to 1.4 x J, which is 16 feet. Winds are often moderately strong. We are considering the Forespar 7 to 17 foot twist lock pole, but am wondering if it is strong enough. Do you have an opinion on this? Sincerely, Gary Goodman
I'd like to get a whisker pole for my Catlina 27. It has a 140% furling genoa. The racing rules allow us to use a pole length up to 1.4 x J, which is 16 feet. Winds are often moderately strong. We are considering the Forespar 7 to 17 foot twist lock pole, but am wondering if it is strong enough. Do you have an opinion on this? Sincerely, Gary Goodman
Twist lock or line control
Gary, For a 25' boat, Forespar recommends the twist lock whisker pole. For a 28' boat, it recommends the line control whisker pole. (See link) I guess you can probably choose either one, but for moderately strong winds you may want to play it safe and use the stronger line control model.
Gary, For a 25' boat, Forespar recommends the twist lock whisker pole. For a 28' boat, it recommends the line control whisker pole. (See link) I guess you can probably choose either one, but for moderately strong winds you may want to play it safe and use the stronger line control model.
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