As I continue to refit my Hunter 37C, I am now devoting some thinking to a whisker pole for poling out the Yankee headsail. Based on a lot of reading, I’m going for a fixed/spinnaker-type pole made of aluminum—not adjustable length. I prefer the lack of moving parts, lighter weight, and durability of a fixed pole, and I’m thinking of going with 3” tube. Presently I have no mast track set-up for the pole, and I have an asym for lighter air downwind sailing. So I’m primarily looking to use the pole for the Yankee. I will be adding a track for the mast end of the whisker pole.
Most recommend a whisker pole length roughly equivalent to the foot length of your headsail. My headsail is a Yankee (and I’m staying with the Yankee and staysail plan), so the foot length is 16’8”. Because of the high cut clew of the Yankee, however, the LP (luff perpendicular) measurement is only 12’11”.
Should a fixed pole—I’m not going to be changing headsails—be sized for LP on a Yankee headsail instead of the foot length? I’m hoping it can, as on deck storage and pole deployment get a little easier at 12’11” than at 16’8”.
As always, your thoughts are appreciated.
Most recommend a whisker pole length roughly equivalent to the foot length of your headsail. My headsail is a Yankee (and I’m staying with the Yankee and staysail plan), so the foot length is 16’8”. Because of the high cut clew of the Yankee, however, the LP (luff perpendicular) measurement is only 12’11”.
Should a fixed pole—I’m not going to be changing headsails—be sized for LP on a Yankee headsail instead of the foot length? I’m hoping it can, as on deck storage and pole deployment get a little easier at 12’11” than at 16’8”.
As always, your thoughts are appreciated.
