Whisker pole.

[Ron]

Just bought a Forespar 15-27 whisker pole to use with my 150% Genoa and my asymetrical Spinnaker. Don't have a clue as to how to hook it up. The boat has never had a whisker pole set-up sooooo... watt du I gotts ta du????? Any help would be much appreciated...RonP.S. I just went to the archives and read a bunch of old posts so now I at least have a clue. (and a Tack and a Head)

 

[Ed Allen]

wow this is a big one.

1. ensure you have a way to attach the pole to the mast. fitting to match the post preferred on a track so you can adjust it up and down.2. Pole lift - to hold up the pole when you get it in place. 3. when down wind set the pole on the windward side of the boat. attach the pole to the mast. Run the sheet thru the pole end at the clew and extend the pole to the desired length. The pole lift will hold the pole up. Fly the pole level at both ends adjust accordinly, DONT JIBE!The Assemetrical does not use a pole. if cut tot the proper size it should be attached at the tack to the bow or bow roller if it is strong enough. The sail should then be attached to the head stay and flown like a jib only down wind. The clew should be sheeted in to the back of the boat outside everything anf them up to a winch.keep it full and play with it till you figure it out. have the helmsman keep a straight course, and have some help on boatd till you learn the sail.YOU dont use the pole with it. It will hold the clew to high be harder to rig and trim. Makes it alot more complicated. hope that helps. look in the sail trim area on this site i think there is a better explanation there.

 

[Ron]

Thanks Ed

TNX

 

[Dale E. Baker]

forespar.com

Check out Forespar.com, easy to find your way to their whisker pole page which includes some basic tips on using the pole. Dale & Cindy Baker'81 H-33 "Weyrling"Sailing the Sound, from SubaseNLon, Groton, CT

 

[Ed Allen]

where is your boat?

We go out to huston several times a year is your boat there?

 

[Ron]

Ed Allen

Sorry it took so long to respond. Yes, we are in Houston/Galveston Bay. Email me through the directory. Ron Pearson TalismanActually, the reason I bought the pole is to use with the asym. spinnaker. That's what all the literature recommends. Since the asym is flown like a big genoa I don't see the problem??? Ron

 

[Ed Allen]

Ron

Cant remember what they call that fitting they are used on larger and require the female couterpart on the mast. So options-Who made the pole? call them and get a price to figure out what they call it. or change the fitting to another style. You probably will want to install track on the fromt of the mast to allow adjustment on the inside end of the pole. you will need to raise the pole to the height of the clew or tack depending on what sail your using.Im not saying you cant use a pole on an asym. but it is alot more trouble than using something like an atn tacker.are you racing the boat? or just cruising?the wisker pole is used on the genoa to pole it out to go down wind. and it can be long. the spinnaker pole is the lenght of the j.A lot of people fly the assym or cruising chute off a pennant arround the bow roller with no pole. It is just easier to do than setting a pole up.

 

[Ed Allen]

look in the archives

Ron, look at the atn tacker website they have a video of the setting of the cruising chute.look in the archives there are several posts on alternative ways to set the sails.

 

[Ron]

Ed Allen

Ed... I use a homemade version of the ATN tacker. It works well. I still don't understand exactly what you are saying?? I will be using the asm. spinnaker with the tack attached to the bow of the boat and the pole attached to the clew to "pole it out." Did I miss something here??? Ron

 

[Ed Allen]

sorry-

sorry i guess i lost it. to use the pole with the assm, you will need the fitting Ed directed you to,( good find ed) and a track to mount that on. you should have a pole lift, and a pole downhaul, these keep the pole in place while you set. if your going to race with it, the pole can not exceed you j-demension or you will recieve an additional penalty on your rating.In most places you can mark the pole at that length and just not extend it any further.the assm sail is tall if its the right size for your boat so the pole will have to be set very low, depending on how tight you want the luff. so be careful not to put to long a bridle on the bottom of the pole. This provides a way to set the pole in place and hold it there before you set the sail other wise the pole is flopping out of control.Dont know if we answered the question or not.hope so.