Is a whisker pole that extends to only 12 ft. long enough to do me any good on my H34? Have a chance to buy one at a low cost. It would only be used in light air by a singlehander who is concerned about handling one of the 18 footers recommended for this size boat.
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Pole length
Fred Boat US recommends a pole that extends from 12 ft to 22 ft in length for a 34' boat. I measured last summer and thought (if my memory is correct) that 12 ft would work, but I'm not sure.
Fred Boat US recommends a pole that extends from 12 ft to 22 ft in length for a 34' boat. I measured last summer and thought (if my memory is correct) that 12 ft would work, but I'm not sure.
It's not just a question of length
Although the extended length of the pole is somewhat related to the foot measurement of your headsail, even in light air there can be a suprising amount of force generated on the pole. If you visit Forespar's site for example, you'll find that their recommendations are prompted as much by pole diameter as it's length. Be careful about going with too light of a pole. An unexpected gust or a quick off course may turn a small pole into a pretzel and could damage your sail or even injure someone.
Although the extended length of the pole is somewhat related to the foot measurement of your headsail, even in light air there can be a suprising amount of force generated on the pole. If you visit Forespar's site for example, you'll find that their recommendations are prompted as much by pole diameter as it's length. Be careful about going with too light of a pole. An unexpected gust or a quick off course may turn a small pole into a pretzel and could damage your sail or even injure someone.
I'll measure mine this weekend
I'll measure mine this weekend. I think it's like 8 ft to 14 ft extended. Fred Do you have a cruising spinnaker or something to not use a pole? I don't think I could fly my radial spinnaker without one. It came off of a cal 40 and is really too big for the boat.(it'l drag water if the wind dies) It's beautiful when it's up though. HUGE. I call it the whomper(you know off the movie wind).. Tim Welsh Hunter 34 AKA Cabo Wabo
I'll measure mine this weekend. I think it's like 8 ft to 14 ft extended. Fred Do you have a cruising spinnaker or something to not use a pole? I don't think I could fly my radial spinnaker without one. It came off of a cal 40 and is really too big for the boat.(it'l drag water if the wind dies) It's beautiful when it's up though. HUGE. I call it the whomper(you know off the movie wind).. Tim Welsh Hunter 34 AKA Cabo Wabo
Hey Tim
Be careful. It's not a good idea to fly a spinnaker from an extended whisker pole. A poled out headsail generally exerts smaller compression loads on the telescoping mechanism which it can handle if properly sized. A spinnaker (especially a whopper, er, whomper like yours) can produce tremendous loads. You're talking about a much larger sail that can easily overpower a relatively light extension mechanism. What you probably want is a (non-extending) spinnaker pole which can do double duty as a whisker pole if the dimensions happen to be right. I can't answer for Fred but if he's going poleless (as we do) he may be flying an asymetrical tacked to the stem in some manner. We do a variation on that that can be seen on our website. Hope this helps.
Be careful. It's not a good idea to fly a spinnaker from an extended whisker pole. A poled out headsail generally exerts smaller compression loads on the telescoping mechanism which it can handle if properly sized. A spinnaker (especially a whopper, er, whomper like yours) can produce tremendous loads. You're talking about a much larger sail that can easily overpower a relatively light extension mechanism. What you probably want is a (non-extending) spinnaker pole which can do double duty as a whisker pole if the dimensions happen to be right. I can't answer for Fred but if he's going poleless (as we do) he may be flying an asymetrical tacked to the stem in some manner. We do a variation on that that can be seen on our website. Hope this helps.
Pole is large diameter
Hey, Rick I need to do some checking but my pole is at least 2 1/2 inches in diameter and I think it actually is a spinnaker pole and not a whisker pole. I usually drop the spinnaker when the wind gets above 9 knots, this chute is too large for very high winds, I can reach close to hull speed at 9 knots of wind with it. It's still new to me so I'll have more tales to tale soon....Tim Welsh Hunter 34 AKA Cabo Wabo
Hey, Rick I need to do some checking but my pole is at least 2 1/2 inches in diameter and I think it actually is a spinnaker pole and not a whisker pole. I usually drop the spinnaker when the wind gets above 9 knots, this chute is too large for very high winds, I can reach close to hull speed at 9 knots of wind with it. It's still new to me so I'll have more tales to tale soon....Tim Welsh Hunter 34 AKA Cabo Wabo
Men, I've got one of those old fashioned
tri-radial chutes with a 3" diameter pole. We use lazy sheets and the dip pole method of jibing. Isn't that a throw back to the IOR? It's seen in Photo #132 on my web site. P.S. Tim,,,,,,you are going to have,,,so,,,much,,,fun with that thing. Leave it up a little longer when the wind is building. Think sleigh ride.
tri-radial chutes with a 3" diameter pole. We use lazy sheets and the dip pole method of jibing. Isn't that a throw back to the IOR? It's seen in Photo #132 on my web site. P.S. Tim,,,,,,you are going to have,,,so,,,much,,,fun with that thing. Leave it up a little longer when the wind is building. Think sleigh ride.
Spinnaker or Adjustable Whisker Pole?
I'd go with Fred and use 3" diameter x 13'-9" long pole for a spinnaker, with a topping lift and down haul to control it. A 2 1/2" diameter adjustable pole (not twist lock!) might be OK in light air for an asymetrical, but again, 3" would be a more appropriate diameter for the minimum length as the J dimension of the Hunter 34 is 13'-9". If you are extending out beyond 18' be very careful as the extendable types have even thinner tubes.
I'd go with Fred and use 3" diameter x 13'-9" long pole for a spinnaker, with a topping lift and down haul to control it. A 2 1/2" diameter adjustable pole (not twist lock!) might be OK in light air for an asymetrical, but again, 3" would be a more appropriate diameter for the minimum length as the J dimension of the Hunter 34 is 13'-9". If you are extending out beyond 18' be very careful as the extendable types have even thinner tubes.
Tim, a thought,
Your spinnaker off a Cal 40, I used to crew on a Cal 33 that had a Cal 40 mast. It seems close to a H34 in height. Just much thicker in cross section. And my chut will hit the water in light air too. Maybe you're in the ballpark?
Your spinnaker off a Cal 40, I used to crew on a Cal 33 that had a Cal 40 mast. It seems close to a H34 in height. Just much thicker in cross section. And my chut will hit the water in light air too. Maybe you're in the ballpark?
Tim
With a wind speed of 9kts you couldn't begin to reach hull speed unless you are falling off the end of the earth. In that kind of wind you would be lucky to hit 5kts. Either your knot meter needs to be calibrated or the wind speed is WAY higher. Anyway, try loading your spinnaker into a doucing sock and flying it at 'higher' speeds. If things get out of hand, just douce it. What the others are saying about the loading on the pole is true and not to be taken lightly. If your pole is not at least 21/2", then it far too undersize for the job.
With a wind speed of 9kts you couldn't begin to reach hull speed unless you are falling off the end of the earth. In that kind of wind you would be lucky to hit 5kts. Either your knot meter needs to be calibrated or the wind speed is WAY higher. Anyway, try loading your spinnaker into a doucing sock and flying it at 'higher' speeds. If things get out of hand, just douce it. What the others are saying about the loading on the pole is true and not to be taken lightly. If your pole is not at least 21/2", then it far too undersize for the job.
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