Jib Pole?

[fjweaver]

we have a 22' Newbridge Venturer and was wondering if I could get a jib pole (or spinaker pole if it works the same). often when we've got the wind behing & goosewinging the jib flaps if the wind's not too strong or waves knock us off line. I don't need anything spectacular or expensive as we're only family cruising.
Does anyone know where I can get one or even if I could make one?

 

[Guest]

At 22 feet you shouldn't need too long a pole and at that size of boat it's always good to have "dual purpose" kit onboard.

In the bad old days of canvas sails I used a wooden boathook "speared" and lashed to the sail eyelet at one end and lashed through a hole to the gunwhale at the other end.

"Adjustments" were made by moving the gunwhale lashing up and down the boat with the sheer weight of the thing holding itself down.

A 10 foot "locking" telescopic aluminium boathook may be long enough and strong enough for your needs.

With a 1/4" hole drilled through the "bulb" at the hook end to provide a lashing point for the sail (electrical tie-wrap springs to mind) and a bit of ingenuity at the boat end (like limiting "up and down" movement by threading it through a couple of lifelines and limiting "aft" movement by positioning it near to a stanchion) you should be able to allow for some adjustment and at the same time keep it under control when setting it and removing it.

Not only that - if it fails as a suitable way of poling out the jib you still have a servicable boathook!!

Best regards )

Ian D