Pole for poling out the genoa - how long?

Poignard

Poignard

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At the moment I have a telescopic spinnaker pole which I use for poling out the genoa (I don't carry a spinnaker). I would like to replace this with a smaller diameter one-piece pole.

Roughly how long should it be? I don't have the sail dimensions here but it is a 28-foot masthead sloop. I think the genoa is 120%.
 
a couple of feet longer than the distance from mast to BMax ? That's long enough to give good control leverage via the sheet and may be enough to act as a guy if you fasten the tack to the end of the pole.
 
Assuming your genoa is a furling setup, then you would need a different length depending on how much of it is furled - that's why it's adjustable. Why do you want a fixed length?

Edit:

A quick web search gives a few references; this one seems to say it all -


What's the right length of pole for my boat?

Telescoping whisker poles let you use one pole with furling headsails or multiple sized jibs and genoas—one size fits all. Your pole should usually be adjusted so it is 100% of the length of the headsail being flown, measured from tack to clew.
 
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Longer the better.

If you look at boats that use whisker poles - e.g. Bembridge Redwings - they all use a long pole that holds the jib at 90 degrees - or as close as possible - to the centreline of the boat.
 
I occasionally use my boathook attached to the shrouds to pole out the genny (130% ?) in very light airs. That would put the clew about 6 foot out from the shrouds. From the mast that would be about 10/11 foot (28ft boat, Foot of genoa 15ft).
 
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The foot of my genoa is 16'. I had a telescopic pole, but found in practice that it was so heavy that I couldn't safely handle it. I made a light fixed pole 12' long of about 50mm alloy (may be 55mm). It works just fine, although could probably stand to be a couple of feet longer. But if it was longer, it would be more difficult to stow.
If the genoa is partly furled, I'm not even thinking about poling it out, so don't need the length to be adjustable.
 
We had an unbelievably heavy telescopic pole that came with the boat. It was almost unmanageable and adjustment was near impossible. I replaced with a fixed length pole which is far easier to manage. Mine is close to the "J" measurement, and I don't find any problem using it with the genoa partly furled, in fact except in light/moderate breeze I would usually roll away a few turns.
 
With a telescopic whisker pole, it's no bigger than the spinnaker pole so mine both go on chocks on the deck. Otherwise I believe stowing vertically at mast or shrouds can both work well.
 
JimC said:
Where do people stow these long poles on cruising yachts?
Click to expand...

Ours stows nicely between the aft part of the pulpit and a stanchion, using clamp on u-bolts. Fitted either side so we can stow it on the outboard side when in marinas to reduce obstruction on side deck.
 
parsifal said:
At the moment I have a telescopic spinnaker pole which I use for poling out the genoa (I don't carry a spinnaker). I would like to replace this with a smaller diameter one-piece pole.

Roughly how long should it be? I don't have the sail dimensions here but it is a 28-foot masthead sloop. I think the genoa is 120%.
Click to expand...

About 1.25 x J

but can't you determine the best length by experimenting with your telescopic spinnaker pole as already suggested or does it need to be longer .

I made mine..... I started with it longer than I knew would be right and kept shortening it........... until I'd made it too short. :( A little less than 1.25 J would have been about right.
 
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I have a fixed length pole just short enough to dip behind the forestay while still fixed to the mast. Probably a bit less than "J".
I've used it successfully with 150% 135% and 105% headsails and also to pole out the tack of the cruising chute when sailing deep angles downwind. (29ft LOA masthead rig)
 
Ours is a Tele-whisker type that we use at about 1.2xJ. We just hook it on the mast (hook is about the same ht as the clew when held out) and then on the jib sheet next to the clew and unfurl the sail and pole follows it out (sometimes needs some manual help to unfurl if the wind is very light). We hardly use it, but its useful on a run, when there is hardly any wind to get a bit more push. We keep it stowed clipped to the rails by two of those unbelievably expensive seldon rubber mounts.
 
JimC said:
Where do people stow these long poles on cruising yachts?
Click to expand...

Our spinny pole stows away very nicely inside the mainsail lazy jacks when not in use.

It also has the advantage that the up haul and downhaul can remain fixed on and set ready for spinny launch and its out of site from tea leaves when the sail cover is on.
 
On a 30" boat I use a 10 foot aluminium pole for my 150% genoa. It's a TV aerial pole and was relatively cheap and very light. A couple of end fittings and you'll have a whisker pole. If it's a bit too long given your smaller sail, remove an end fitting and cut a bit off.
 
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