pole length

Phoenix of Hamble

Phoenix of Hamble

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mishapsandmemories.blogspot.com
i've been 'umming and arring' for some time about getting a pole for the boat..... not because I want a kite... I don't... but because i'd like something to use to pole out the genny when deep downwind (a la whisker pole), but more crucially, so that i've got the neccessary pole on board to create an emergency steering system should it be needed...

So.... if it was just a whisker pole I was after, i'd look towards a telescopic set up.... but with the emeregncy steering factored in, that looks less appealing....

Which brings me (eventually) around to the question(s)...

Firstly, what length should the pole be?.... J measures 4.1m on my boat, and i've always worked on a spinny pole being 1.25J, and that makes 5.2m.... which seems awfully long for poling out the genny.... its a light wind thing only, so suspect it should be a bit shorter... thoughts?

Secondly, pole diameter... again, for a light wind whisker pole, not so large, but for emergency steering, a bit heavier might be sensible.... I was thinking something around 70mm, with commensurate wall thickness.... thoughts?

Lats, but not least.... anyone got one that meets these specs that they want to give away? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
On my 29 footer J = 3.6m and pole length = 3.6m. Masthead rig with max. 29 sq. m. genoa. Pole is 60mm diameter and used only for poling out the genoa (and occasionally for prodding the bottom before drying out.)
 
I use a spinnaker pole for my Genoa, it is J+ about 1ft6 which, I have found, is about 2ft too long.
So I would suggest just less than J is about right.
Even though you envisage only light winds, I think 70mm is a bit thin, I would reckon more like 90 or 100 depending in boat size.
Down wind with a 6 behind you feels ok but it can put a lot of strain on the pole.
As for emergency steering, I would have thought you need as much length as you can get, so the two functions arn't rearly compatable.
 
Just looked at the back end of a Beneteau Oceanis 400 - it is a long way to the water!

50765288.P7020008.jpg


So a Very long pole with a snatch block and line to the genoa sheet would be an option.
 
I remember it well.

That Steve's an absolute git, mind you. When I arrived at the boat, it was hacking it down, and he bet me a tenner that he could get you to sit on the pontoon in the rain for an hour.......
 
Yes,

Thats a possibility...

The emergency steering option is more simple.... a sole board u-bolted to the pole, a lashing round the pole at the level of the bottom of the pushpit, held solidly by use the stern cleats, and then use of the cockpit genoa winches to steer if manual control is too hard!
 
J dimension. No more, no less.
Just made one up for my boat. Being a cat with the mast well aft the thing is 18 ft long! Used 80mm tube and end fittings to suit from Z spars. Never did like telescopic poles. Never as strong and heavier as you have to have overlapping tubing. Hate those damn button locators too!
/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Which is the prority? I would try to find a sweep ( a long one!) which could be used to scull the boat, comme les Francais, steer it using the same rowlock,(using blocks and tackle if nec) and as a jibstick/pole if you have an uplift to take some of the weight. The fixing would be down to personal choice, but a spinnaker-type piston hank on the handle end and a hole for a piece of rope in the blade springs to mind. In fact the hole could be useful during emergency tiller use as well...
 
Neil

I would agree with the others and go for your J dimension.

I got one for Sirenia from Z spars.
They are not far from Ipswich so you could collect.
I also found that they where the least expensive.
 
ours is slightly less than J at 5.3m and 100mm dia. (Bav44) It should be longer to get the genoa out far enough (90 deg to centreline) but then you can't use it for a spinnaker and can't dip it under the forestay when tacking. Also if you part furl the genoa the J length one is still usable.

we use it for emergency steering (in theory) by lashing 2 fender boards to one end with hose clamps and lashing half way along the pole between the pushpit uprights. Looks like it should work but never tested in a storm.
 
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