Selden Gennaker Bowsprit

[FullCircle]

I have been poring over the Selden Gennaker Bowsprit.
At about 300 quid its sort of value for money as a complete kit.
Has anyone got one/fittedone/ seen one on someone elses boat?

Would like to know what the forum think of them.

I have found out you can fit a rollergen code) furler gear on it, so its not all bad. SWMBO would love it if we could just roll away the nasty cruising chute.

 

[moondancer]

I thought you were going to build one from a broom handle?

 

[FullCircle]

Cost of manufacture of one off exceeds kit from Selden!!!
Mainly due to custom made bracket on anchor roller and PA fittings being turned from solid.
Never been known before!

 

[simonfraser]

def a good deal if it fits, i paid 300 for the two ends bits of a custom made pole, furling an asymetric can be trouble, make sure you get it right

 

[Sans Bateau]

I'd be interested in this as well, having just had some stainless steel work done 300 quid sounds a good deal.

I was going to look into having one made for our cruising chute, it needs to be a bit further forward, I feel that the rolled genny spoils the airflow into the chute.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Look at the ones Northshore are fitting to Southerlies at the moment, I have made a mock up out of plastic waste pipe and will have it fabricated about 100 miles from the nearest coast therby ensuring that it will be at least 30% cheaper than a marine fabrication, it will be about £200.

 

[simonfraser]

gadriel, sailspar brightlingsea

 

[FullCircle]

Galadriel,
they have a range of diameters for each displacement range of boat. For 35ft 6-7 tonnes you copuld have a 75mm dia, giving a max overhang of 685mm forward of the bow fitting, or 87mm dia giving 902mm or the biggie, a 99mm dia tube giving max overhang of 1318mm.
I would choose the 87mm as 900mm is more than adequate to clear the pulpit tubing and leave room for a Rollergen furling gear to be added later.
They also say on the site that the addition of a waterstay (I call it a Bobstay) would add significantly to the strength, without affecting the operation.

The tube would be stored on the side deck in a pad eye fitting when not in use. I have almost talked myself into this.

Anyone out there with one fitted!!!!!!!???????? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Sans Bateau]

Thanks Jim, I think its been suggested that Sailspar make a similar product, they are closeish to you, might be worth a phone call.

Out of interest I was going to keep mine permanently attached to the bow of the boat, being able to store it on deck is interesting

 

[DavidMcMullan]

I fitted one at the end of last season, but only used it once so far. Looks good and easy to use. The inboard end connects to a folding pad-eye. Two are supplied - one for the extended position and one for the retracted position.

 

[uforea]

I too have considered this and toyed with the idea of using the spinny pole. I think it needs to extend beyond the bow roller by about 2 or 3ft but I'm not sure if the pole could stand up to these sorts of loads. Do you know what wall thickness the Selden pole is?
Ted

 

[simonfraser]

if you are going to windward with the pole in use you'll need stays on it

 

[Koeketiene]

Thinking about the same thing - using spinny pole.
Will know more after Easter - would be made-to-measure work.

 

[FullCircle]

Simon,
I have to disagree with your statement.
There is NO restriction on the use of the pole to windward, leeward or otherwise. Selden has a MAXIMUM extension limit beyond the fitting which is defined in average displacement tons of the boat, and offers differing lengths of extension for the 2 or 3 available diameters of pol/fitting assembly. This is very clear in the brochure.
It seems that if you dont need a long extension to clear the pulpit, then you can reduce the diameter of required pole.

Not that I am a biased reporter, just to balance in fairness what Selden recommend.

 

[grievesie]

I have used the Selden gennaker pole system quite a bit on a Sweden Yachts 390 I crew on - excellent bit of kit. The fitting on the aft end that secures it to the Wichard folding padeye on the deck is a very neat bit of engineering and quick to use. The pole is used with a Bamar Rollgen furler for the crusing chute (1100 sq ft). The Rollgen halyard needs to be bar tight in order to furl the chute properly but the pole seems to cope with it OK. Photo shows the boat alongside with the pole deployed.

[/image]

 

[simonfraser]

haha, this could turn into my pole is stiffer than yours, but, for windward work the luff needs to be controlled very well, for this you are going to need a stiff pole.
if you are happy with the seldon pole, go for it )

 

[geoffcollins]

The other option...

So the other option is to have on of those protruding stainless steel things bolted onto the bow? You know what I'm talking about? I see them often, but can't think of the name. This seems to me that it might be better? The only downside being that the boat is a little longer and sharp marinas might charge you more...