Spinnaker Pole uphaul/downhaul attchements (again)

Roach1948

Roach1948

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Sorry about the previous post which seems to have gotten all scrambled.

What I wanted to ask was how to attach my uphaul and downhaul to my new spinnaker pole. It is 2" daimeter Sitka Spruce and probably oversized for my yacht. What I was wondering is whether I should use a bridle as common with aluminium poles, or can I get away with simply attaching to the centre of balance of the pole? Either way I was going to use some bronze pad eyes for the fittings - but as I see so few wooden spinnaker poles these days, I am really unsure which way to go...
 
I have a loop of rope around the centre of the pole. It is located by two wooden 'hoops' screwed into pole. These take no weight as that is done by the loop of rope and any pull on the 'hoops' is lateral rather than pulling outwards on the screws. The loop of rope has two stainless eyes, one for the uphaul and one for the downhaul. Not the neatest bit of splicing I've ever done but it works.

I would think carefully about just screwing pad eyes onto the pole as the pull will always be trying to pull the screws out. The bridle - I assume you mean a line to each end to which the uphaul is attached - is ok.
 
On my Stella I used a similiar system to Tillergirl, but with a few differences.
I made an endless loop from wire [I think thats called a selvagee?] I then twisted into a sort of double figure 8, so you have a loop top & bottom, and siezed the crossing to keep in place. The strop was held in place with small wooden blocks epoxied onto the pole to avoid weakening with screw holes.
It used to bend a bit but that usually meant you needed to use a barbour hauler.
A good reason not to use screws or bolts in spinnaker poles was shown on Three Men in Another boat, when Undina's pole came adrift.
 
I use the loop with two eyes, but held in place with two stainless hoop eyes to stop it from moving.
 
I presume you mean a bend in a wooden pole as a extrusion would just fold? I think I have oversized mine at 8ft long and 2" wide, made out of Sitka spruce, which is stronger than aluminium anyway - but I thought I would just ask anyway.

The problem with a bridle is that normally these are attached to strong points on the piston end fittings themselves - but mine are so old fashioned, they don't have a place to attach too. Hence the attraction of the simpler central set-up, as it will only require the fitting of 2 non load bearing points as opposed to four load bearing points if I use a bridle...
 
I am thinking of making a spinny pole for CdG, but using mast bands at the outboard end to take the loads. Either from Classic Marine or Davey and Co. That way the lift and the downhaul don't have to transfer the load in to the poll, except for the compression.
 
My pole is 9ft 6in long 2 3/4 diameter, douglas fir (because I had it available at the time). End fittings are lovely bronze things from Davey (expensive from memory). No fittings for bridle hence the loop and eye arrangement which worked well. Say worked because getting too old to fight the monster now!

Don't think you will have a problem with bending on a 2 inch diameter on 8 ft length.
 
The problem with those mast bands is that they cost a LOT - more than the pole itself! I like the idea of epoxying blocks to the pole for lack of fastenings and also that when varnishing I dont need to "go around" fittings.
 
I'm a bit surprised at the 'bending' comment. I must look at mine more closely next year but I can't imagine the set-up having sufficient pull to cause a bend in it. Maybe its just over engineered - wood of course.
 
No experience of wooden spinnaker poles - mine is alloy. But I run the uphaul from a fitting in the centre and the downhaul from the end. The uphaul only carries the weight of the pole unless we're going wrong somewhere /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I'ts the downhaul that's under tension and by attaching it to the end the pole is only ever under compression. That's how I see it anyway.

If we ever gybed the spinnaker we would end to end it as we have a baby stay. So we have two blocks on the deck for two downhauls. Only ever used one - can't cope with all that string.
 
If you try to carry a spinnaker "shy" in heavy winds, which we did when racing, it'll bend I guarantee.
Not necessary or sensible probably, but it's what you do when the racing fever bites.
 
Somebody PMd this suggestion from Marine store chandlers that is designed for a 2inch pole! I reckon I am sorted pretty easily with this. No screw holes and the band will evenly distribute the loads

SS16-60.jpg
 
Forgive me but I'm not sure I would want that - I don't know what to call it, its not exactly sharp and not exactly heavy but its not really 'nice' and I wouldn't want to be caught by those edges. Is that really in keeping with the restoration work you are doing? Wouldn't something nicely spliced look nicer and be less of a hazard.
 
That explains why mine never bends - I'm naturally a coward. Seriously I suspect that mine is not as large as something intended for racing. It certainly is old fashioned. Nobody describes the style of cut anymore!
 
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