Using the spinaker pole as a jib boom

[pcatterall]

Our Neptunian ketch has been modified at some time with a bowsprit and a furling genny. The original forstay has been retained though now secured around 4 feet 'down the mast'
This 'inner stay' had been used with a jib boom which seems to have disapeared!
There is a decent sail which will hank on to the inner stay and we would like to try to restore the system to have a self tacking sail.
The spinaker pole would be just the right length and has all the right fittings to use loose footed with the sail in question.
Otherwise we do have a spare boom which we could use if we chopped 18" from the end.
Would the spinnaker pole be strong enough for this purpose?
If not is the idea of restoring some sort of jib boom ( to use in conjunction with the furling genny) worth pursuing at all?

 

[Seajet]

pcatterall,

so what you're suggesting is a staysail ?

I seriously suspect the spinnaker pole will not be strong or heavy enough.

Might be an idea to fit a traveller ( track athwartships not gypsy ) & make it self tacking while you are at it.

 

[Ludd]

Not speaking from experience,but I reckon you'd need to fit a bobstay as well.
If the stay is 4ft down the mast,does it have runners?
Maybe the reason it was changed back( unmodified ) was that the balance was all wrong.

 

[scottie]

I would suggest trying the sail without a boom to see if it will set and going on from there.
Hanging a pole/boom would misshape the sail I would think and doubt that it would set effectively .
We have a self tacking system on a Hanse and it is great but restricted to 90/95% it uses a curved track with the sheet taken up the mast to allow for setting on either tack.

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks all.
The original system used a self tacking jib, the traveller is still fitted and the sail is the original one for the jib stay.
Many owners then swapped this system for a furling genny and we suspect that this is when the original boom disappeared. The owner then took the furling genny foreward via a bowsprit c/w bobstay and using the original masthead fitting. He retained the original deck fitting and used that for a 'new inner stay' secured about 4 feet down the mast.
The sail we would like to use is the smaller of the 2 original forsails being 9 feet at the foot and 30 feet high. It does fit in terms of dimension and looks like it would set ok.