What Length Whisker Pole?

[FullCircle]

I have been bimbling around up and down this year, and I have a Cruising Chute. As we all know it wont go dead downwind, and is pretty poxy in very little wind, also over 150 degrees downwind.
I have lower and upper spinnaker pole rings, and an uphaul (no downhaul yet)
I have tried standing in the shrouds poking out the clew with the boat hook with some success, so the question is:

The measurement from mast to forestay is 8 feet (2430mm ish), and I have a 130% roller genoa and what length Whisker pole would anyone recommend? Diameter of pole?
Any end fittings particularly recommended? Has anyone tried telescopic units?
Who is a recommended supplier? (East Coast -if poss).

Or should I just go for a spinnaker pole to fit just inside the 8 feet?

Many thanks

Jim & Lynn



<hr width=100% size=1>Second Chance - First Love. Look for the Yellow Dinghy in Burnham.

[VicS]

A whisker pole is longer than a spinnnaker pole. At least 1.25 J where J is the horizontal distance between the mast and the tack.

If you make your own you can experiment with the length. Start by making it longer and gradually shorten it until you feel it is right.

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[Rick]

Agree with Vic - I have two spinnaker poles - one equal to J and one almost 120% - I wish the big one was longer - ideally equal to length from tack to mast when biggest sail was square - probably around 150% of J

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[Sumomo]

My whisker pole is 130% of the J - and I use it for the spinaker too.

It's very effective on my 150% #1 genoa, but too big (useless) for the #2 and #3.

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[chappy]

Can anyone tell me what you mean by the saying of the j.
I.E 130% of the j, what does it mean?

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[snowleopard]

are standard measures of rig size.

I is distance from top of forestay to foot of mast, J from bottom of forestay to foot of mast.

strictly they measure the fore-triangle and ignore the presence of cabin tops etc.

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[snowleopard]

for best performance you should be able to pole out the foresail almost at right angles to the centre line, i.e. about 40% more than the mast-forestay distance.

for safe handling the ideal is a fraction more than the mast-forestay distance so you can roll the foresail completely without having to adjust the pole.

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[FullCircle]

Thank you one and all,
I have taken a middling path through your no doubt excellent advice.
I have ordered a pole kit with 140% pole and three sets of rivets. If it proves to be a little large, I shall dissasemble, hack a lump off and rivet it all up again.
Z Spars (who made the rig in 1978) for 83 quid & VAT and carriage. Not too bad I thought?

Thanks again

Jim & Lynn

<hr width=100% size=1>Second Chance - First Love. Look for the Yellow Dinghy in Burnham.