Genoa Pole

[PandK]

My wife and I have just brought a 26M but sailing dead down wind I cant keep the genoa full, I used to sail NS14s (a 14 foot skiff that doesnt use a spinnaker but we had a jib pole for this purpose), does anybody use a jib pole on their Mac26? if so what length and what thickness aluminium?
Peter

[Hamin' X]

Many do, on both the X and the M. Do a search on "whisker pole". You can buy the setup, or "roll your own".

~Rich

[CampCook]

You have my interest as well. Whisker poles just seem toooo expensive and I ruined a boat hook doing this. Been thinking about making a proper pole out of abs plastic pipe. Maybe 3/4 glued inside 1 inch for stiffness, Anyway, for about $5.00 material it would seem like a worthy experiment.
Dave (Gypsea Dream)

[Berber Boy]

Peter, I have a with a 150 Genoa and had the same trouble. I made my own with aluminum pipe and two quick release pole ends that are a little pricey. I believe the length needs to be the same as the foot of the sail (luff to leech cringles) It seemed rather long to me so mine is about 90% of the distance and works well. Have done the same for my jib. I do not think the PVC pipe option would be strong enough as it can have a fair bit of pressure on it.

Stowing it out of the way is a bit of a problem!

Dave

[THE CUSCUS]

You can buy this adjustable whisker pole, at West Marine (or elsewhere) made by Forespar. It's inexpensive, and will do the job, correctly.

Description WM Model# MFG Part# Availability Price USD QTY
Length; 4'-8', Diameter; 1", Spike-Whisker Pole 111153 404000 In Stock $90.80
Length; 6'-12', Diameter; 1-1/4", Spike-Whisker Pole 111179 406000 In Stock $124.20
Length; 6'-12', Diameter; 1-1/4", Lexan SL-Whisker Pole 112110 406100 In Stock $132.08

Small twist lock poles are made of heavy-gauge, clear anodized aluminum tubing. Whisker poles hold the sail away from the boat, exposing more area to the wind and reducing the tendency of the sail to collapse and fill repeatedly. Using a telescoping whisker pole to stabilize your headsail allows it to work with optimum efficiency


I would go with the last one, the locking hook ends are much nicer to use than the spike ends (and you won't accidentally poke a hole in your sail).

[Hardcrab]

I went to the local Home Despot and eyeballed the 8'-16' (extended) fiberglas/aluminum paint roller extension poles for about $30.00 or so.
A yellow one and a grey "fluted" handle were the finalists, and the grey one looked to be the strongest.
Pretty heavy duty IHMO.

A standard paint roller handle and a hacksaw makes a great "spike" for the genny clew.
It's ready to screw into the pole as is.

I did drill a hole in the aluminum extension piece so I can pin it at full extension and not rely on the normal friction ring to keep it fully out.

Even setting it works fine. A suitable length of 1/4'' rope made into a loop will hold the pole at a good height at the mast using either one of the factory main /jib halyard cleats on the mast.

I've used this set-up five or six times and it works well to keep the genny out wing to wing.
Maybe 8-12 knot wind range has been my experience with it so far.

We stow it under the table and against the bulkhead from mirror to just into the aft berth area.
We don't find it to cause any issues when stored there.

Cheap, easy and effective for the intended use, although somewhat backyard mechanicish.
Sorta like the Mac itself.

It works for us.

[hart]

Nothing to add to the topic itself, but I wanted to say I love the ingenuity displayed on this forum. Our members are what make it such a great resource. So thanks again for all of you that post such great ideas.

[PandK]

Thanks everybody, I decided to go with adjustable Forespar one (bit dearer here in Tasmania $225) as it was the easiest for me and using a roller reefer I am able to adjust length for reefed genoa if necessary.

[Hamin' X]

A good choice and as long as the price doesn't bother you, probably the best one.

By the way, You might want to update your profile to reflect your location. Tasmania: Wow! Welcome aboard.

~Rich

[Catigale]

Tasmania...very cool. The devil is in the details

[Newell]

Whisker Pole, the secret weapon I am very surprised at how many owners don't have one. I store mine on my mast at all times. No trip below for me. Don' leave home without it.

[dlandersson]

I decided to go with the highest end adjustable Forespar - is there any other hardware that I'm likely to need in order to get it to work?

[Newell]

I have both a fixed ring and a ring on a slide track on my D and X respectively. It is advised (by forespar I think) to attach the pole opening up onto the ring. I marked the pole with electrical tape so that when closed it shows me where the unlocked position of the tubes lies. When it is extended and has been tightened by the stresses of rig and wind sometimes it is difficult to know if you are twisting it in the right or wrong direction. I made loop out of AL strip and attached higher up the mast so the pole is always attached and ready to deploy. The fixed ring works as well for me as the adjustable ring, since the PO placed it at the right height. When deployed on the Genoa the pole is at a right angle.

http://www.mauriprosailing.com/us/1-Ron ... NRF41.html

I have sailed downwind as much as 17 miles wing on wing, poled out. Pretty good for trailering in, setting up and launching in a day.

[CampCook]

Since my previous post on this topic I have gained some experience. Note, this applies to a 26M.
1) I purchased a nice fore spar pole with spike on the out board end. It came with a loop to install on the front of the mast. It really worked great BUT on the second use during HPCC-2012 during somewhat gusty winds the mast rotated, the loop broke and the pole went into Lake Havasu.
2) My sun garbage picked an 8 to 16 foot paint pole Like Hardcrab says comes from Home Depot.. Price was right so I carried it to HPCC-2013. It turns out that the threaded tip actually screws into the Tack grommet where the genoa sheets attach. We just held the pole in position on this trip. I will have to come up with a ready way to support the pole on the mast end.
3) I stow the pole on the inside of the cabin on velcro loops attached to the cabin roof.

I think I am close to the optimum solution.
Dave (Gypsea Dream)

[Phil M]

I made a whisker pole from a pool cleaning tool, as someone else did years ago and where I originally got the idea. The pole gets stored up high in the aft cabin along the starboard side. But when my whisker pole does break - it only gets used in light to moderate winds - I will replace it with a Home Depot paint extension that I looked at and seems to be heavier duty than what I now use.