Ok, I was out-run by a Hunter 25 on Saturday. Maybe it was the extra weight I had on board, but I think I could have done better.
I am planning on using a whisker pole on the genny next time and see if I can wipe the smile off his face .........friendly rivalry!!!
I am thinking of using an adjustable length boat-hook and drilling out the hook end to accept a French snap or small halyard schackle to attach to the genny's clew. I am wondering how to temporarily attach the other end of the pole to the mast.
Has anyone used this method, if so how do you attach the inboard (mast) end?
hull, I only have a Yamaha 25T. Had I kicked that baby into gear, I would have left him in my wake (he has a 9.9HP).
But, we were both under sail. I slackened off the vang and got the boom over as far as I could. But without support, I couldn't get good shape on the genny to fill it properly, hence the need for a whisker pole. He seems to have had a proper whisker pole attached to his jib.
Once I get full sail power, the Hunter will become the Hunted!!!!
Im not into racing, but it would seem that a Mac 26 would be faster than the heavier Hunter 25. The Hunter 25 boats Ive boarded have all the luxuries built in that look real nice, but definately appear to add a lot of boat weight. A Mac with an equal sail area 'outta be able to wave "bye" to a Hunter 25.
Louis,
I guess we need to factor in another 200lb for the motor. However, we had a heavy crew.
1 male 275 lbs
1 male 230 lbs
1 male 190 lb
1 youth 110 lb
that's about 800lb and the opposition had about 230 lb as he was sailing single handed.
I found that with all the weight in the cockpit and pointing upwind I had trouble coming into the wind. I had the 275lb guy sit in the forward seat in the cabin and saw an immediate improvement and the baot came into the wind a lot easier.
Hello Board,
I made a very inexpensive, yet adjustable, pole that I have used may times successfully on both my asymetrical spinnaker and my 150% genoa headsail. From the local Lowe's Hardware store I purchased the longest, adjustable painting pole I could find. It is fairly sturdy and can adjust from 7.5-12 feet (2.15 - 3.4 meters). I screwed a new paint roller onto the painting end, cut off the roller part, and bent the remainder into a question mark shape. I filed the cut end smooth and round. Through the handle end of the pole, I attached a "U" bolt and on the "U" bolt I attached a snap hook. The "question mark" fits through the headsail clew (metal ring from which the ropes run) and can be secured there with a wrap of rope if needed. the snap end can be attached to that metal ring just above the mainsail gooseneck, or if you need the sail farther out, you can attach the snap to the lifeline on the leeward side. It's not perfect. It's not bullet-proof. It just works great for my needs.
Peace,
Dave "Jac"
Dave and Rich,
thanks, now I know it can be done. The ring for the mast will be picked up today.
I did a search of the former postings usung whisker and pole but didn't get your post Rich. I guess I should have checked the mods as well.
Now, I can send out a challenge to that Hunter 25 once again
I use the adjustable boat hook as a whisker pole without modification. I put the point of the boat hook thru the loop where the sheets attach to the jib. The handle end of the pole just sits at the boom attachment. I use a small line to tie the handle end to the the mast just in case it happens to fall due to a wind shift, but it never has because, if on a port tack I use the port sheet to keep the jib tight to the pole and the pole to the mast, and the starboard sheet to adjust for sail power.
It takes two to rig this hook/pole, one to hold the pole at the mast until the other one tightens the port sheet. Then it is okay.
I suspect the same operation would work with the genoa but I don't remember if I ever tried it. A longer pole (the paint pole) would certainly work.
Got my whisker pole ready. It is a 6ft - 16ft painters pole, three adjustable sections section. In the off-season it can double up for it's original usage and I will pick up a spare boat-hook head so I can use it for a lung reach boathook if necessary.
It came with a plastic threaded cap to fit on the top end. I drilled a 1/4" hole through the cap and inserted a 1/4 SS ring eye backed up with a flat washer and nut. On the other end, there is a hole going through the diameter of the pole. I inserted a SS shackle through the hole and then attached a SS carabiner style snap shackle.
I will attach a 5mm x 50mm SS eye strap to the mast at the same height that Rich recommends with 3/4" SS screws.
Is it ok to use anohter snap shackle to attach the outboard end of the pole to the clew of the genny? Or should the pole have a loose fit such as Rich mentioned in his mod?
My crew for this weekend will be lighter., all of 500lbs and the gear will be stowed forward should the winds be light.
.........friendly rivalry!!!
