This may seem a silly question but does the pole downhaul go into a hole at the bottom of the pole (outboard end)pass through then tie to the ring? If this is so is there a bungee system somewhere to keep it all tight? I have no other boats to look at and I cant make it out by looking at photos. Also how long can the poles be on my old boat, 2914. The pole I have seems rather short, and bloody heavy! Thanks, in advance. |
Sounds about right! |
I've got 2 photos that I think make the outboard end of the pole fairly clear. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/rigging_guide/3489&file=3489_pole_end_out.jpg |
Where do you live? There might be a nearby club where you can visit a local Merlin to have a nose at the system. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/rigging_guide/3594&file=3594_pole_outboard_end.jpg |
Longer poles don't seem to be a problem whatever size spinny you have, there is little point in going for anything shorter. Carbon poles are durable and easier to handle if you can bear the expense. Otherwise 28mm ext diam ally tube is adequate, the load is all in compression as long as the ring is snug into the end of the pole. You need very low stretch stuff on the downhauls with a 2:1 to a good cleat, loads are very high on a tight reach. It can be awkward to install this part of the system in older boats and there are a number of alternatives for the siting of the cleat, should be accessible for helm to operate, and you need to have enough throw in the system to be able to get the pole on and off easily with mast rake on, which alters the pole height as the whole rig comes back. |
P.S. There is a block on a bit of shockcord below the foredeck on my boat, the downhauls go through this just after passing through the deck bush and it pulls in enough slack to stop the sheets falling in the water. |
I think you'd want 32mm (Inch and a half) alloy tube for long poles unless it's a very high grade alloy (in which case just use carbon!). All the 28mm ones i've seen have bent enormously after use in strong winds. Also you'll want the better quality pole ends that are designed for the thicker tube. The 25mm ends are not up to job and tend to cause holes in laminate mainsails and a bluey-red tinge to the air afterwards. |
I did a bit of a takeaway system on White Whale under the foredeck after looking at some modern boats. The takeaway system(see above shockcord remark) seems to be absolutely key in getting it all to work slickly. Have a look under someones foredeck on a new boat. Then getting the lengths right for the downhaul is key to perfecting it. |
Well, I have to go for twin poles now as I dropped the tin single over the side this afternoon, and it sank! 35 years old and I am the first person clumsy enough to loose it! Thank you for your advice Jon but you do not know me. I never buy anything new/ready made/expensive. There is always a way! |
John, |
The problems I found buying carbon tube were 1) Length as noone seemed to want to supply more than 2m lengths cheaply and 2) Actually fining the correct stuff as 32mm i/d with the correct wall thickness (3mm?) seems to be (or at least was) like hen's teeth. I ended up buying 2 made up ones!! By the time you've bought the correct material and fittings from speeds or P&B and put it together yourself you may as well pay them the extra £20 to do it for you. |
i've currently got a non adjustable height system on the pole-up. Any idea how much string i'll need to rig twin pole up and down's? There is a convieniently placed cleat on the mast just above deck level |
Our last spinny pole came from Beaulieu boat jumble (this Sunday, 26th by the way) but if you go for single pole, have a pull cord between the two ends then the uphaul/downhaul join together in a loop around the pole but inside the string. That way it can't fall overboard and can be stowed along the boom. A piece of drainpipe rivetted onto the boom for supporting the pole rear end makes a good substitute for the expensive spinnaker pole loops from the chandlers. |
Tim, |
p.s. the sheeve for the strings are always lower than the sheeve for the spinnaker halyard, but on an older mast set up originally for shorter poles the sheeve is lower. Don't over trim yourlines till you are happy with the geometry in practice. (if you have long poles on an old mast you probably have shockcord tied into the uphauls to lift the poles to boom height when inboard) |
Like this http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/rigging_guide/3594&file=3594_pole_uphaul_elastic.jpg |
Or you can do this http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/rigging_guide/spinny_pole&file=uphaul_top.jpg |
John |
Dunno about that: I've caused my helm a few shiners from doing just that (with carbon poles). The only obvious answer to that one is in Dan's spinnaker drill paper: the crew yells "POLE" before unclipping and the helm ducks... |
I find flying elbows are more of a problem personally. I think it depends on where you are in the boat and the system used. |
Ah ha!! we are on the way, alli tube from local scrapyard �3.00 enough for both poles but it is in 2' sections that slot together, bit of 'poxy and some pop rivets, twin poles by weekend! |
You're rivetting together 2ft sections.....heck, you're even more cheapskate than me! I thought I was bad... |
and they will be back in the scrap yard in 1ft 8 inch sections by the following weekend |
. |
I'm not sure i'd trust that either, but time will be judge! |
Oh ye of little faith!! I shall open a book on it. Who will give me 10 to 1 on? |
Come on, the Merlin is a baurtiful boat - don't spoil her looks with a messy pole like that! At least wind some tape round the hide the joins, and make it look like the tape is for grip? |
Don't worry, If it works I will spend some money! If I knew how to send a link I would post a photo. |
Whatever you do? Do not try and use the Bungee system to relocate the pole of the mast and down the boom? It Hurts??????? Conk broken 4 second time - First Rugby - That`s understable!!! Cheers AAAALLLEEEZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Just rap it in fake carbon tape it will look fine |
I installed a "flying" pole on a Javelin I owned a few years ago made out of half an ally windsurfer mast, heavy. You pulled a rope and it shot out just jamming against the mast, cleat the rope and it stayed out, uncleat and a bungee shot it back on an unpredictable trajectory. Oh we did laugh, like Russian roulette, blood on the water! |