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I have thought about using a track, although I'm only flying one furling headsail. Maybe an Asym Spinnaker someday.
I've got an old Harken single line reefing system that came with two short sections of track, molded on the bottom. I'm only using one of the track sections.
I could use the other track with a pole ring car. But the track is only about 18" or so.
It takes me a awhile before I drill holes
My Commander (#270) was built as the economy model with no doo-dads and extras. I'm sailing on the Chesapeake where winds tend to be light. Going downwind without a whisker pole can be a struggle. While simplicity was one of the boat's virtues a few years ago when I was a total greenhorn, now I want to add a whisker pole and found only one thing missing from related threads here.
Without track, how far up the mast should one locate a single ring for the inboard end of the pole? If track is used, how long should it be and where should it be located? Any other thoughts and ideas are welcome.
Commander Pete,
Couple more of those rings on the mast and your foredeck crew will have a place to park their Buds while they adjust your spinaker.
I've got fancy varnished teak cupholders. Haven't installed them yet either :o Tragic beer spillage continues
Like Bill said, you want the pole straight, so the inboard fitting is even with the clew of the sail. The height will vary, depending on whether your headsails are high or low cut.
I changed my mind and decided to go with a track on the mast. Gives me some fudge factor.
Those spinnaker pole slide cars are expensive. Ronstan seems to make the cheapest ones.
I'm going to make the track long enough so that I can slide the car up high, out of the way of the sailcover, so the sailcover wont be too tight
I ended up installing a 4' Schaefer track and car on the mast since Ronstan parts didn't seem to be readily available
My low brow approach to the whisker pole is to use an extended telescoping boat hook. Pointy end into the jib's clew grommet and the other end (with rubber cap) propped against the main hatch slides. Works great on my Ariel, Noesis with it's 150 jib. Good for single-handing, you never leave the cockpit.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...1cwusY8qwL.jpg