Jack; thank you for the info; I am surprised at the 50% extra weight; is that due to the specs of your pole or are all carbon fiber poles going to have that issue?Also, how many people are you including as "crew" does it take more than one person to muscle it around? Richard s/v Bushmark4: 1985 C&C 37 CB; Ohio River, Mile 596 Richard N. Bush 2950 Breckenridge Lane, Suite Nine Louisville, Kentucky 40220-1462 502-584-7255 -----Original Message----- From: Jack Fitzgerald via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> To: C&CList <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Jack Fitzgerald <j...@fitzgeraldforwarding.com> Sent: Wed, Apr 3, 2019 3:46 pm Subject: Re: Stus-List [EXTERNAL] Re: Downwind sailing- Whisker pole length and height
All I had Forespar build a line drive carbon fiber whisker pole (all carbon fiber, no aluminum extension) for our C&C 39TM 5 years ago. I spent the time to discuss at length the build with Forespar tech at their facility in CA since I wanted the pole to work not only as an expandable whisker pole to use when white sail racing but also as a J (16') legal spinnaker pole. The end result works very well, but the pole is about 50%+ heavier than Honey's original aluminum pole, so no joy weight wise. The topping lift must be used with this pole due to it's weight, no exceptions. However, it is expandable to approximately 28' in light to medium breezes and has taken all of the punishment that our original aluminum pole did when used with either our A sails or symmetrical chutes. The final cost was slightly over 4 USD boat bucks in delivered costs and that was the wholesale price via our Port Supply (now West Marine PRO) account. Carbon Fiber poles are EXPENSIVE and you must keep it covered since they do not like UV exposure for long periods of time. Forespar will not warranty their poles for US damage related issues. Also, the line drive carbon pole does not have the outboard release at the butt end so we have either drop the pole on to the fore deck to release the clew or hope like hell that the fore deck crew doesn't forget to tie on the tag line to release the clew before we do the end dip jibe. Do we like this pole: Yes Would I have another one built: No Just my 2 cents worth.
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
