Spinnaker Pole for SO 36.2

[sailorbill]

I have recently purchased a 36.2 and it has no spinnaker gear. Can anyone tell me what size of pole would fit this boat, either spinnaker or whisker.
Thanks

[MartyB]

I could not find the actual measurements for the sails. So you will have to do some measuring.

max spinnaker pole if racing is typically the "J" measure, ie from the mast to the point at which the forestay hits the deck. Locally, ie NW US I can use a longer pole, but I do take a rating hit, ie they take away time, make the boat faster.

For a whisker pole, length depends on where you race, some area's limit you to the J value, others like where I am, I get 80% of the genoa LP down to the J value. Which ever length is longer, I can use. So a 125 genoa or smaller I can use a J meaure pole.

For cruising where the length does not matter per say........If you come across a spin pole lets say, the is a foot longer than you J measure, a good price, buy it! use it and enjoy! This works great, especially if the spin is on the larger end of things. Along with it will work for poling out a genoa for wing on wing applications.

For a whisker pole, get a pole that is as close to you J measure as you can, maybe a bit smaller, and one that will go out to a 155 or so if that is you largerst HS. If you just have a single genoa, then a solid spin pole might be the way to go. Especially if your HS is a semi typical 135 or there abouts, a J length spin pole would be the lightest and strongest if you to a carbon fiber pole vs a telescoping aluminum one.

My 30'r uses a 10-18 whisker pole, I would think a 36 would need a 12-20 or a 14-22. Usually the bigger they are, the bigger the tube, so they are stronger too.

I also find that while racing I am limited to 80% of LP, I can go to 85-90% and get some additional speed, going to 100% does not usually net me much if anything at all. So in reality here, if you found a pole on the short side for your Max HS, it is a good deal, get it and you will not hurt yourself any at all, learn from it, and if you find a more appropriate new or used one later, buy it, and sell the used small one you got, or use it as a spare.

If you race, you may wish to have a spin and whisker pole on board if you race in an area with rules like I follow.

Sorry I do not have actual lengths like on my boat, but I was not able to find the J value for yours. hopefully this helps, my J is just shy of 12'.

You will also want to come up with a spin halyard. If you do not have one, you may have a feeder line already there to pull a halyard thru, if not, then feeding one is not usually too hard. THere may also be a place on the mast part way up for a spin pole topping lift. Mine is about half way up just below my mini forestay.

marty