Jib or Wisker pole

[dsbentley]

I am looking to get a pole to hold the jib out while sailing downwind. I was told I need 110% of my J lenght which for my boat is over 34'. This seems long to me and I am told I need to have a carbon fiber pole for weight reasons.

[paulk]

34' IS a long whisker pole, but you've got a big boat. If you're trying to wing out the flying jib on the end of your bowsprit, that may be what you need. Winging out the inner jib you may be able to get away with something shorter, and just furl up the outer one. For the carbon fiber reasoning, try picking up something fairly long that might be strong enough for some of the forces you're dealing with - say a J/24 mast, for example. If you had to handle something like that - or longer! - on the foredeck, you'd be wishing pretty quick that it was carbon fiber and weighed half as much as an aluminum one. It might be easier (and cheaper!) to fly an asymetrical chute from the bowsprit, and play the angles on downwind legs.

[Gene T]

I'm with you paulk. I can't imagine handling a pole like that, let alone the risk of dipping the end and what damage that could do. Maybe something like a code-0 on it's own furler. It would certainly be easier to handle.

[Faster]

Agreed. With a boat that size, manhandling a pole that size and weight could be considered almost dangerous. Carbon would be better but rather expensive and still be somewhat unwieldly. Probably better off to play the angles as Paul suggested or look for an A-sail of some sort.

[sailingdog]

I guess a lot depends on how much crew you'll have to use the pole with. If you've got a huge (6'+) bowman, then a carbon fiber pole might be pretty reasonable, but if you're sailing short-handed, and with smaller, less-experienced crew, then I'd recommend going with a roller furled asymetric. I use a screacher on my boat for the very reason that it is far more manageable than using a pole and spinnaker.