spinnaker rig

[jrwright]

Rigging 25''(9.5 j) boat for spinnaker.
Need to know how far up from the foot of the mast does the ring that is used to attach the spin pole should be placed.

How long should a spinnaker pole be?

Thanks

[maxlynn]

Hard to answer your first question. Should be adjustable in height ideally, with a track on the mast. However, many boats use a fixed ring, and if I recall correctly, the ring on a J-24 is approx. five feet off the deck. The spinnaker pole length should be 9.5 ft.(= J). Strictly speaking you should subtract the diameter of the ring on the mast from that length, but virtually no one would quibble with you on that.

Max Lynn

[Irwin32]

Spinnaker pole length in PHRF is limited to your J measurment. You want the mast end to be on a track so you can adjust the height of the pole depending on conditions.

[Silmaril]

As mentioned, ideally, you would want to have a track at the inboard end of the pole. But that may be a bit more work and/or cost than you want to get into.

If you go with a fixed ring, you want it to be at a height that is easily reached by your crew, to enable them to attach and strike the pole when needed. Much above chest height and it can be a chore.

You will also want to rig a topping lift, and a foreguy. The topping lift should run from a block about halfway up the mast and attach to a bridle on the pole. The foreguy should go through a block at mid-foredeck, attach to another bridle and run back to the cockpit. That way, you will be able to do end-for-end jibes.