Launching a pole single handed is not fun. Some, of course, get satisfaction overcoming challenges involved in single handing.

What are your plans for the pole? I have a carbon fiber pole and it’s clearly much easier to handle than aluminum. However, I find, unless I expect it to fly on one tack, for a very long time, I just don’t bother. The time and effort don’t pay, otherwise. Of course, nothing wrong with just flying it for fun.

 

I am not likely to use it for a short tack anytime, but more for passages. It sounds like you have found it easier to deal with.

Launching a pole single handed is not fun. Some, of course, get satisfaction overcoming challenges involved in single handing....

What are your plans for the pole?

 

How easy are the two to handle? If the aluminum pole is unwieldy you won't want to use it as much as you might otherwise, so you wouldn't get your money's worth from it. If you can handle it easily there's no point in spending more than you have to.

 

Hello,

I had an aluminum whisker pole on my 36’ c&c 110 and i have a carbon fiber pole for my 40’ Jeanneau. The cf pole is lighter, but I can’t say it’s really any easier to deploy than the aluminum pole. My Jeanneau has a track on the mast w a pin end for the pole. The c& c just had a ring on the mast. Deployment was basically the same, connect the pole to the mast, connect the topping lift to the other end. Extend the pole, connect the sheet to the end, sail on.

I used the whisker pole for double handed racing and cruising.

Barry

 

I am not a racer so it's not a weight issue, but I am trying to decide if buying a Carbon Fiber pole is worth the significant additional cost. It appears to be ~$1,500 for aluminum to ~$3,500 for the Carbon Fiber.

If your budget can reach that far, the lighter weight pole will always be easier to handle. Also, try to weed out the dreaded "R" word from this discussion. Whether you enter a race or not is irrelevant.

I have friends that love their lightweight composite/carbon spinnaker poles, but admit that there are some cautions in handling them.
i.e. even more than with aluminum, you do not want to bang them against the headstay. While strong in compression, they seem to be more vulnerable in point impact. i.e. breaking rather than bending.

"Everything's a compromise" as the old saying goes.