MacGregorSailors.com

I just purchased a Forespar ADJ 6-12 whisker pole and need to know how high to mount the mast eye on my . I will be using it with the stock 150.

Jeff

I can measure mine this weekend. It seems to be about right.

Mine is about halfway between the mast cleats and the baby stay mounting point. I have a 150 Genoa. Since sails might be different the best thing to do is to un-furl the sail and find out where the eye should be to keep the pole level. I just took mine out on the water, located the spot, drilled the pilot holes with a cordless drill and screwed the eye on. You want the height for the sail fully un-furled as this is most likely how it will be when you use the pole to run wing on wing.

I find the pole really useful, it's poor mans spinnaker of sorts. At the recent BWY rendezvous in the San Juans we had 45 Macs in the fleet. The first leg of the around Shaw Island sail was almost dead down wind leaving Friday Harbor. At first we were able to get away sailing a deep reach, but had to turn just enough to starboard to round a point that the headsail wouldn't fly behind the main. We swung the genoa to the port side and were able to sail for a bit without it flogging. Our speed was down however and the boats astern were gaining ground. I jumped up on deck and set the pole with the genoa out wing on wing. Our speed surged and we pulled away from the boats behind making do without poles.

Or you could spend some more money and get an adjustable track for the eye..like racing boats have. I suppose the Mac mast may be a bit skinny for that but one may fit right. That way, you could adjust the height for multiple sails and conditions.

I believe mine is about a foot and a half a bove the goose-neck fitting. I'll need to look (dealer installed item.) Hopefully I'll have a camera next time I'm at the boat and take a picutre and/or measure.

Duane, Leon, Daniel. the online brochure says theForespar ADJ 6-12 whisker pole is for boats 22' and under? is this the pole you guys picked? How long is it? I also am pondering ordering one this weekend. and any information is very much appreciated.

Richard:

That's technically correct and I've pointed it out before. If you go through the numbers for whisker pole length on the West Marine website, you'll find the whisker pole for the Mac w/150 genny should be 16-18'. That means a quantum leap in price from the light duty 6-12 pole at $145 to a heavy duty 7-17' pole at $427. You can get a heavy duty 6-12' for an in between $335, but if you're spending those kinds of bucks you may as well go the rest of the way and get the "right" size. These are all slightly inflated West Marine prices, but you get the picture.

Not wanting to drop the serious extra $$, many have purchased the light duty 6-12' on the theory that an undersized pole is better than no pole at all, and have been quite happy with it.

I know, however, that Catigale broke his almost new light duty 6-12' on the Hudson last year. That would be the definition of false economy, though I believe he then bought another copy of the same one. So anyway, you spends your money and you takes your chances.

Chip Hindes wrote:Richard:

That's technically correct and I've pointed it out before. If you go through the numbers for whisker pole length on the West Marine website, you'll find the whisker pole for the Mac w/150 genny should be 16-18'...

I know, however, that Catigale broke his almost new light duty 6-12' on the Hudson last year. you spends your money and you takes your chances.

Thanks for the information Chip. Yes I have to take that into considerstion, although I'd be a little intimidated by an 18' pole I think I wish there was more of a try before you buy in this industry

I made my own whisker pole from an aluminum, painter's roller handle extension. At 16 ft. I find it's just the right length, although 15" would work well also with the gen or the asym.

The big expensive poles at WM are way too heavy for me and my crew to handle easily on pitching foredeck, and are designed for heavy air, rough seas, heavy boats. I don't fly wing and wing in anything over 15 knots, so it suits our purposes.

Pole was from either Lowe's or Home Depot, pole end and mast loop from WM. Sail clew end, a screw on, sawed off paint roller of course.... Total cost was less than $50. Something still shjould be available since painters haven't grown much taller in the last 7 years.

Writing this just reminded me that I intended to put a swim noodle around it, it or fill one end with foam so if it goes overboard, it will float. Even the $1000 pro models don't have that!

Richard,

Mine is the 6-12' telescoping pole. I believe that's the light duty. For my working jib (don't have a genoa,) I only use about 7' so I think this pole would be just fine on a genoa as well. They are prone to failure at the attachment points. I think it would take a lot to break the pole itself, or just negligence. The plastic attachment tips are a different story. I already replaced two. They do sell replacements for this, but I wish it would just work right. The part that fails is the spring loaded portion. I realized later that I was attaching it upside down at the mast eyebolt. I haven't broken one since I changed how I attach; spring loaded part facing up. Also, tie a small loop of line around the clew of your headsail. Attach the pole to loop instead of directly through the clew. All in all, I don't think a heavy duty whisker pole is needed or justifiable for the Mac. Hope this helps.

Leon

The 6-12 I have is technically to short for my 150, but as Chip said, anything is better than nothing. The general rule is the pole length should match the foot length of your sail. The 6-12 is more than long enough for a std jib. While the shorter pole doesn't get the clew of my genoa out to the optimum point, I find it still works very well for running wing on wing. I probably loose a few degrees of pointing on a broad reach where the wind can sneak behind the sail, but I'm not that picky. I just want the sail to fly clean and full without collapsing.

I feel the strength of the 6-12 series is right for our light boats. It's possible to break anything, but with proper use you will have no problem with the 6-12.

I choose the one with a spike on the clew end. This has worked well, it's easy to set, you just stick it through the clew grommet while the sail is flying. You don't have to reach the sail at all. Once in the sail grommet you just clip it to the mast. Removal is much easier as well, no messing with a flapping or loaded up sail. Plus it adds some safety. If you have a problem you can just free the sheet, dump the wind and let the sail fly forward. The spike will slide out and the pole drops to the lifelines.

I probably loose a few degrees of pointing on a broad reach where the wind can sneak behind the sail, but I'm not that picky.

Duane,

You don't need the pole on a broad reach. It is only needed for wing on wing DDW sailing. I guess if it starts collapsing, you're lower than a broad reach. Don't know about the genoa, but with the jib, it won't start to collaps until you're within about 10 degrees of DDW. If that's the case, the headsail is being blanketed by the main and simply keeping it out there with a pole doesn't mean you're getting any power from it.

Leon

I use the same light weight 6-12' pole with my genoa. Works great and very low cost.

I have the Forespar 6-12, correct. I could use the extra length of the next size up but the dollar leap was insane as Chip points out.

They do snap like carrots if you backwind them with the genny poled out.....trials of the shifty winded Hudson...

Sailing by the lee reduces odds of backwinding that genny & risk of snapping that pole.

OTOH, it increases odds of backwinding the boom, (need a preventer, for sure!)


Isn't the next bigger Forespar about $350???
Is that such a giant leap from the 6/12 pole?