I need to rig a longer spin pole for my Prindle 19 classic. I acquired a 465 cm windsurf mast; it's just under 15' and is 100% carbon, so real stiff. The sail is off a Nacra 6.O and measures 350 sq ft, I know a tad big but I sail at 370-450 lbs crew weight and the extra power is nice. My old sail is an F-18 21 sq meter chute that fits a 12' pole and which I kept when I sold my 5.5u. What I need to know is how to brace and prebend the pole. Should I look at three spreaders or two? (I'm thinking two.) Wire or spectra diamonds? Being heavy already, a little weight won't hurt. Also, being cheap, like most catsailors, cost is very important. Maybe thrifty or economical is a better way to look at it...I think knots per $! Anyway, any suggestions or thoughts are deeply appreciated.

You might want to get the specs for a hooter pole. I'm using a 15' pole for my hooter (on a P-19) which came from Calvert Sails. With a pole this long, you'll need to stabilize the pole from many different angles. I've seen some setups that attach only to the bridle tangs and the base of the pole to the main beam. However, with the longer pole, you'll need to attach at the bow tips in addition to the bridle tang. The hooter pole uses a special pelican stiker (sort of like a dolphin striker)to put a small amount of bend in the pole. I think Rick has a web page showing a hooter pole setup, which may be helpful for a spinaker setup also.

Andrew,

On the Calvert hooter pole we used 2 diamond wires and prebent the pole quite a bit. My pole is 15 foot plus. You will need to tie off at the bow tips and the bridle tangs. On a 6.0na I put eyebolts through the bow tips and used wire for rigging. Spectra will work fine but you have to contend with knots.

By the way my Hooter pole and sail are for sale. Been used very few times.

Andrew-

The spin pole on my 22 is setup to handle a Hooter of about 450sqf and a spin up to 743sqft. In the pic you can see a stays running from the starboard bridal tang to the end of the pole but none for the port. Thats because the boat won't fit on the trailer with the port stay from the bridal tang to the pole end hooked up. So I have to release it everytime its retreived...

thom

Thanks everybody. The shot of your boat, Thom, reminds me of Dennis Banks' ARC-21, which also carries a lot of pole, also has the front tramp, and also gets one of the front wires detached to fit on the trailer. Of course, it is derigged only two or three times a year to race elsewhere than the Gulf side of Galveston Island.
I think I'm going to go with a moderately low-profile double-spreader arrangement, and will post pics when it's done.

Thanks again

hey Andrew-

Just got back from the knee doc and am finally released from the longest pt in history. So maybe next year we can take out the 22 and see what it will do. I have a set of high wind sails that reduce the sail area by 30% and according to Haberman it should "scoot"...thats old man talk for Haul A...!!

thom