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New Boat Questions: Spinnaker pole and spreaders

Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 2:57 pm
by JIH-US568
I just received my brand new Musto Skiff in the US on Sunday. The boat is straight from Ovington: Great excitement. My first action was to inventory everything and look at basic mechanics. My first questions come around the self-launching spinnaker pole. I was at the recent Datchet regatta and took advantage of looking at as many boats as I could and talked with many of the sailors. Several folks said the spinnaker pole should extend to its max length.

My pole extension is limited by the length of the tack line. When the tack line is taught (with 2" of line to a bowline for the kite) and is stopped by a stopper ball Ovington puts on the tackline, the extension line (stern end of pole) is 3" behind the block on the bow. It looks like I could replace the tack line with a longer line and gain 3" extension on the pole. Is this advisable?

Also, I was trying to get my spreaders to 385mm length, measuring from shroud to nearest point on the mast. When I extend the spreader all the way, the best I can get is 380mm. This seems short so I am thinking I am measuring improperly. I am using the default hole settings on the spreaders but I have not measured the deflection yet. I assume deflection is measured by taking a straight edge from spreader to spreader and measuring the distance to the sail track? Is this correct?

Re: New Boat Questions: Spinnaker pole and spreaders

Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 3:37 pm
by DangerBoy
Hi John,

I would replace the tack line, use a rope you can put an adjustable splice in at mast end, then you can fine tune it more easily or lengthen it when rope shrinks, if you use a knot they get very tight. I have mine adjusted so the the hole where the rope comes out the aft end of the pole comes right up to the block.

Not sure on the spreaders, I just followed the tuning guide when I got my boat and haven't changed them since.

Cheers
Mark

Re: New Boat Questions: Spinnaker pole and spreaders

Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 3:18 am
by JIH-US568
Mark,
Hope worlds are going well. Sad to hear that day two was a bust. Hopefully you'll get better conditions for tomorrow.

I remember our conversation about pole position at Datchet. I will replace the tack line with a new line with adjustable splice. The adjustable splice is a great idea. I feel like the boat is becoming one big adjustable splice (Cunningham, bridle, trapeze lines, tack line).

Re: New Boat Questions: Spinnaker pole and spreaders

Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 9:54 pm
by paul manning
Hi John

Agree with Mark, the hole in the inboard end of the pole should pull out until it aligns with the block.

Spreader deflection is measured as a straight line between the aft edge of the luff track and a line pulled between the spreader tips.

Re: New Boat Questions: Spinnaker pole and spreaders

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 12:23 pm
by Bruce
Hi,
I tie the tack line to the mast step front pin and then just mark the pole end of the line at the correct point for the knot so I can always re-tie it in the same place when I take the kite off. You should aim for the pole as far out as possible but with the stopper ball still touching the pole, so that the tack is as close to the pole as possible. This normally means when setting it up on the land the pole can't quite go out all the way (maybe 10-20mm short), as the system will stretch a bit when loaded.

Probably best to post a picture, taken from below the spreaders so we can see where your pins are and how you are measuring spreader length.