I had two great day sails on the weekend but I wasn't quick enough when the wind picked up and I broke my spinnaker pole beak and the mast traveller car ring.
I need to buy new parts but reading online I'm trying to decide if I go:
-ring on mast traveller, pole with beaks on each end stored on staunchion mounted pole blocks
-change to a Selden car to fit my 30mm mast track with a pin fitting, change my broken beach to a pin receptacle and keep storing it vertical.
The pole is heavy and telescopic and I want to make it as easy as possible.
33fter, generally sailed singlehanded. SNSW coast. Both parts will be around the same cost.
My thoughts are influenced by:
Forespar:
'Storing poles (whisker or spinnaker) vertically up the forward face of the mast has become very popular. It clears the decks and keeps the cruising sailor from having to lift the entire weight of the pole from the deck to the mast car. It can, however, cause a few problems or failures if not used with the correct components.Selection of the proper mast car and inboard end fitting combination is critical. Ring style cars (ours or anyone else's) will not allow a pole to hang vertically without binding and eventually breaking the end fitting. Bear in mind that you have a significant "lever arm" effect on the end. A 10-foot pole can create enough leverage to fracture or bend ends and rings if they bind up without you ever feeling it from the opposite end of the pole. Therefore, Forespar? does not recommend ANY ring style mast cars if the pole is to be stored up the mast.
If storage of the pole up the mast is your choice, we also strongly recommend securely mounted deck chocks be available for severe weather. It is advisable to remove poles from the mast and store them on deck in storm conditions. This removes the weight and windage aloft and keeps the poles available for an emergency should your rig be carried away'.
So it seems either way I need deck chocks, I have only ever used ring and beak poles.
For a cruising single hander is a mast track with a pin fitting easier for spinnaker and poleing out use?
