Toppng lift whisker poll question ????

[michael]

HiÖ The extended length of the pole is 19 feet. We sized this by measuring the foot of the screacher . This would give you 38 feet at twice the length of the pole . The mast is 41 feet off the deck and its made of aluminum, By Metalmast. The screacher exit is about a foot and a half above the jibs. The support coming from the backstay/ cap shrouds is just above them at 36 feet. When I talk to the folks at metal mast be recommended that I did not put any strain on the mast above this 36 feet. This is a fractional rig, with a picture being worth a thousand words here is a link to the Maine Cat site in as the specs and a line drawing which might help
http://www.mecat.com/indexsail.htm
also the folks at metal mast mentioned that they would not try to add any more in the mast halyards because they might interfere with the existing ones, or chafe on some of the existing equipment inside the mast . We will store the pole on the deck. The more I think about this project the more I think that installing cheek blocks on both sides of the mast would be the easiest approach? With this being used only as a topping lift I think that we could popper that the cheek blocks, and put in a couple of cleats and we'd be done. What do you think?

[Russ L]

Hi Micheal,
What diameter is this whisker pole? The usual ones are kinda small enough not to need a top'n'lift.
The spinnaker pole top'n'lift on my boat (mast height approx 40' above deck) is about 30' high. Well below the jib halyard exits. You should be able to rivet a tang to the forward side of the mast to hang a block for the lift. Adding a bail around it to keep the jib from dragging across the block on each tacking is a nice touch. A swivel block will allow the lift to wrap upon itself (if it is a MicroSoft product, this is called a "feature"). Be careful when drilling holes up there, so you don't pearce a halyard, with the end of the drill.

If you want to spec the height by deduction, try picking a lift angle... say 20 degrees. Using 1/2 pole length (because it's bridled), you're looking at a height of 27.5 feet (above the pole end). A lift angle of 10 degrees will need a block at 56 feet high.
So you can see how going high does not yeild much of an advantage for this gear which is a relatively light load.

Cheers, Russ