Spinnaker Pole Systems

This was written in response to Alan Johnson of Seattle's question. Since a number of people are fixing up Classic 505s, this is probably of interest to others.

The systems currently in use are:

Double side pole trolley - a swivel block at the mast end of the spinnaker pole rides on a shockcord trolley that goes from near aft end of boom, around mast, back to near aft end of boom. Retract is by gravity as the pole slides down - and back - on the trolley. Pole starts on starboard side, but is stowed to leeward going into a gybe, so that it is to windward after the gybe. I use this system.
variations - part of the shockcord could be line
Single sided pole trolley - no swivel, and shockcord down starboard side of boom only.
Shockcord retract - no trolley, but a shockcord retract that pulls the aft end of the pole to near the aft end of the boom. Pole stows on the starboard side always. I don't see this system all that often. Shockcord retract system is rigged inside the boom.
Pole launcher - uses the shockcord retract and adds the SPIRO pole launcher to launch the pole. Very popular in Australia and Europe becoming more popular in North America. Expensive and adds weight. Looks really slick. I want to try this system.

On all of the above, the pole uphaul (topping lift) and downhaul (foreguy) are attached to the outboard end. You are doing a form of dip pole gybe rather than end-to-end. You retract the pole going into a gybe, then push it out (or launch it again). You are gybing without the spinnaker pole on the mast.

Systems No longer used:

End for end pole with hook for uphaul-downhaul. Stow pole by hand in bottom of boat, or on hangers on boom. Grab it, hook on uphaul downhaul, stick guy in pole and clip on mast.
End for end pole with sliding "key". Uphaul downhaul is attached to a fitting that slides on the pole. A small fairlead riveted to the pole in the middle stops the fitting from sliding past it, unless the pole is twisted 90 degrees. Hanger at back of boom.
You put the guy in the pole and push the pole out. The fairlead takes the uphaul/downhaul fitting with it as you push the pole out, so that the uphaul/downhaul is in the middle of the pole. You gybe with the pole on the mast, then undo pole from mast, twist 90 degrees to get the key fitting to slide to the other side of the fairlead, put new guy in pole and push pole out and clip on mast. An end for end system.
Only seen on older boats that have not been converted.

On the outboard end, some people use the fork end, but most use a conventional fitting. On the inboard end, a conventional fitting, with the pin removed in some cases is used, unless you have a pole launcher, in which case the mast end of the pole is ball shaped fitting.

The uphaul typically is thin spectra going into the mast shortly below the jib stuff luff block, and into the boat to a cleat. Some people do not adjust at all and simply tie to an eye strap on the mast. I have also seen the topping lift cleated on the end of the pole.

The downhaul should be line with a shockcord takeup. You need a positive stop such that the pole can only lift slightly before the downhaul prevents it going any higher. You need a little slack to get the pole on the mast when the mast is bent more in heavy air..... You may wish to raise the pole on runs, so you either need enough slack in the downhaul to allow that, or a way of adjusting the downhaul.

I use a Z-spar fork end, with a pin-removed conventional Z-spar end on the mast. Works quite well, but the pole launcher might make it easier to get the spinnaker pole on the mast after heavy air gybes.

- Ali