I have two small loops, maybe 3
, one at each bow tip, that my pole end lines attach to. Clipped to those with metal carbiners, I have the 2 lines tied to the pole tip.
I want a
cleaner" setup. My Inter 20 and Bimare Jav 2 both had metal eye bolts through the bows to attach to, the Inter used wires to the pole tip, made at the factory to a set length and then at the pole tip, you could adjust with a line tied to the tip. I was thinking of putting a smaller loop with a knot through the hole in the hull, then a small dynema line with spliced loops at each end through that loop, then the other loop over the pole tip (with a small piece of plastic tubing over the loop to prevent chafe).
What are you guys using for the pole tip and how do you like it? I want it to be a fixed length, with no knots, so I don't have to re-set and re-tie it every time I rig up or take down.
Tim, ,
I replaced that set up too. The caribeners seems a little excessive. I used some spectra I put a cover on and put it through the hole in the hulls and just tied a knot. I was going to eye splice the pole end but decided not to. I figured I would need to adjust it a little until I had it exactly right and haven't gotten around to doing it.. and I don't have a problem with it now so I might just leave it. Sometimes the knots make me nervous but they have not failed me yet!
I understand you not wanting to tie it every time you set it up but if you put a little purchase system (ya know... tying a loop into the line so you can loop the line through) on the line tying it at the pol eisn't difficult. I cna maybe take some pics later today. I am happy with my set up for now.
Funny you should mention this. The knot in the spectra loop through my starboard bow popped while I had the spinnaker up in a fairly strong breeze last week.
IMO the spectra loop is unecessary and doesn't necessarily distribute the load that much differently than just a
stopper
knot on the outside of the hull. You need to inspect the knot occasionally but if you use 7/64 or 1/8 spectra the breaking strength is 1200 to 1800 pounds, so there is a lot of abrasion that needs to happen before one breaks.
So Mark, what happened to your pole when that knot let go with the spin up?
PTP, I think I am going to try tieing a stopper knot through the hull, sounds like what you have. But I will also try to splice a small loop with a plastic cover, just large enough to slip over the pole tip, so when it's time to unrig, just bend the pole down slightly, pull the two plastic covered loops off, untie the knot at the end of the line and pull it through. Yes, I will still have to tie and untie the end through the bow but that will force me to look at it and see if it's wearing through, and I will put a short peice of plastic tubing on that end too.
The pole was bent very mildly. I guess I was fairly deep at the time and got the sail down in a hurry. I sailed with it ok the next day and didn't actually notice it was bent till I got home. I'll put some weight on it before next weekend's regatta and see if I can straighten it a little, but it's not a big deal.
It happened before the start of the first race and I was annoyed at having to return to shore so early, after driving four hours to get to Green Bay - and getting back to shore had its own challenges due to navigational hazards. But as it turned out, there was soon a steady procession of boats coming back in. 11 of 15 finished the first race, 6 the second and 1 the third, after which racing was abandoned. One boat was towed in trailing their mast in the water, so I got off pretty lightly!
Tim, you saw my setup. I honestly have no clue how it would get any simpler than that.
That's what I'm shooting for on the bottom, and I think I've got it sorted out, but at the pole I'm going to try spliced loops with plastic tubing covers to slip over the pole instead of the clips and knots.
What are you guys using for the pole tip and how do you like it? I want it to be a fixed length, with no knots, so I don't have to re-set and re-tie it every time I rig up or take down.
Pic is courtesy of Wouter. First saw it at
Tradewinds
courtesy Jake Kohl and John Williams.
Credit where due; I think this started with the F18s
This would go nicely with Tim's idea since you wouldn't have to untie the stopper knot each time. But I'm not sure the bight will go through the hole on the Blade.
Had to enlarge the hole. No reinforcement, so far; no troubles, so far.
I might try Wouter's suggestion of 3mm Dyneema.
I had the same problem; dyneema knot came undone under pressure now there is a permenant bend in the spin pole. Seems to work fine.
[Pic is courtesy of Wouter. First saw it at
Tradewinds
courtesy Jake Kohl and John Williams.
Credit where due; I think this started with the F18s
Pete, my hull hole is too far back and down to have a clean setup if I loop it around the hull. What I came up with last night was a small dyneema loop with a figure 8 knot in the end and a small plastic sleeve over most of it, which I will slide through the hull hole, knot out, loop to the inside, it will pass through the hull as one soda straw size tube, then the loop will stick out. Then I will construct another long piece of dyneema with loops on each end, one goes through the hull side loop, the other goes over the pole tip, with a plasic tube covering for chafe protection. I will have to look closely at the knot at the bow though.
I'm on my way out the door to Atlanta, NYC, then Bombay, won't be back until Friday night. Hopefully I can get online in Bombay. See ya later.