J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Carbon Spinnaker Poles

I'm thinking of buying a new carbon spinnaker pole. There's quite a variance in price with Forte coming in as the cheapest. How about some feedback about this pole or any others that people may have purchased. (GMT, Hall, Forespar)

Thanks in advance.

Bob Rude
Mmmmm
#352

As noted here Carbon Pole Sizing nothing wrong with Forte.

I'm in the market too. Anyone else? Perhaps we can bundle an order for a few and get them at a little discount...

What sort of dollars are we talking about? The aluminum pole IS heavy.
Art

Check Defender (link to Forte Spin Pole with class legal piston ends on Defender website). I was able to get a discount on the Forte pole via the Defender annual sale in the spring. I actually picked up the pole at the Forte factory in Ledyard, then went shopping at the Defender sale in Waterford, CT. If you want to change the bridle from D-ring to standard, it will be a custom order but Defender will work with you.

I spoke with Clint Rand at Forte when I ordered my spin pole to give him a heads up about the Defender order. I had the pole built with custom vectran bridles that have bungy cords inside so when not tensioned, they sit flat against the pole and don't flop around.

Bill

This is a 12'5" pole class spec is 12'6" did they make it the extra inch

Also did you have leather put on for extra grip ?

Charlie - I didn't order anything special. The Forte pole clips down exactly in the same location for storage on the deck as the original aluminum pole, so I suspect it is a typo. I did not have leather put on and don't know of any grip problems. I did have it built with the traditional bridle connection, not the center D-Ring.

ps - read this old post on Forte Spin Pole length.

for the files ... photo 5/18/2012 ... Rhapsody spin pole close up at mast.