As some of you know I am currently working on rigging my 5.2 with a spinnaker. I have been give two pieces of advice on how to attach the base to the front cross bar.

One option is to use a slot in the pole and go around the dolphin striker then use some small piece of line to hold it up against the cross bar.

The second idea is to make a metal plate with a small metal pole sticking off it that can be inserted into the spin pole. This is how many of the production spin boats attach theirs.

What I need to know is how much danger is there in the dolphin striker route and what you all think.

I would go the pin fiting on the front beam.

Mine (and all Stealths) use the rubber tiller extension connections:

Sorry, I do not know what fitting you are talking about? Rubber tiller extension connections?

1, You screw the plate on the right into the front beam with the opening facing up
2, You put a (say) nylon plug into the inboard end of the Spi pole
3, You drill a hole in the center of the plug the same dia as the fitting above (in the middle)
4, You place the plate to the left over the fitting in the middle and then insert this into the spi pole.
5, You then push the square end of the fitting in the middle (now pointing out of the end of the spi pole) into the gap between the front beam and the fitting in 1 above
6, you then slide the left side fitting over the other two.

I'll try and find a picture

Where would one get this fitting?

You should be able to get one from any sailboat store. They are what are used to connect the tiller extension to the Tiller bar on many boats

Pic:

Any dinghy store... sadly I live in landlocked Oklahoma and there are surprising few dinghy stores. But I guess I can look around, would West Marine carry this part?

Dunno; it's a standard RWO part.

Try searching the on-line store(s) you use; look in the tiller and rudder sections; you will find it there.

I believe you might be able to find them here in Catsailor store, Layline, or APSltd.

With this setup how do you prevent the pole & snuffer from rotating during hoists/douses? The Tornado uses a pinned beam connection to prevent such rotation...we do not run a line off the hoop to prevent it.

Would not recommend using the dolphin striker post to hold the pole. Even if the normal loads are within tolerances, one good hit on a dock or another boat could collapse the post, then the main beam fails and then the.... etc. etc.

Mike.

all my spin poles (I20, F18, N60) have been allowed to rotate with their main beam mount...no problem. The Nacra system uses a 3/16" pin sticking straight out from the main beam and the pole simply has a hole in the end cap. No retainer either.

I do.

On the F18, I have a small 1/8" bunji tied from the bridle tang to the hoop only to keep a spin sheet from wrapping the snuffer hoop. I let the hoop raise up a bit and find that it helps when doing a gybe-douse.

Thats a good thought- it would help with a gybe douse.

Gree, you should be able to attach it the same as a Tiger. Thats how mine is fixed. Its a simple 2 rivet bracket that mounts in the center of the crossbar, mine is mounted below the tramp track. A "U" shaped piece attaches to the endcap on the pole and a pin holds the two together. I think both pieces were less than 30 bucks. Any Hobie dealer can get them for you.

We have another concern on the T...

The T runs a fairly high bridle/forestay intersection. The new jib passes below this point all the way down to the pole. There is a strut running from the end of the forestay down to the pole...about 1.5' long. This is attached to the pole with a clevis pin to the jib tack point bracket. So, any significant pole rotation will bend/break the bracket or the strut itself.