Hi. The new pole looks to be made to the boats 'J' measurement which Google suggests is what you do for a pole for a symmetrical spinnaker which should mean you can store it on deck between the shrouds and the forestay without it getting in the way. So its a bit longer than the one supplied with the boat, roughly an extra foot. Which may make it a bit more prone to bending if your sticking it out front as a bow sprit with the asymmetric which will be carried further forward. I am sure I have seen a thread on here which said that the pole that came with the boat had some basic reinforcement ( i.e some wood in the tube ) to help when it was in bow sprit mode. I am away at the moment but can check exact measurements and post them next week if needed. NB Post not entirely altruistic, I am on the lookout for a pole this length as I have added a symmetric ( ex J24 ) spinnaker to my boat and it would help with that. I have a spare pole from a P235 which is in decent nick that I would part exchange for your new one if that's of interest and the logistics work - I am on the south coast P235 #26 in the class book.