Hardwood Pole/Stave's

[Roach1948]

Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

One thing I have forgotten on my inventory is a boat hook!

Does anybody know where I can source an 8ft 1"1/4 hardwood pole that I can put my e-bay bronze boat hook onto and that costs less than £40 (price for one at a well known classic yacht chandlers - and I refuse to pay that money for a long broom handle)?

PS Hardwood dowels of that diameter and length at B and queue seem to bend and wobble rather alarmingly - so heaven knows what they define "hardwood" as.

PPS I want hardwood, as pine can split quite easily when fending off etc.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

Go to a good sawmill/wood yard, get a beech pole, made up for you, most good woodyards, have a machining service and wiill make one for you.

 

[Poignard]

Re: Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

Weren't these traditionally made of ash; like oars? There is a firm called Collars that makes oars, maybe they could make you one.

With a beautiful old boat like that you must already be pretty handy [or rich!*], you could make one. Start with a square section, then remove the corners to make an accurate octagon, then take off the remaining corners with a concave wooden plane or spokeshave and finally sand with a belt from a sanding machine fitted with a handle each end. Alternatively you could turn a sanding belt inside out and put it round the pole and fit a drum in an electric drill to turn the belt. I have never tried the last technique but it's well described in boatbuilding books.

* Yes - I know what you're going to say - you were rich before you bought the boat!

 

[Roach1948]

Re: Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

Yes - Ash is the preferable choice. Although I will settle for less.

It's a question of time now more than anything else. I am launching in two weeks and my time is spent better on other things at present.

PS - I was poor even when I bought her! I got a wreck as it was the only classic I could afford then. I wont tell you how long I have been doing her up - you might send some people in white coats round!

 

[fluffc]

Re: Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

[ QUOTE ]
my time is spent better on other things at present

[/ QUOTE ]
Use a broom handle /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Roach1948]

Re: Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

Broom handles are usually 5ft long - and that is a useless length on any boat - and on mine I wont even be able to sound with it (East Coast).

 

[Poignard]

Re: Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

Out of your area but if you do happen to be near Bursledon, Hampshire you would probably get one from Foulkes Chandlery barge.

 

[Roach1948]

Re: Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

Really - I have a friend there. Might give him a buzz. Heard so much about this barge. Shame we dont have a similar thing in EA.

 

[Roach1948]

Re: Hardwood Pole/Stave\'s

FOUND ONE. Local hardware shop £14, pine but no knots and been seasoned since year do because it has never been sold. 1" 1/4 though so needs tapering down.

 

[Roach1948]

Re: Boot hook as whisker pole?

Now that I have tapered the pole and getting ready to varnish it (with depth incriments marked on), I was wondering how to attach it to the mast if I use it as a whisker pole? I have the "pointy" sort of boat hook that I can slot through the clew in light winds. So that end will hold, its just how do I attach it to the mast? Lashing, curved saddle, brass hook in the end or what? Never done this before, but I am all for dual use of anything onboard...

 

[Peterduck]

Re: Boot hook as whisker pole?

Thyere are a number of options open to you I think that my first preference would be for a set of jaws, like a gaffer's boom would have. Either a table for the jaws around the mast or a light line to a small cleat higher up on the fron of themast to keep the butt end from falling to the deck. A second option is for a pair of matching spinnaker-pole ends, with the inner end being clipped to a long loop of line which has been wrapped around the mast several times, leaving a couple of bights to clip the fitting onto. Alternatively, a 'snotter' or length of line secured to the mast which has an eye in one end which is left free for the whisker pole to go into. Don't forget your shrouds as alternative anchoring points for the butt end. Using these wil give the same effect as having a telescopically adjustable pole.
Peter.