Home made pole.

[SiteSurfer]

I'm toying with the idea of making a telescopic whisker pole, can source the end fittings and the poles from various sources - 38mm and 50mm end fittings with aluminium tubes, however I'm a bit stumped on sourcing clamps suitable for the larger tube - up to 1" seems to be ok but larger (at least in the UK) seems a bit sparse.

I've looked at simple thumbscrew clamp, cam clamps and butchering something else as a donor but nothing seems terribly obvious.

Anyone got an alternative? I want telescopic to make it easier to use it for different things, was planning on 2m sections x 2 to make roughly 4m overall. Boat is 29ft so not huge mechanical force for intended purposes.

 

[matt03021970]

Hi, are you looking to attach the 2 inch pole to something? If so can I suggest a scaffold fitting? Bolt or weld the fitting on to whatever you want to attach the tube to, then simply tighten around the tube.
If you can describe what your looking to attach it to, I'll probably be able to sort a couple of fittings for you.

Ps first time post so hello to Everyone!!

 

[SiteSurfer]

Its a whisker pole - for poling the genoa out and possibly some sneaky cruising chute use too (for getting it a bit more downwind).
The ends will be Holt Allen ones (probably 2 different OD sizes to allow for the tube reduction).

 

[rubbishman]

I made a tele one,drilled a series of holes and used a drop nosed pin , crude but it works and doesńt jam or slip.

 

[SiteSurfer]

What tube sizes did you use? I was thinking for a whisker pole, 25mm and 38mm might work. I suppose I would need need to put an intermediate size in between them.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Think about a captive pin on a spring that pops up into a hole in the outer tube, similar to what is commonly used for collapsible oars that are used for inflatables. To collapse the tube you push the pin down and slide the two tubes shut. A length of line inside prevents the two tubes from being opened out too far.

If you like the idea, perhaps you would be interested to know that I wouldn't mind a double Vodka...

 

[William_H]

I would say forget the telescopic feature as being too complicated. Design the length for polling out the jib. The lenght in this case dictating the strength needed and the diameter so the fitting types. I would advocate using carbon fibre wind surfer mast (broken section) and using this kind of fitting https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?item=80366&search123=80366&intAbsolutePage=1 which can fit inside or outside the pole and make the pole quite a lot shorter than a spin pole. On my little 21fter I use about 10ft of cf wind surfer mast as a spin pole and while it does bend at times it is very light and easy to fit. good luck olewill

 

[LadyInBed]

I made a tele one,drilled a series of holes and used a drop nosed pin , crude but it works and doesńt jam or slip.

:encouragement:That's what I used, works ok.
When I made mine, I used a TV aerial pole and a cloths line pole. One fitted snugly into the other.
As for ends, cut four to six inches off the smalled D tube to attach to the end of the larger D tube, then both ends will have the same size fittings.

 

[ShinyShoe]

The other option is to create a fixed length pole that is the maximum length you may need. Then on the mast attach a length of of dynema at top and bottom secured by an eye. It doesn't need to be the full length of the mast. The pole is then attached to that dynema (track). You then adjust the effective length of the pole with a length of line attached to the pole pulling it down the track... ...and either another line pulling it up (or shock cord)

Enterprise have a description here: www.sailenterprise.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Enterprise-Flyaway-Poles.pdf

I've certainly used the Fish Landing Pole and put this on a little racing dinghy for about £30 all in. Worked well for 3 years until I forgot to release it and backed the jib on a windy day. Carbon fibre shards go everywhere!

 

[merlin3688]

We supply anodised tube from 30mm up to 70mm (30mm, 38mm, 41.7mm, 45mm, 50mm, 56mm and 70mm), we have been trying to come up with a way of making the telescopic bit work but failed so far, some of the tubes fit nicely inside each other but struggling to find a easy way to make them slide in and out and fixed at a certain length, happy to try any idea people may have. The tube and smaller ends are not expensive so if we can find a way of adjusting the length you could get a pole a lot cheaper then is currently available on the market.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

we have been trying to come up with a way of making the telescopic bit work but failed so far, some of the tubes fit nicely inside each other but struggling to find a easy way to make them slide in and out and fixed at a certain length, happy to try any idea people may have.

See my post #6 for the solution.

 

[LadyInBed]

For my 2nd! (fixed length) pole I acquired an old fiberglass windsurfer mast and cut that to length.
As my above post, I cut a short length from the thin end and stuffed it into the large end so I could use the same size piston ends.