Inside a Spinnaker Pole

[Slowboat35]

I've just removed a broken spinnaker pole end (on an older ally pole) and found the inside of the fitting tightly stuffed - and I mean tightly - with rammed-in balled-up paper towel or tissue.

Why would anyone do that?

 

[LittleSister]

Deaden the sound?

 

[VicS]

Deaden the sound?

That's why you never hear spinnaker poles ?

 

[LittleSister]

That's why you never hear spinnaker poles ?

Have you not heard a hollow aluminium pole being tapped against something, or by a wire or fitting?

It's either that, or to encourage fairies to nest in it.

 

[John the kiwi]

My aluminium spinnaker pole definitely floats but probably wont float indefinitely due to leakage around the end fittings.
Maybe stuffing the ends was done to extend the float time.

3 goes around it took - but in rough seas they are tricky to snag with a boat hook and i was wondering all the while if it would sink before i managed to save it.