Telescopic Whisker Poles

Robert Wilson

Robert Wilson

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Anybody got experience of these? Are they the solution for differing sizes of foresails?

Are they robust? Does the "tightening mechanism" stand-up to work on a boat? My telescopic boat hook and outboard tiller extension are often very difficult to tighten/loosen.


I ask because my spinnaker pole does not really "do the job" and is heavier than I suppose is a proper whisker pole.

9m sloop. 135% genoa. Circa 80% jib

Thanks, as usual for all/any responses
RW
 
We use a whisker pole to "pole out the jib" Its a forespar and slides in and out on a sprung button at various holes up the outer pole (its a 2 piece). It is about 3m smallest 5.3m longest I believe. We generally use it at about 3-3.5m for this. In lighter winds (up to about 20 knots or so its been fine for downwind sailing. Ours is about 70mm OD I think and is light enough to lift about and put in place. Ours is a 110% on a 36ft AWB. We do use an uphaul to help with sail shape too.
 
I have the same type of pole as Ripster. No problem with the mechanism. However, fully extended it bends alarmingly in any wind. It needs a downhaul half way along in my opinion. I now use it to pole out the asymetric in light airs and it works well.
For our 150% genoa, when I use the standard pole to pole out, I find it helps considerably to roll up some of the sail to make it flatter. much better motion and faster in the long run.

Chris
 
I have one, bought second-hand from the forum. It's the same twist-grip mechanism that I assume your boathook has, in a slightly larger size.

Not much to say about it really - it works fine for poling out the genoa. I did once rig it up as an improvised spinnaker pole, setting the cruising chute as if it were a symmetrical spinnaker with the tack at the end of the pole - but only in a very light wind, I doubt it's strong enough for that really. Like Ripster, I find an uphaul to the end of it (I use the cruising chute halyard) is necessary to avoid dragging the clew down.

Pete
 
I've got a Forespar extendable. Three sections with a twist to lock system. Never had any problems with. It is a bit heavy but robust enough. There is no up haul/down haul fixing which would be useful.
 
I inherited an aincient one which needed a new locking mechanism. The original was aluminium and had corroded to the point it was stuck.

I got new bits (from Selden) for ~£30 IIRC, the new buttons are plastic so won't go the same way as the originals.

I haven't had much chance to use it yet but it seemed OK unextended to pole out the genoa.
 
I have one of these, smallest size
http://www.getrigged.co.uk/selden-telescopic-spinnaker-poles-117-c.asp
also on a 9 m boat and used for poling out a 135 percent genoa.
Springed plastic buttons, not twist-to-lock.
Works well, but not exactly light.
Stored along the forward side of the mast, end sliding on a track, when not in use.
Hoops for uphaul/downhaul lines halfway (I only use uphaul).
 
prv said:
Surely adding lines halfway along would make it bend more?

Pete
Click to expand...

I assume he intends to use the normal set up with a bridle attached to the ends and a ring halfway giving compression but no bend to the pole. If not I hope he will take our comments on board.
Fairly thin Dyneema will be satisfactory and more easily adjusted for the pole length than expensive made up wire bridles.
 
Wharra lorra responses! Thank you, one and all.
It seems that my fears about jamming can be overcome (depending on which type I might go for). That's encouraging.

I definitely would use an uphaul; perhaps if a downhaul is needed then it's time to take the pole out and /or reef-in?

Just another task to sort before the departure date!:eek:

Any thoughts on the practicalities of using it as a spinnaker pole as well, to save weight/clutter/stowage on deck?
 
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I've got a Kemp extendable spinnaker pole. It's marked up for spinnaker and two genoa sizes. The spinnaker setting is the shortest and it works fine, no excessive bending etc.
 
BabaYaga said:
I have one of these, smallest size
http://www.getrigged.co.uk/selden-telescopic-spinnaker-poles-117-c.asp
also on a 9 m boat and used for poling out a 135 percent genoa.
Springed plastic buttons, not twist-to-lock.
Works well, but not exactly light.
Stored along the forward side of the mast, end sliding on a track, when not in use.
Hoops for uphaul/downhaul lines halfway (I only use uphaul).
Click to expand...
We recently used this pole on our circumnavigation
It got a lot of use, sometimes in quite strong winds. The end hooking on to the mast broke, so we carried on using it the other way round with loops of line to tie back haul/ sheets to; plus the furthest plastic push button gave up the ghost a bit and the pole would shorten suddenly, so we drilled a hole through and have a long bolt attached by some bungee that we Pop through. In all fairness, it did do 30000 miles in quite strong winds. Mostly used for poling out the Genoa, wing and wing with a hank on jib on a detachable forestay.
36ft van de start sloop
 
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I bought two nylon spinnaker pole ends and attached them to a tv aerial pole one end and a washing line pole t'other end.
TV pole just slots into washing line pole and I put three holes at intervals through the middle to adjust it's length.

PS the double thickness in the middle gives it extra rigidity.
 
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LadyInBed said:
I bought two nylon spinnaker pole ends and attached them to a tv aerial pole one end and a washing line pole t'other end.
TV pole just slots into washing line pole and I put three holes at intervals through the middle to adjust it's length.

PS the double thickness in the middle gives it extra rigidity.
Click to expand...

Where did you get the pole ends?
 
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