Whisker Poles

[Ian_Rob]

I am wanting a whisker pole which I understand needs to be equal to J and therefore 3.78m long.

I was going to go for a telescopic pole but a supplier is telling me that I shouldn't as they are finger traps. A continuous pole of that length is going to be difficult to handle and stow. The mast has a fixed eye rather than a track [unless I can fit one which may or may not be possible].

Are telescopic poles really an issue?

 

[MoodySabre]

I've got a Forespar telescopic poles. Not had any issues with it. It twists and locks. The chocks for mounting it on the stanchions are good but not cheap - keeps it off the deck.

 

[VicS]

I am wanting a whisker pole which I understand needs to be equal to J and therefore 3.78m long.

I was going to go for a telescopic pole but a supplier is telling me that I shouldn't as they are finger traps. A continuous pole of that length is going to be difficult to handle and stow. The mast has a fixed eye rather than a track [unless I can fit one which may or may not be possible].

Are telescopic poles really an issue?

J may be correct for your boat esp if the Genoa is not a large one but you may need one a little more than J.

My home made one is equal to J ........ It would have been better a little longer ...1.25J perhaps although probably no longer than that.

If you get a telescopic one with a max length of about 1.25 J or so you have scope for experimenting to get the right length as well as having something easy to stow.

 

[Seajet]

Knowing the size and type ( cruiser or racer ) of boat would be a great help.

I prefer one piece poles as they're generally reckoned to be stronger, and one knows what one's got to play with !

Telescopic jobs can stick with salt or sand & grit, teflon spray being handy there as long as it doesn't get on the crews' hands.

As to stowage I find keeping the pole vertical on the front of the mast by far the best, having tried deck mounted etc.

With the thing on the mast, I lower the pole uphaul until it's horizontal, then release from mast when ready, clip to sheet then shove out and back onto the mast eye.

 

[merlin3688]

Tele poles are ok but not cheap! Selden do a good pole but you will be shocked by the price! A track up the mast to store the pole is the best option and yes slightly longer then J will be better.
If only being used as a Whisker pole the tube can be light, I use 50mm 16g tube which is the same section as a Laser top mast for this sort of length.

 

[fishermantwo]

I use a wind surfer mast with old fittings from a Flying Dutchman. Light and easy to handle. I would suggest trying the length required before cutting.

 

[VicS]

My whisker pole is made from a bamboo pole that was in the centre of a roll of carpet.

The cardboard tubes they use these days are no good though.

 

[William_H]

Whisker pole

Is the pole used to hold the clew of the jib out to leeward or windward when running.
IMHO it can be any reasonable length commensurate with the size of the jib.
So a long whisker pole will force the jib out at near rightangles and so only suitable for light winds and needs to be quite strong.
A short whisker pole will just hold the clew out a little way. Enough to get the jib to be stable and catch more wind. It can be quite light weight as there is little load on it and so is managable in stronger winds and with jib partialy rolled up. A small pole can be set from the base of a stanchion but may need some sort of staying up and down. Or if fitted use a snotter (ring) on the mast front.
In my experience while you can use a spin pole ie slightly longer than J it is often too long and about 3/4 that dimension would be better.
If you go for a telescopic tube then you will need a pin to lock it in some form. good luck olewill

 

[Ian_Rob]

I had originally intended to make this myself but, because of the storage issue and because the absence of a mast track had come around to a telescopic one. Has anybody by any chance made a telescopic pole for themselves? The tubing and ends seem readily available but where can you buy the telescopic fittings?

A mast track for a fixed pole may be the easier, though more expensive, option.

Thanks for all the replies which as always are very helpful.

 

[Seajet]

Ian Rob,

I'm not sure adding a track will cost more than a telescopic job; I've never heard of a kit telescopic part, though my fixed pole was a kit IYE - still incredibly expensive for what it is, just a case of riveting on the ends & eyes.

I got a nice chunky track with a decent sized eye ( make sure it fits the pole ends going through at least 90 degrees ) and don't remember it as eye-wateringly pricey, certainly not cheap though.

The advantage of having a track is that one can raise the eye end to allow the pole inside the forestay at deck level for dip pole gybing, it helps general adjustment, and is very handy when stowing the pole right on the mast for leaving the boat.

The track was secured to the mast with a combination of meaty rivets - applied with tongs - and self tappers.

It all depends what you really envisage as final use; my fixed pole and mast track is probably a bit OTT for just whisker pole work, but it's man enough I can be confident to use it with the traditional kite or chute.

I still don't know what boat you have, but for pure whisker pole work one can get away with a lot less, snag is it will be a worry when it gets loaded, which it will sooner or later, and won't suit the downwind sails.

 

[Ian_Rob]

Sorry - you asked that before & I forgot to say. She is a Dufour 365 used for cruising.

 

[Seajet]

Hmmm,

so quite a load on any pole; think I'd go for the full Monty fixed pole & track !

 

[reeac]

I madea timber whisker pole for the jib of my 1936 dayboat and, by Googling, found a website which recommended a length of 1.1J. This has proved to be perfect although I wonder whether you'd want something a bit longer for a genoa. Incidentally, I tapered the pole slightly towards the outer end in order to reduce the weight on the sail.

 

[bromleybysea]

I have a telescopic pole, it's the type that has two buttons on opposite sides to secure the inner extension which have to be pressed to release. OK on a dinghy oar, but really is a finger trap on a bucking foredeck with a 3 metre pole. I hate it. It's also much heavier than the fixed equivelent. I can see that a "twist and lock" mechanism would be better, but I would avoid the piston type like the plague.

 

[Ian_Rob]

Just to follow on - Harken have quoted £675 inc VAT for the track option incl. car. [2 lengths of 2.1m track are alone £134.00 + VAT]. The pole and ends are additional.That seems exorbitant?

 

[lw395]

Just to follow on - Harken have quoted £675 inc VAT for the track option incl. car. [2 lengths of 2.1m track are alone £134.00 + VAT]. The pole and ends are additional.That seems exorbitant?

That will be a very nice system, Harken stuff is never cheap.
Presumably a circulating ball car which will adjust under load?

If the pole is purely in compression, with no loads applied except at the ends, it can be surprisingly light.