Whisker/Spinnaker pole?

Cloven

Cloven

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On that basis that how do you know until someone tells you, what is the difference between a whisker pole and a spinnaker pole?

Is is simply that if it is being used to pole out the jib/genoa it's a whisker pole and if used on a spinnaker, it's a spinnaker pole or is it something far more subtle!!
 
Whisker and spinnaker poles are two completely different object designed for different purposes and designed to be used together at the same time when needs pervail.

A spinnaker pole (without stating the obvious) is designed for mast attachment one end and supporting the windward clew of a spinnaker via the guy which passes through the end beak. A whisker pole is designed to attach to the side of the mast base or deck attachment to 'pole out' the guy when on a reach to minimise chaffe on stanchion posts etc. The end fitting on a whisker pole is completely different to that of a spinnaker pole and the size of the two pole are very different. Hope I am correct and hope this is helpfull.
 
Sorry, but I have to disagree, what you are describing is a "reaching strut", although it may have other names.

A whisker pole is, as the OP suggested, a pole to boom out the genoa/jib, nothing to do with spinnakers at all. It is essentially very similar to a spi pole, but the loadings may be different. Best to consult an expert for precise dimensions etc. Having said that a spi pole will probably do both jobs perfectly well.
 
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On that basis that how do you know until someone tells you, what is the difference between a whisker pole and a spinnaker pole?

Is is simply that if it is being used to pole out the jib/genoa it's a whisker pole and if used on a spinnaker, it's a spinnaker pole or is it something far more subtle!!

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Mine clearly states on the metal plaque fixed to it - "not to be used for Spinnaker"

So it's a whisker pole. (But it's beefy and I've used it fine for my spinny !!)
 
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Whisker and spinnaker poles are two completely different object designed for different purposes and designed to be used together at the same time when needs pervail.

A spinnaker pole (without stating the obvious) is designed for mast attachment one end and supporting the windward clew of a spinnaker via the guy which passes through the end beak. A whisker pole is designed to attach to the side of the mast base or deck attachment to 'pole out' the guy when on a reach to minimise chaffe on stanchion posts etc. The end fitting on a whisker pole is completely different to that of a spinnaker pole and the size of the two pole are very different. Hope I am correct and hope this is helpfull.

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Funny that my Whisker ploe has IYS end fitting to attach to the ring on front of mast (spinnaker pole fitting) - along with release lines etc. just same as a spinny pole.
 
I'd always called that a reaching strut, and a whisker pole is basically a thinner spinnaker pole used for poling out a genoa.

I think the original puropse was that it could be thinner and therefore lighter than a spinnaker pole. So easier to use by a shorthanded cruising crew.

However the advance in materials in recent years has meant lighter spinnaker poles, even aluminium ones are lighter than ibefore, so I think the need for whisker poles is slowly dying out.
 
There is some variation in what is understood by "whisker pole".

You may be technically correct, and it is a topic that has been aired on here before, but I and many others call the pole that is used to pole out a Genoa the whisker pole. In that context it attaches to the same mast fitting as the spinnaker pole and is deployed in much the same way.

In this context it is usually a lighter pole than the spinnaker pole and depending on the sail size may be longer. They can be of adjustable length.

You can use a spinnaker pole as a whisker pole ( my understanding of the meaning) but you cannot use a whisker pole as a spinnaker pole as it will probably not be strong enough.
 
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Sorry, but I have to disagree, what you are describing is a "reaching strut", although it may have other names.

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This is (or used to be) called a 'Jockey-pole', presumably because it rides on the spinnaker guy and keeps it from dragging on the rigging, as a jockey is supposed to prevent his mount from dragging on fences!
 
Isn't there a restriction in racing rules that specifies the dimensions of a spinnaker pole? ( which probably explains the earlier post about a pole with a restriction on it )

Some class docs I found on the net seem to use the term interchangeably.
 
Spi-poles usually have either a yoke (for end to end gybing) which connects it between a foreguy and a topping-lift, or have a topping-lift and forebrace or foreguy (fixed, usually, nore than 0.5x J from the mast-base) in the case of a dipping pole. Whisker-poles are often self-supporting, and are not usually designed for a forebrace or foreguy, because they are usually dropped and re-set for a gybe.
FWIW, the "whisker" name comes from square-rig days, apparently, but I haven't any more info than that. Any thoughts?
 
My whisker pole was a long boat hook with a dinghy type spinnaker pole fitting on the inboard end to either go on the life line or the shroud, very quick and simple single handed sail settin for goose winging, /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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Ive got a telescopic pole.
Short for spinnaker , long for genny. What IS this debate about?????

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Mines also a telescopic job - IYS make. But clearly marked not to be used for spinnaker. In reality it's beefy tubing and I reckon as strong as the wood spinny pole I had on previous boat.
I know someone will disagree with me - but if that IYS pole is not strong enough to work with my spinny, then I reckon weather is too strong and spinny shouldn't be flown + spinny is maybe wrongly set !
 
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