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mast head

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panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/19/2007 : 18:52:27

I have a 84 fin keel standard rig. The headstay is fastened to the pin closest to the mast is this correct? I found a paint roller pole that extends to 16 ft. The fiberglass end is about 1 1/2 in. in diameter with a 1 in. hex shaped center piece. I am thinking of useing this for a wisker pole. Any thoughts on this would appreciated.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2007 : 06:50:57

Your forestay is correct, the forward pin location is for an optional spinnaker halyard block. There is no way I would use a pole that could splinter as a whisker pole. Spend the money and get a real pole, I am not a safety freak by any means but I have never been comfortable with the homemade poles mentioned on this site. When I am working foredeck I have enough going on without having to cope with a less than appropriate whisker pole. I suppose that if it will only be used in light air a non-standard pole can work but I use a whisker pole in high wind too where only the real deal is safe. Mine is a button lock which I like better than the twisters.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2007 : 08:52:24

I used a 6-12' telescoping paint roller handle as a whisker pole for my 155 genoa, and it worked very well, so long as I didn't use it in too much wind. (You can tell when the wind is getting too strong, because the pole starts to bow in the gusts.) The further you extend the pole, the more likely it is to bow or break. For that reason, I didn't set my pole in the traditional manner, forward of the forward lower shroud. I set it approximately fully extended (12') between the upper shroud and the forward lower shroud. Some folks are concerned that the shroud will break the pole when you set it that way, but, when you adjust the jibsheet, it holds the pole away from the shroud. I bought Forespar whisker pole ends and installed them on each end of my paint pole. When setting the pole, I clipped the end of the pole to the jibsheet, rather than to the sail grommet.

I used the roller pole for several years without breaking it, but eventually lost the pole over the side, when it unexpectedly became unclipped. If your pole extends to 16', it probably has three telescoping tubes. If you don't extend it all the way, the extent to which they overlap will probably strengthen them somewhat.

The better choice is to get a Forespar 7-17 telescoping pole, of course, but if you can't find one that fits into your budget, you can get by nicely with a paint roller pole, as long as you don't use it in too much wind. I found that, if the wind was too strong to use the pole, I could run downwind without a pole efficiently enough to remain competitive in ordinary club racing. When I went to the nationals, I had a friend who would loan me his Forespar 7-17.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2007 : 10:55:54

A pole came w/ the boat, but it is frozen about 1/2 extended. I tried rinsing it, to no avail. I'm concerned about lubrication as it may mess w/ the locking system. Any thoughts on how to free it up?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2007 : 11:44:59

Jerry,
You might try running cold water on the internal tube & hot water on the external tube (contraction & expansion respectively). I'm presuming your pole is hollow aluminum like mine. Since aluminum conducts so well, I'm not sure how well this might work, but it's worth a try and won't damage anything. As a next approach, possibly you could fill the inner tube with ice water and heat the outer tube (gently) with a torch while applying torque with a rubber strap wrench? Sears sells the wrenches, Bob Vila used to tout them on TV as "essential" or something like that, but they are useful at times.

Presuming you get it freed up, I'd recommend [url="http://www.mclube.com/frames/sailkote/index.html"]Sailkote [/url]to keep it from seizing again. That's what I use on mine.

Edited by - delliottg on 08/21/2007 11:51:56

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.