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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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How to make a whisker pole=

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/20/2003 : 12:24:28

Purchase a telescoping boat hook/pole the twist lock type from a marine store. Get the right length you need. Purchase a whisker pole kit / end parts. Cut just the end cap off of the ruber grip and epoxy the whisker pole clip/rod end into the end of the boat hook pole where you removed the end of the rubber grip. Cost about 35 to 45 dollars.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2003 : 14:03:48

Doug,

I had just such a whisker pole and used it from time to time over the years. Then Defender ran a sail on a Forspar adjustable whisker pole that I bought and in the three years that I've had it I used it just once. Problem is it's too unwieldly for me to handle whereas the boat pole worked just fine. The observation that such a pole will collapse under heavy winds elicits from me." you're right so then I'll not use it". Handeling that pole on a rocking deck reminded me of using such a device to pole vault in the good old days. I've since grown accustomed to using it as a fore deck ridge pole when covering the boat for the winter.

And so that's where I'm at as of this writing.

Happy Easter to all

Val on Calista # 3936

Val Bisagni]<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df11b3127cce94709c5ff2e90000000010" border=0>

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5936 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2003 : 19:57:32

I have never liked the Forespar ADJ 6-12 whisker pole. The twist-lock adjuster is unreliable, often collapsing under stress. At other times, they jam, so that you can neither open nor close the pole.

After my Forespar pole broke in a gust of wind, I bought an adjustable paint roller extension at Lowe's Builder’s Supply for about thirty dollars. It has the same range of adjustment as the ADJ 6-12, and is made of aluminum and fiberglass. Instead of the twist-lock adjuster, it has holes drilled along it’s length, and a thumb-button that allows a spring-loaded pin to be easily inserted into one of the holes, to adjust the pole’s length. Because of the pin, the only way the pole will collapse now is if it breaks. (The same company that makes the paint roller extension pole also makes them with a twist-lock adjuster, but I prefer the type of adjuster with the locking pin.)

Like Doug, I attached standard, spring-loaded whisker pole fittings to both ends of the pole. You might need to grind down the whisker pole fittings a little bit, to make them fit. It is more reliable and works much more easily than the ADJ 6-12 pole, and it is at least as strong, but, even if it breaks, I can replace it for much less than the cost of a Forespar pole. The fiberglass part of the pole is painted bright yellow, and the ends are trimmed in black. Once you have all the parts, it only takes about an hour to assemble them, and it only takes about half that time after you have done it once.

Both the Forespar ADJ 6-12 and my pole are only suitable for light to medium winds. If you want to use a whisker pole in stronger winds, you need a much stronger pole.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2003 : 12:57:16

Excellent ideas!!!! Thanks. I have the Forespare pole and spinnaker pole, but when they go.....I know what I am going with....Thanks for the tips. This alone will pay for years of membership in this group.....

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR

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rwdutton
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2003 : 13:18:40

Another idea ... which has worked beautifully for us on Puff on L.I. Sound is: A local rigger suggested we use a carbon fiber mast from a sailboard fitted with a pointy or fitting on the tip and a mast attachment fitting on mast end. It is very lightweight and works in light and moderate winds. I blew up an earlier one on a heavy wind day, but I think it broke partly because that mast was a used one. My current whisker pole was built from a brand new mast on sale. If you are in the Connecticut lower New York area I highly recommend Hathaway Reiser in Stamford, CT. They've done great work for me overr the years!

BobD

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2003 : 22:42:56

I made one for the V23 out of a piece of PVC pipe... worked out pretty well. Light... plenty strong enough for the little jib on the cutter rigged Venture.

Humm... I dunno about using PVC for the big headsail on a C25 though.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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