RE: MAN OVERBOARD POLE MOUNT

[sailstactics]

Does anyone have any suggestions for mounting a man overboard pole on a 36 ft Catalina with a split backstay and bimini ?
I was thinking of mounting it to one of the forward shrouds. I can''t mount it to the lifelines alongside the cockpit because of the opening for boarding on either side of the boat. Surely there must be a better way.

[paulk]

You should still be able to mount it to the split backstay. If you fit the bottom of the pole into a (short) socket and lash a section of pvc or other pipe up the stay at the appropriate height for the flag end, you should be able to mount the holder with the quick-release pin at a location that will bend the pole to gently conform to the split/single backstay. Pulling the pin may make the pole fly out and overboard - exactly what you want. If you mount the whole thing up high enough to clear the lifelines or stern pulpit, you''ll be in great shape. We had considered this setup for our split backstay, but decided it was too much windage for racing and went with blocking the gate instead.

[joub]

Here''s what I came up with on my Islander 36 which has a split backstay.

I used a PVC fishing rod holder with clamps to attach it to the pulpit. Since the rod holder was too deep, I cut it in the middle retaining one clamp. I capped it off with a regular PVC pipe cap fitting (with a hole drilled in the cap). This of course holds the base of the pole.
On the backstay I attached a pocket made of sunbrella about 12" deep (but open at both ends), to hold the pole to the backstay and keep the flag furled.

The pole holder base is attached slightly off-center on the pulpit and close to the horseshoe bouy. They are attached with a polypropylene line. Being close to each other allows for a nice neat package.

The pole is inserted into the pocket and then lowered slightly into the base holder. By lifting the pole about 4" the base comes free allowing it to be tossed overboard along with the horseshoe bouy.

Hope this helps.

Jim