Whisker Pole?

[BubbleheadMd]

Can someone show me a photo of a whisker pole, especially the ends? I've read about these and I think I might actually have one but I'm not sure. Either that, or it's a really long boat-hook.

One more toy I get to learn how to use.

[svHyLyte]

Try Google Images Forespare Whisker Pole

FWIW

[BubbleheadMd]

Found 'em, thanks. So I have one. Now to learn how to use it...

[carl762]

Sailing Downwind? Set a Whisker Pole - Cruising World

Lots of threads on this forum too.

Interesting. Learning something new every single day. Remember my dad's buddy employing one out on the LI Sound. His boat really did haul A$$.

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by BubbleheadMd

Found 'em, thanks. So I have one. Now to learn how to use it...

Do you? Or do you have a spinnaker pole?

Generally speaking: A spinnaker pole is fixed-length, and heavier. It's used to hold the foot of the spinnaker down. A whisker pole is generally lighter in weight and is often telescoping, so you can more finely-tune the shape of the foresail. Often a spinnaker pole is used for both purposes. (As we currently do on our boat.)

While a spinnaker pole can be used as a whisker pole, tho at some disadvantage, the converse is not true, as the lighter whisker pole may not stand up to the stresses placed upon it when used as a spinnaker pole.

There's a thread discussing the differences, and the use of each, here: Whisker Pole / Spinnaker Pole (boatus.com)

Jim

[captainbr]

Unless you have to sail dead downwind, it is much faster to sail on a broad reach and gybe. Running wing and wing is the slowest point of sail.

I have seen a few whisker poles bent by beginning sailors. When I managed a charter fleet, we did not have whisker poles on any of our vessels.

[MC1]

As I was browsing around my local WM, one of my buddies who works there showed me a badly bent WP that someone had returned (nice of WM to take that back). The smaller diameter telescoping section had bent, which is generally what happens to these. I was able to buy it from them for next to nothing, then order a replacement tube from Forespar. Forespare indicates there's a big difference in strength as you go up each size, so you may want to opt for going one size larger than you need. The pole will be a little heavier though, and of course more $$.