Whisker Poles

[Jeepman252]

Hi everyone, newbe here with an '83 DSII, awesome boat!

Here she is:

I would like to build a whisker pole, probably out of aluminum or ??? What I need to know is how long should it be? Is it dependent on the size of the jib?

Thanks!

[GreenLake]

For years, I've use a paddle as a "whisker pole". Seemed to just have the right length. I knotted a short bungee cord around the handle, that left two hooks with which to snag the clew of the sail. The blade wedged itself on my mast base, and a bit of tension on both jib sheets fixed the arrangement.

I've since built a spinnaker pole from a piece of bamboo (about 1.5" diameter). I just cut it off at the right length and then glued in the fitting using MarineTex (any epoxy paste would do). That worked fine for a season, then the bamboo showed some cracking (from drying out in storage), so I wrapped it with some glass tape and epoxy, and it's still very light and now even stronger.

The length of the pole should be about the length of the foot of your jib. If you want to race your DS, the pole cannot be longer than 74".

If your purpose is to experiment, you'll find bamboo much cheaper than aluminum tube, for the same strength. (That advantage is offset, if you end up giving it a glass sheath, but for a temporary setup to find the best size that works for you, that wouldn't be an issue.)

[TIM WEBB]

Gorgeous '2 Larry!

My whisker pole is about 80", aluminum. Don't care if it's over the maximum, as I have no interest at all in racing - I go sailing to get AWAY from everybody, not to get too close for comfort on some imaginary starting line!

It's off an old 70's Larsen scow. Works just fine for wing 'n' winging! I riveted a ring to the front of the mast at a location such that the pole is at 90 degrees to the mast when it's holding the jib out. There's pix in my gallery of how it's now attached to boom ...

Oh, and filled w/ foam, it floats. Don't ask me how I know ...

[jdoorly]

I'm using a 3-piece adjustable boat hook from West Marine. I added a snap hook to the hook side to catch the clew, and, a hook in the handle side to catch the mast bail (I poured thickened epoxy in the hole of the handle, screwed in a SS hook, then propped the boat hook up so the epoxy would flow to the handle end and secure the hook.

I've used it quite often and it works great, even with my UPS (asym spinnaker)! It's infinately adjustable all the time, and it's still a boat hook.

[Jeepman252]

thanks everyone, just the info I was looking for!

I won't be able to build it this weekend, but I may try jdoorly's trick with the boat hook, I have a two piece one and will give that a try.

Tim - I looked at your pics, NICE! That is exactly how I envisioned it on my '2. And, thanks, the boat is a beaut! Found her on craigslist and it was also advertised on this board.

When they sent better pics to me, I was sure she was going to come home with me!

Now, I just gotta figure out a name for her...