2X4 Gin pole

[Kamanodental]

Aloha

I lost my gin pole in about 250' of ocean off the cost of Hawaii. (if you find it let me know) Well anyway..I once saw an article about someone that made a Ginpole with a 2X4 and attached with a rachet and some I bolts...

Does that sound right. Does anyone have any Idea or pictures that I can relate too. I have a Hunter 25' 2005...and it will take 8 weeks to get here plus the ginpole is almost as expensive as my car!!!! (kidding)

Any help you can provide me would be appreciated.

Mahalo

 

[justsomeguy]

I made mine out of a galvanized fence post, with a wooden saddle shaped to conform tightly to my mast profile, and the other end was turned on my lathe to insert into the post. I still secure the saddle with a band clamp around the mast, but it's not really necessary.

Drilled a couple holes to install a U bolt, where a block is mounted. I'll add some photos shortly.
While you're waiting, search the archives for more info.

 

[SchwarckT]

I made mine out of a plain 2x4 with a U-shaped cut out to fit onto the mast and a couple of U-bolts at the other end. The jib halyard attaches to one of the U-bolts and the mainsheet goes from the other one down to the stem plate at the bow. Total cost was around 5 dollars.

 

[KI4ARJ]

Also consider a stairway hand rail. ususally grade A wood, rounded, straight grain, knotless. Plan B- top rail of chain link fence. Plan C- company that makes flying bridges/outriggers with marine grade metals as a source for parts.

 

[shanker]

I think I saw the one you are talking about on a Macgregor. Can't seem to remember exactaly where but it may have been on another site.

Shanker

 

[Tom Hoffman]

What ever you do make it lite. I made one out of a 10' piece of 1 1/2" square tubing and made a slot in the top for a sheave to be mounted and then ran the cable over the sheave down to the bow fitting that the fore stay hooks to. I mounted a brake winch to the side of tube facing the mast and then drilled and mounted a u bolt to the top and ran a cable from the mast about 12 - 14 feet up and attached another cable to that and also down the the base of the mast and leave it there while sailing. When ready to take the mast down, just un hook the bottom of the mast mounted cable and hook it to the top of the Gin pole loosen the cable on the brake winch over the top of the sheave and down to the bow and shackle it on. take a little pressure on the mast and un shackle the fore stay and lower away. I have a yoke at the bottom that through bolts the pole to the base of the mast with a pin.

It all works great. Except it is HEAVY and very unwieldy I should have made the pole out of 1" S Steel Tube round or square. It would have been much lighter. You can normally find a supplier of S Steel tube close by and can normally order the tube cut to the lengths you want and go and get it direct. I recently bought 2 20' lengths of 1" S Steel round tube for about $150. It was not High polished 316 S Steel tube.