Adding Whisker Pole and Fittings

[John Miller]

I am gathering information on adding a whisker pole to my boat. I have lots of catalogs and have looked at a number of boats with poles.The track for the car is 12 foot and will be installed 3 foot off the deck. This puts the cheek block for the car adjuster 15 foot up the mast. I have observed boats with this line surface mounted as well as run through the mast. What are the pros and cons of running the lines for the car adjuster inside the mast or on the surface.I have not found any real information on how high up the mast the topping lift should be placed. What other problems must be addressed as this addition is planned.

 

[dave]

How big is your boat?

Just a few suggestions to simplify your installation. I use a spare jib halyard for the mast car adjuster. I have also seen just a ring mounted in a fixed position on the mastso you don't need a track. The ring can be screwed or riveted in place.I don't use a topping lift...if the pole is very large for a boat say 38 feet or larger you might want one to help set it up but you shouldn't need a topping lift once the pole is set and the sail trimmed. If this is a small boat you shouldn't need one other than for convenience.

 

[John Miller]

H34

The boat is a 34 foot Hunter

 

[Peter J. Brennan]

It'll be a big pole

and heavy. Our boat is 37 feet and I added a line-drive whisker pole that goes from 13 feet to 25 feet, I believe. That thing is heavy, about forty pounds and a bear to manage alone on the deck. I don't have a topping life per se but use the spinnaker halyard. The mast has a built in track and car but I added cheek blocks and lines to control the postion of the car. The car has a ring for the end of the pole.The topping lift on the whisker pole attaches to the end where it connects to the jib. Doesn't really matter what height it is since its purpose is to take the weight of the pole off the sail. So a mast top halyard works fine. On a spinnaker pole, the topping lift attaches to the bridle in the center of the pole, not to the end of the pole. As I recall, the proper placement of that topping lift is about two thirds of the mast height.