Spinnaker/Whisker Pole Question

[Henry Weber]

I understand how a spin. pole works and looks. Other than attaching to the genny's clew how is a whisker pole different? Is it length or end fittings perhaps?Henry

 

[Paul Mieszczenski]

Adjustable

Henry, A whisker pole is usually adjustable in length like a boathook, where a spinnaker pole is a specific length. You can use a spinnaker pole for a whisker pole, but not the other way around. As the breeze starts to build or you change course to more of a reach, the compressive loads on the pole increase. Most friction lock whisker poles cannot handle the load and will retract under the stress. PM

 

[David Stone]

Length

Spinnaker poles used to be limited to "J". That's the stem fitting to front of the mast dimension. I don't know what they are today with asymetricals. Spinnaker poles would be to short to wing out a 150% genoa. Or anything over 100%.Whisker poles usually adjust to match the length of the foot of whatever jib you're using. Under the racing rules I think you are limited to "LP". That's the length of a line drawn at a right angle to the luff and ending at the clew. That gives you a good range of useful trim positions. But for cruising, use what works best for what you're doing.

 

[jcherubini]

whisker poles

Another thing about a whisker pole is that usually under racing rules you may not rig one with stays as you do with a spinnaker pole. It's not allowed to have a closing trigger and usually has just a poker end to poke into the clew of the jib. The tension on the jibsheet holds it in place. A spinnaker pole is rigged with a pole lift and guy (downline) and usually has an uphaul and downhaul at a track on the front face of the mast. Many racers leave them rigged before and after the spinnaker is set. It just sits there against the forestay sort of like a sideways yardarm (which is really what it is).Most cruising boats tend to have a fixed eye at the front of the mast that looks like a step (and I've seen people assume that's what it is). This is for the whisker pole. But under most racing rules you can rig a whisker pole anywhere. (We once used a 6-ft Garelick boathook as a whisker pole by jamming the sticky red handgrip of the end into the shroud. Did not fall. Worked fine.)JC 2

 

[Chris Hughes]

Info from Forespar Products

I spoke with a guy from Forespar Products at the Boat Show in Annapolis. He gave me an informative pamphlet all about whisker poles. That information is available on their web site. Refer to the link below.