Telescoping Spinnaker Pole ...
Actually, I looked at the Selden website and they also call it a "telescoping spinnaker pole". This product first came to my attention when SBO store started offering it recently. (Highlighted to promote our friends!)
The way I read it, the pole is designed as a spinnaker pole at DESIGN LENGTH. It has the added benefit of being extendable to be used as a whisker pole at 125% and 150% of the DESIGN LENGTH. As Jackdaw indicated, the extended lengths are NOT to be used as a spinnaker pole, only to be used for the CLEW of head sails or an asym.
There are 4 models at varying lengths to help match the appropriate pole to your boat. I find that one model has the 2 extended lengths that are a very good match for my head sails. BTW, the price seems pretty reasonable for a versatile product.
I would guess that this pole is more robustly constructed than the extendable whisker poles that are made by Forespar. So a traditional whisker pole would be lighter when used correctly, but I think I would compromise the heavier weight in order to have a pole that can be used both ways.
My other question was regarding the shorter "storage length" of this product. Logically, I would think that the storage length can be used as a spin pole based on strength, but perhaps there is something about the fittings where the pole can't be used at "storage length".
This was a little off base for the thread, but I thought some clarification would be useful.
Actually, I looked at the Selden website and they also call it a "telescoping spinnaker pole". This product first came to my attention when SBO store started offering it recently. (Highlighted to promote our friends!)
The way I read it, the pole is designed as a spinnaker pole at DESIGN LENGTH. It has the added benefit of being extendable to be used as a whisker pole at 125% and 150% of the DESIGN LENGTH. As Jackdaw indicated, the extended lengths are NOT to be used as a spinnaker pole, only to be used for the CLEW of head sails or an asym.
There are 4 models at varying lengths to help match the appropriate pole to your boat. I find that one model has the 2 extended lengths that are a very good match for my head sails. BTW, the price seems pretty reasonable for a versatile product.
I would guess that this pole is more robustly constructed than the extendable whisker poles that are made by Forespar. So a traditional whisker pole would be lighter when used correctly, but I think I would compromise the heavier weight in order to have a pole that can be used both ways.
My other question was regarding the shorter "storage length" of this product. Logically, I would think that the storage length can be used as a spin pole based on strength, but perhaps there is something about the fittings where the pole can't be used at "storage length".