A whisker pole doesn't have to be as hefty as a spinnaker pole. But it's usually desired to be able to extend and collapse it. You can have twist lock or line control.
Here is a sizing chart from West Marine. Scroll down to sizing options. I had a 356 and used a downsized pole with no problems. I did not use the pole in moderate to heavy wind.
As you can see the line control is much more expensive.
I would not bother putting a track on the mast. You do want the pole to be parallel to the deck to push the clew out but I would not obsess about it. If you are in a competitive jib and main fleet - maybe.
I also wouldn’t worry about a track. We added a padeye and it’s perfectly adequate. The winged-out jib clew doesn’t need to be adjusted up and down the way a spinnaker tack might. Just experiment with a boat hook on a light wind day to get the right height to mount the pole horizontal.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.