WHERE DO YOU STORE IT?

[twodzusfittings]

I am sure most of you have either a whisker or a spinnaker pole. I have just purchased a used one and now have to find the best solution of storing it while it's not in use. I have seen the following options. Stanchion mounted, deck mounted and mast mounted. I do not have the hardware yet, so before I make any decisions, I'd appreciate listers views, all pros and cons as well as sourcing ideas. Thanks

 

[Tally Ho]

I have the ability and hardware to mount mine on my mast…but it bangs around too much, so mine sat on the deck all last year…not even in chocks, just tied to a stanchion so it didn’t fall overboard.

I think I would like to put mine on the stanchion mount…get it off the deck and hold it secure.

Greg

 

[Justin_NSA]

Mine is mounted on 2 port side stanchions . Never gets in the way. Easy to remove.

 

[Stu Jackson]

While it's out of the way when stored on the mast, please know that it is a poor place to store it if you sail in salt water. Why? Because of dissimilar metals in the jaws (stainless pins in aluminum jaws) the lower end gets corroded, making them useless if not serviced regularly. They are difficult to free up once they get seized.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I have mine deck stored. I'm not a fan. I've stubbed my toes on the solid 1/4" thick aluminum mount it more times than I can count and it HURTS!!

 

[DArcy]

My whisker pole is stanchion mounted and I do like storing it there. The spinnaker pole on my previous boat was deck mounted and I didn't mind it but the stanchion mount is more out of the way and just as convenient to access.

 

[twodzusfittings]

This style?

 

[Joe]

I have alway deck stored mine, but I don't use it that much because I single hand so much. When I do actually use it , the pole stays connected to the mast slider all the time, rather than on and off for each sail change. For that reason, I was thinking the mast storage option would be best, but Tally Ho's comment on clanging makes me consider the stanchion system preferable. That system sounds good as long as the pole's orientation doesn't result in protruding ends that may snag sheets or sails. So....I'd definitely do a little testing before purchasing the hardware

 

[Hayden Watson]

Mine is mounted vertically on the mast and I love it. I have a single control line with back-to-back PXR clutches that allow for one-handed release and cleating of both at once. When sailing, I have the topping lift attached to the outboard end and to deploy, I pop the lower end out of the mast chock and release the control line clutches and the car slides down the track which extends the pole out to horizontal.
Very slick.
I do dip-pole jibes, so it never reverses end-for-end.

 

[Apex]

@Hayden Watson any clanging when stowed?
Do you have jaws both ends, or a socmet at the mast end?

 

[Davidasailor26]

View attachment 212355


This style?

That’s what I use, although I mounted the chocks to the bottom of the stanchion instead of the top. Pole is nicely out of the way and still easy to get free.

 

[sailme88]

On the deck it is a trip hazard and toe knocker..When in use, it's dead manned to the mast. So why not mount it where it is deployed from. Keep all line in place and ready to go...

 

[twodzusfittings]

Anyone store it on the cabin top attached to or adjacent to the hand rail?

 

[DArcy]

How about launching the pole from the boom the way 505s do. That would be impressive on 30 something foot keel boat.

 

[Ted]

While it's out of the way when stored on the mast, please know that it is a poor place to store it if you sail in salt water. Why? Because of dissimilar metals in the jaws (stainless pins in aluminum jaws) the lower end gets corroded, making them useless if not serviced regularly. They are difficult to free up once they get seized.

Why would it make a difference if the pole is stored on the mast? The deck and stanchion mounting locations are also subjected to water. I would think that a deck mounted pole would be more susceptible.

 

[eherlihy]

That’s what I use, although I mounted the chocks to the bottom of the stanchion instead of the top. Pole is nicely out of the way and still easy to get free.

I have a pole, but no spinnaker on my 35. In the summer I keep it mounted to the stanchions on the starboard side as David states above. In the winter, it supports my boat's winter cover.

 

[Allan12210]

Mine has been mounted to the mast for 30+ years. The control line is a 2x purchase with double clam cleats back to back to keep the car from moving up or down the track. I love the way it works. With the topping lift permanently attached to the outboard end, as I drop the aft end it deploys level. It's simple to unlatch from the shackle I have mounted on the deck, feed the lazy sheet through the jaw and drop the pole to level. The pole rests against the forestay until we gybe the jib and squares up nicely when the now active sheet is tensioned. I've never tried this single handed but with my wife steering it's easy to manage myself. We would sail down the Oakland Estuary for about an hour wing in wing with the pole. Then as we reach home the wind shifts to a reach on the opposite tack. After gybing the jib back to port, we just sailed with pole back against the forestay. Since the lazy sheet was now in the jaws it's easy to roll the jib up, drop the main and motor into the slip. Then we put everything away. Our mainsail sail cover was replaced to go around the pole. The only drawback is that the pole tries to twist as it is coming down for a bit. I have to guide it straight out to the bow with the pole extension line so it doesn't bind the car. Originally I used a ring on the mast and that bent right away and the jaw snapped off. The car with cheeks solved that issue. It is true that saltwater will jam the pin in place. A good freshwater rinse after every trip manages that plus annual lubrication. Keeping the control line tight helps manage rattling. If that is not enough a sponge stuffed between the shackle and the mast works too. I don't think the extra money was worth buying a line controlled extendable pole (12-22 feet). I only used that once with our cruising sail. Then I left it up too long and it became a cursing sail. It also makes a perfect crane to hoist the dinghy (without motor onto the foredeck. Our 9'2" dinghy fit perfectly so the pole could still be moved around the tubes and the nose of it did not interfere with the anchor locker hatch.

 

[Hayden Watson]

@Hayden Watson any clanging when stowed?
Do you have jaws both ends, or a socmet at the mast end?

I use this one at the lower end and the track mounted car at the top.

 

[Hayden Watson]

Why would it make a difference if the pole is stored on the mast? The deck and stanchion mounting locations are also subjected to water. I would think that a deck mounted pole would be more susceptible.

I actually had this happen to mine but never really thought about it until now. In my case the lower end is fine but the upper end siezed. I use the pole frequently and the lower jaw is exercised every time it is used but I had not touched the upper jaw since I intalled it until this past summer when I tried to remove it use it to try to figure out where I could mount an extendible bow sprit for a top-down furler. That was when I realized that I could no longer open that jaw. I need to work on that in the spring.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Why would it make a difference if the pole is stored on the mast? The deck and stanchion mounting locations are also subjected to water. I would think that a deck mounted pole would be more susceptible.

Good point, Ted. I think the reason is that I found I hosed the sides of the boat and rarely hosed right at the base of the mast where the mast boot and the bottom of the pole was to minimize chances of leaks into the cabin from the boot. Didn't or wouldn't have that problem if it was stanchion mounted.