Bill, I mounted my extendable whisker pole (11’-18’) on the mast and I let my pole touch the deck. So far no issues with rubbing a spot on the deck. I used to have a problem with sheets getting in and behind the mast mounted pole until I let it down all the way. Since then I’ve had no problems with sheets. Originally I had it on chocks mounted on stanchions but found in races it took 2 guys on foredeck to manhandle the heavy pole. My concern on Galv Bay with winds and chop they would accidentally drop overboard and at the cost of the pole I decided to go with it mounted on mast track. Now I only need one person on deck and it’s easier to set up.
Exactly why I want to keep it on the mast. The mast end stays attached, just slide the car down and snap the other end onto the sheet. One crew, quick and easy, no chance of dropping it in the bay. What happened Saturday was wild and could have caused damage or harm to crew, so I have to do something different.
If I put it on the stanchions, my clumsy ass will end up with stitches in my shins, on the deck, I'll end up with busted toes. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and photos.
I do have it slid down as far as it can go when it's stowed, but it's on top of the mast wire box and there's enough wiggle to let the jib sheet slip under it when it gets whipping in high winds. The rope loop the lower end was clipped on, I thought would keep the sheet out, I guess had enough slack to let sheet catch just enough of the end hook. And the loop slipped through the keeper pin somehow, lucky it didn't rip the mast wire box off the deck and yank all the mast wires out. I really don't want to drill a hole in the deck, but what Allen 12210 has should work and be quick and easy. Still thinking on it, might try something with a little PVC pipe and big zip ties if I can make it look right and work.
The bay was pretty wild Saturday. We did great on the first leg reach and stayed close on the second leg downwind, even though we didn't fly an a-sail in those winds. But, we couldn't keep up close hauled in 20 knots with our wing keel and sagging B & R forestay, had fun trying though. A lot of boats didn't have to tack to make the finish line, we tacked and still had to slow way down trying to point too high to make it through the finish line markers without tacking again.