Whisker pole on my Hunter 26

[DovetailNJ]

I'm building an inexpensive whisker pole from an extendable paint pole and Forespare end fittings. I saw the article in "This Old Boat" and it seems simple enough.
My question: at what height on the mast do I mount the mast fitting?

 

[Clark]

If you don't want to install a track mounted (adjustable) ring, you'll just have to estimate the height based on where the clew of your sail would 'fly' if winged out. And that would change based on which foresail you'd fly.

 

[RichH]

I'm building an inexpensive whisker pole from an extendable paint pole and Forespare end fittings. I saw the article in "This Old Boat" and it seems simple enough.
My question: at what height on the mast do I mount the mast fitting?

as the prior post stated ... a simple ring mounted to the mast at the 'normal' height of the 'outboard' clew.

You'll also need a means to 'pull down' on the outboard end of the pole ... just a simple light 'rope', etc. to prevent the outboard pole end from 'raising'.
Since this will be light weight pole, no need to 'lift' the outboard pole end ... another pole control rope.

 

[kpgraci]

The whisker pole should be horizontal.

I had made one out of a paint pole - thought the idea up all by myself several months ago. Took the darn thing out to the boat and dropped it and the plastic threaded end snapped off. :cussing:

Now, paint pole quality will vary, but that told me right there I needed something better.

This is for your 26? Well, maybe you'll have better luck than I.

 

[knothead]

I've been using a paint pole on our Islander 28 for several years. I selected an all-fiberglass 1"x1-1/4" twist-lock pole with a metal screw thread which fit inside the 1" end for about 2-1/2". I drilled holes in the fat end and tie it to the ring in the mast with 1/4 double braid line. The screw thread end fits quite nicely in our genoa's clew. No spike required and its never come out. The Good Old Boat solution using PVC fittings and Forespar pole ends seems more elegant but our sloppy version works just fine if you can quickly and securely tie off a loop. The fiberglass poles bend more than I like sometimes but making certain you don't pull in the sheet too tight helps a lot. I understand that people have to make a living but the price for a new whisker pole strikes me as way out of line.

 

[MrBee]

According to Forspars web site the Whisker pole we would "Need" for our boat is Darn near $900.00.
I think we'll be making our own.

Bee

 

[TFrere]

I made one out of a pole vault pole. It is not adjustable and is a bit too short for my boat but it certainly helps for downwind sailing. Pole vault poles will flex quite a bit before they break. You may want to check with local high schools or universities to see if they have some old ones they are discarding. I know the newer poles are carbon fiber but mine is fiberglass.