Whisker Pole

[jorgefife]

In my scratching around in the salvage yard, I got 2 whisker poles
They both have the jaws at the end, and a steel cable that opens the jaw, but what confounds me is a ring attached to the cable.
What is it for?
I will try attach a picture

 

[Ed Schenck]

Is the pole large and relatively heavy for man-handling on the foredeck? The ring is probably near the center and used to connect to a topping lift off the front of the mast. This makes it easier to handle.

 

[kloudie1]

Haven't seen the pix yet but the ring is usually on a separate bridle that ya hook the topping lift to. Usually, a snap shackle hooks there to adjust the pole angle.. There may ba another one to hook to, to hold the pole down with a downhaul.
Ed beat me to it..
Attached shot shows the topping lift and downhaul rigged on the pole.. you can see the trigger wires next to the pole..

 

[Bill1565]

Is the pole large and relatively heavy for man-handling on the foredeck. The ring is probably near the center and used to connect to a topping lift off the front of the mast. This makes it easier to handle.

You don't lift the pole with the wire that opens the jaws. Some poles i have had had a wire from jaw to jaw so you could open either from the middle of the pole, or both ends from one end.

 

[jorgefife]

You don't lift the pole with the wire that opens the jaws. Some poles i have had had a wire from jaw to jaw so you could open either from the middle of the pole, or both ends from one end.

Thank you all for responding
No, the whisker pole is not a very heavy one
I will send pictures so I can better understand what they are for
The picture Kloudie sent shows what I have, but still confused
I will figure it out, with your help

 

[Ed Schenck]

As Bill points out it could simply be a way to get leverage on the wire that opens the jaws. By pulling straight away from the pole both jaws would open at once. My whisker pole just has a light line between the two jaw pins. When wet your hands can slip making it hard to open. The spring in each jaw is pretty strong.