Whisker poles

[Andy]

Would appreciate comments, suggestions, wisdom, concerning obtaining (and using) a whisker pole for our 1982 H27. We use a 110 jib and a 150 Gen. Good idea? Bad idea? What type/brand? Features to look for. Is there a used market?Andys/v Baroque

 

[steven f.]

good idea

I'm not a hard core racer but I've been sailing for most of my 40 years on this planet. I've found that wisker poles can be a great help in sailing off the wind. I use one on our H33 and we bought it used. I prefer a line driven pole but as they say, any port in a storm. If you need to get that clew out there than a boat hook will do for a short while. Since we do not use a spinnaker we use a large jib with a wisker pole. If we are broad reaching than that thing can flog around until we've been driven completely insane. We looked around for months to find a used one and yes, there is a market for them if you are patient.

 

[Doug]

2nd vote for good idea

We added last season to our 33.5For a 27 footer, you could get away with the twist lock version made by forespar. We added two deck chocks for storing as we didn't store on the mast as it adds too much weight aloft. One eye attached to mast is plenty with this kind of storage. Unless into racing and super fine tuning you don't need a ring that slides up and down on a track. More stuff for your 150 to hang up on on a tack. Main thing is to get a pole that is as long as the foot of your largest jib/genny and to mount your padeye on the mast so that in your primary position (set up for light to med air with full 150 flying on our boat), that is to say, the way you will use it most often, the wisker pole is horizontal or paralel with the water.It will make downwind sailing twice as fun and fast. Have fun.Doug

 

[Martin]

What I have

Last year I purchased a Forespar Heavy Duty Twist Lock Pole Forespar # HD612-DL and used a single Pole Ring on the mast. The pole ring is a Ronstan #RF30. Both of these products were purchased at West Marine. The pole works great. But note that on your 27 it will be extended between the sidestays. This makes it a little ungainly to extend but it otherwise works great. I pop rivited it to the mast at a point where it would be level with the foot of the genny in mod/light air. I too have a H27 1984. Same model. Good luck.