Whisker pole query

[MikeinNZ]

Hi,
New to the forum so Hi and new sailboat owner here. Wondering if anyone can help identify what I think is a whisker pole and how to use the outboard end. Previous owner is not contactable.
It’s a 1984 Mull Chico 40, rig unknown. The black pole on the fwd side of the mast runs on a track and has chocks to lock it in place. The outboard end looks similar to the one I found online and wondering which way up you run the sheet at the outboard end and what keeps it in place? That’s if it is actually a whisker pole? It seems rather short. Other whisker poles online seem to have clips. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks Mike

[Jim Cate]

That is not a whisker pole, but rather what is called a reaching strut. It is used with symmetrical kites when close reaching to keep the guy off the shrouds and give them a better angle, thus reducing line loads. A bit of a nuisance but quite worthwhile in those circumstances. They are not seen so much nowadays due to assy kites being used on such wind angles on most boats.

Jim

Jim

[Diamond Life]

I believe you could just have the wrong end fitted. Jim suggested a reaching strut. The end shown, and the explanation by Jim is correct but the pole is far too long for a reaching strut I believe. Normally a reaching strut won’t extend too far past the toe rail, maybe a few feet.

How far from your forestay does it reach when parallel? It might be a simple case of purchasing another end fitting. Unfortunately the fitting shown will only work well with reaching strut as the sheet will too easily fall out.

Also, what are you going to use it for, for symmetrical kite it will need to go all the way to the forestay. If you just want to pole out the headsail it might work ok.

My thoughts anyway…. On fourth look, it looks too short…. Possibly from another yacht, measurements would help.

[MikeinNZ]

Thanks for your replies, I think you are right. Sadly the spinnaker and pole were leant to a now sold yacht by the previous owner.
I was hoping to use it for downwind sailing on Genoa but looks like I might have to modify the outboard end and possibly make it extendable.

[Jim Cate]

Jim suggested a reaching strut. The end shown, and the explanation by Jim is correct but the pole is far too long for a reaching strut I believe. Normally a reaching strut won’t extend too far past the toe rail, maybe a few feet.

Well, this is correct! I didn't look closely enough at the pic to see the length of your pole.You could shorten it down to the correct length and use it as a strut or you could buy an appropriate length of aluminium tubing and swap the ends from the extant pole into it. The outboard end isn't ideal but could be used to pole out a genoa; I'd not trust it for a kite, for it would be prone to falling off when the kite collapsed and refilled (as they sometimes do!).

Makes me curious as to what the pole's builder was on about!

Jim

[Dockhead]

Reaching strut, AKA jockey pole, maybe a Selden like this: https://www.velasailingsupply.com/se...-60-60-l-1810/

That's not for the sheet, but rather the spin pole guy, which would go through there. The purpose is to give a reasonable angle on the guy when the pole is squared right forward.

My jockey pole is a spin pole off a smaller boat. Extremely useful -- allows use of the assy spinnaker as close as a slightly close reach, without overstressing the spin pole.

[MikeinNZ]

Thanks for your amazing replies. I will have a measure up next time I’m onboard and see if I can adapt it to a whisker pole.

[psk125]

When used as a reaching strut, the end fitting you show in post #1 goes with the hook on top of the spinnaker guy, so that the guy holds it up. A reaching strut doesn't usually have a topping lift, so it needs to ride on the guy. If you are using the pole you have as a whisker pole (it is, as others have noted, too long to be a reaching strut), it will need a topping lift to hold it up. If the hook is set up UNDER the jib sheet, it will hold the clew of the jib up, which will help to keep the sail from drooping and flopping around.

[Adelie]

Reaching strut.

[eje]

I've got a pole similar to the one discussed here. It is definitely not a reaching strut.
It's got a Forespar sticker. It's a 3 section twist-lock pole. It extends to about 15'. The inboard tube is 2"OD, outboard end about 1.75 OD.
There are no screws or rivets securing the fittings, they don't appear to have been replaced.
I've contacted Forespar asking about this pole - no reply yet.

There are more than one, so not a one-off design. There had to have been a purpose for a pole like these.

[GordMay]

Forespar Poles & Accessories
➥ https://www.forespar.com/sail-pole-accessories.shtml

Forespar Telescoping Twist Lock Poles
➥ https://www.forespar.com/products/tw...er-poles.shtml