Whisker pole rebuild

[rickdowe2]

Whisker pole rebuild.
I have just stripped my whisker pole down to nothing. It had a dent in it from a previous owner and I always had difficulty extending it. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a pipe expander and with enough extensions and a impact wrench I was successful on removing the dent. Now it is time to put it together. It has a system to extend the pole but I question if I need that. I still have to install a bolt to prevent it from collapsing so what is the point of pulling on the line to extend and than moving forward to install a bolt?
Jim,the pole looks very similar to yours and I read you call it a lock pin pole. Can you explain the lock pin.
Thanks

 

[terry_thatcher]

I have an old line extension pole, with control wires and liners run inside and outside to pull the interior pole out and in. It is similar to a Forespar line control pole, but made by a now defunct company. Anyway, the reason to have an extendable and retractable pole is so you can use it on genoa or asymetrical chute, but it becomes shorter for smaller sails or for storage. Mine lives on a track on the front of the mast, with line controls to raise or lower the butt. Anyway, I dont think a pin control whisker pole works for a boat of the size and and sail area of the Morgan. But... if you have lines to extend and retract the pole, maybe you have a line control pole, in which case, once the inner pole is extended, tying the line to a cleat at the butt end of the pole should hold it out. Long story, all to say, go to a supply store to look at a Forespar line control pole to see how they work.

 

[rickdowe2]

Thanks for replying Terry. The pole came with the boat. The outer pole diameter is 2 1/2". The pole has a cleat to tie off the line but also has a series of holes to insert a pin or bolt. That's why I was curious on having both systems.

 

[jimcleary]

Rick
The lock button type whisker pole has two spring loaded, 1" diameter, buttons on the inner pole. The outer pole has a series of paired 1" holes towards the outer end. As you slide the inner pole out the buttons will snap into a set of the holes to lock itself in place. The further out you allow the buttons to lock in, the longer the pole will be set to be. It's a very simple system but it has it's drawbacks. The sliding out, and any further adjustments cannot be done with the pole under any tension. It's not easy to know where the buttons are relative to the set of holes you are looking to lock them into. The worse thing is that if your fingers are anywhere close to the holes where the buttons are going to lock in, it can be a rather painful, and possibly bloody experience. We have fought with our lock button pole for as long as we have owned the boat. I've even learned the lesson on how to keep my finger tips away from the holes (a hard fought lesson). I've spent many a night dreaming of and coveting a line control pole. It has simply been a low priority on our list of necessary expenses.

Did you get the list of places below Boothbay?

Jim

 

[rickdowe2]

Yes I got the list Jim thanks very much. I rarely go to the PUB site. But did find the reply.
I put the unit back together as a line pole. It does have a series of holes that I use with a bolt. If the line pole doesn’t work for me than I might try and find a 1/2” push button quick release pin. Rick