How to use whisker pole?

[ROAD Soldier]

Ok I have had my boat for almost 2 years I figured out how to use everything that came with it and have done many modifications however there are 2 things I need help with. Trust me this is hard for me because I am old fashion and believe real men don’t ask for directions, that is why it has taken be 2 years to ask these questions see photos below.

Where does the pointy end of this whisker pole go? There is no track or do-hicky thingy of any kind on my mast to accommodate it in anyway. If I stick it in the Sail loop it just falls out. This other end on picture below doesn’t fit on a plastic loop on my mast and I have seen pictures on the net where there were 2 ends like this one, one being on the sail and other on mast but mine has pointy thing on other end what gives.

Lastly I have used my cruising spinnaker that came with my 26X however I not completely sure I am connecting it right from the picture below you see a plastic cup thing go around the head furler and it is held in place by a small D-Ring cable not sure if that cable is for that or was just used to hold anchor down while traveling. Is there suppose to be a rope attached to the bottom of that cup instead?

Now if someone would fee free to post pictures on how to use the pole and comment on the spinnaker feel free to do so. I have spent 2 years looking on this sight, manufactures sites of the pole and spinnaker and to no avail. I can find wording on how to use it but the words don’t match the equipment so feel free to Barny Style it with picture. There I admit it; I need help on this one. Take that you stupid therapist!

[Rick Westlake]

You're at the beginning of "Whisker-Pole 01", or "Bonehead Whisker-Pole". I've barely passed "Bonehead Whisker-Pole," but my mistakes just possibly could help you sort yourself out ...

Beija-Flor came with a whisker pole like yours, with a "spear" tip on the outboard end and a "clamp" tip on the inner end. The "spear" evidently was supposed to be stuck through the clew-grommet of the genoa - but as you recognize, that sail is too long to treat like that. My response was to replace the inner end, AFTER I broke it, with a new RWO clamp - more robust than the Forespar plastic tips - and the outboard end with a similar clamp.

That whisker-pole went with Bossa Nova when I sold her.

This spring, SAIL and CRUISING WORLD both had articles on poling out your jib ... both of them recommended putting a ring on the outboard end of the pole, pulling it level with a topping lift, and clipping the "clamp" tip around the halyard (rather than through the clue of the jib). Bossa Nova came with a CDI jib-furler, and the "jib halyard" was only used to raise the genoa-sleeve ... so I tried it as a topping-lift, and it works really well.

Incidentally, as you've probably already figured out, this is only woth using when you're running downwind.

What I do is ... I have "clamp" ends on both ends of my whisker-pole, and I've lashed a D-ring to the outboard end, on the same side as the "jaws" of the outboard clamp. (That is, when I clip the topping-lift to the outboard end of the pole, the open jaus are facing upward.) Once I fasten the topping lift, then I clip the jib sheet into the jaws of the pole; then I clip the inboard end of the pole to the ring that's mounted on the front of my mast. Finallly I go back aft and snug up the jib sheet. (The aforementioned articles said you should have a whisker-pole downhaul as well, but I'm too simple-minded to add that to my rig.)

This made it easier for me to sail "wing-and-wing" downwind.

Over the coming winter I intend to apply "Whisker-Pole 101", which is the track Lin & Larry Pardey added to the front of their mast to handle the whisker pole on Seraffyn and Taliesin.

Now that I've explained this system, would someone with more experience please set my explanation straight?

[delevi]

Rick,

I think the explaination was right on! You have to have two real clamps. That pointy thing just doesn't work. Personally, I have a small rope loop tied around the clew. I clamp the pole to that.

Make sure the part that adjusts (telescopes is inboard.) Also, the plastic eye on the mast is junk and it's too small. I got a nice size stainless steel one instead.

As for the spinnaker, I can't make out the connectin at the bow. If the cup thig you're referring to is part of the roller furling unit, don't use it! The best place to attache the tack of the sail is to the anchor roller. Make sure the luff of the spinnaker as well as the lazy sheet runs in front of the forestay and both sheets running outside the shrouds. Best thing for the tack is actually an adjustable line called a tack line. Attach a block to your anchor roller and feed a long line through it. Attach one end to the tack of the spinnaker. Run the other end back tot he cockpit to a cleat or sheet clutch or horn cleat or whatever you have to secure the line. As you sail further off the wind, let out some tack line. As you sail closer to the wind, pull in the tack line. On average, the tack of the spinnaker should fly a couple feet above the bow rail (pulpit.)

Sorry, don't have any pictures of what you're asking for. You can try to PM Scott, who is the resident-expert on flying a spinnaker on the

BTW,
Never be afraid to ask questions. All admirals were once deckhands.

fair winds,
Leon

[kadet]

Lastly I have used my cruising spinnaker that came with my 26X however I not completely sure I am connecting it right from the picture below you see a plastic cup thing go around the head furler and it is held in place by a small D-Ring cable not sure if that cable is for that or was just used to hold anchor down while traveling. Is there suppose to be a rope attached to the bottom of that cup instead?

The cup looks like an ATN Tacker to me here is how they are used.

http://www.atninc.com/tacker.html

[ROAD Soldier]

Thanks Kadet you are right that is what I have. Now as far my pointy Whisker Pole being “A Piece of Something" got it. Also thanks for the info on the plastic ring on mast now I don’t feel like a total dumb---. Looks like I have been hooking up my spinnaker right except the bottom need to use sheet not the small cable so I can adjust the bottom for what ever reason I don’t know but will find out. One last question though can I get just another clamp end for my whisker pole or do I need to buy a whole new one

[parrothead]

Regarding the rig of your spinnaker, Kadet is right that what you have is an ATN Tacker. It's most effectively used with a downhaul line led back to the cockpit [can just be run through one of the bow cleats] so you can easily adjust the tension on the spinnaker's luff.

Speaking of the spinnaker luff, however, in your photo the sail is rigged backward. The luff should have a red stripe on it. When that corner [the tack] is attached at the bow, the bottom panel of white material will be widest there, and will taper upward toward the clew.



An easy way to remember is that the Doyle [or other manufacturer's] tag should be at the tack corner on any sail.

[Rick Westlake]

It's quite simple to replace the ends on your pole. Looks like what you've got is a Forespar adjustable 6-12 foot, small twist-lock pole.

West Marine has the RWO spinnaker pole ends for $23.99 (1" pole end) and $26.99 (1¼" pole end). You can get them from any good sailboat chandler, actually - maybe for less. The RWO spinnaker-pole ends, IMHO, are more robust; the latch and hook are stainless steel, unlike the all-plastic Forespar ends.

I concur with Leon about the Forespar mast-ring, too. I have been using it this season, but it is better suited to a small sailing dinghy than to our vessels. The chandlery where you buy the pole ends will also have a stainless-steel mast eye to replace it; or you could add a piece of genoa track to the front of your mast and get an adjustable spinnaker-pole car. That's what I'm going to do.

Pardeys' Self-Sufficient Sailor includes a chapter on their "instant whisker-pole," which looks easy enough to install and super-easy to use. Essentially, they put a long up the front of the mast with a cheek-block at its top and two strap-eyes at the corners of its base; they installed a "towable" (no spring-pin) spinnaker-pole car on this track, with its control line leading through the strap-eyes and the cheek block. They leave the pole in place all the time, with the inner end pulled up to the top of the track and the outer end secured to a mast-shroud - very convenient! I'm going to work this up on Bossa Nova, and I'll post it in the Mods when I have it done.

[ROAD Soldier]

Parrothead wrote

Speaking of the spinnaker luff, however, in your photo the sail is rigged backward. The luff should have a red stripe on it. When that corner [the tack] is attached at the bow, the bottom panel of white material will be widest there, and will taper upward toward the clew.

So much for not feeling like a total Dumb---. So that is why it only worked on a narrow point of sail width. So that is why it dragged in the water from time to time. Ok it is not totally my fault the last owner I never met and he didn't leave instruction written in BIG CRAYON.

Well it is said "that anything that doesn’t kill you makes you smarter", or totally gives you something to laugh at.

Thanks for the info on the pole rick and thanks to the rest of you on the spinnaker now I can’t wait to use it the right way, maybe I wont think it is a lot of trouble for just a little narrow margin of air to use it in this time.

[delevi]

Speaking of the spinnaker luff, however, in your photo the sail is rigged backward. The luff should have a red stripe on it. When that corner [the tack] is attached at the bow, the bottom panel of white material will be widest there, and will taper upward toward the clew.

I'm not seeing that. You can't have the sail backwards as it is identical on eitehr side of the foot. Otherwise, sail shape would change with each gybe. The Doylem is near the tack, and that's where I'm seeing it on the photo. Am I misunderstanding something?
On Edit
Ooops. never mind all that. I was looking at Parrothead's photo, not the original photo. Yes, the sail in the original photo is upside down.

Don't feel bad Soldier. Spinnaker's are the most common things to fowl up. Been there, done that.

Happy Sailing,
Leon

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Personally I really like having the spike end on my ADJ6-12 pole and it works just fine. I stick in in the ring that the genoa sheets are tied to, push out, then clip the other end to the ring mounted on the mast. As long as the sheet is tight, it stays in the sail just fine. I always use it when going down wind wing on wing. It's the poor mans spinnaker. If I has a cruising spinnaker like you do I probably wouldn't use it at all.

For me the advantage of the spike is it's ability to quick release without the need to go on deck. You simply release the sheet and the sail blows further forward pulling the spike out of the ring. The pole drops to the lifelines still secure at the mast end and you can now tack or gybe as necessary without worry about the pole.

[Highlander]

Here's wing on wing with two whisker poles
http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j95/m ... 010015.flv

I made my large boat hook which extends out to about 17ft ! into a whisker pole for my genny so as it doubles its use I installed a whisker pole mast end into the handle & removed the removable end cap which exposses a threaded end that was intended for installing a boat brush I then got a paint roller handle and cut off the end that holds the paint roller leaving about a 2" stub or you can just buy a 2" paint roller then just screw it onto the pole end loop it through the sail and because it is l-shaped it does not jump out as easily . I found this Mod on this site
J

[Don T]

Hello,
I'm with Duane, I also have the spike end so I can drop the pole by letting out the sheet. However, the original sheets were too short and I couldn't get the pole to drop unless I let the sheet go and let the sail flog. I now have longer sheets, all is good.

[waternwaves]

not to be picky john.....

but there was a little detail in your video....that doesnt look quite the way I see it done on my boats.

The windward side spinaker guy/sheet. looks like it is aft of the furler........ now admittedly both my boats are not flying furlers for spinnakers now......but.... shouldnt it be the same.

Other places on the net I look show that guy full forward. Is that something that just works easier with the furler, or do you secretly roll in on each gybe....and I just never noticed.

Didnt they teach us that line goes forward of the sale so that you gybe the asym like a sym?

The only reason I ask..... is because I am the king of fouling the spinaker guys and sheets. hull, I have even tried to gybe a symetrical chute flown asymetricly from a sock.....(dont even ask how long that took to clear). I have to tell you my admiral was extremely patient with me while I tried to clear that mess 50 ft above my head. Since there was a 12 to 15 kt true tail wind....... I had to roll out the jib and work in the shadow to clear it. was kind of like holding two 600 lb gorillas together that did not like each other. Very difficult to unclip that tackline under flapping loads

We douse and do the walkaround before gybing now.

Also, we modified tA Home Depot 16 ft telescoping yellow fiberglass handle to do the same duty on the mac. then dumb me took it down to the hunter to use for cleaning the hull in the water...and never remembered to bring it back. supposedlhy it will float for a minute or two if it falls in. sure feels like it when brushing the keel, so those handles can do double duty.


thanks john...... the admiral thinks I am a lurker now when I come home from our boats and watch videos of yours with all those headsails... I believe staysail/jib/spin envy is a treatable condition if caught early enough.

[ROAD Soldier]

Duane say this with Don T in agreement

For me the advantage of the spike is it's ability to quick release without the need to go on deck.

I tried that and my rings on my headsail must be too big because the pole would go right through. Now I guess with the clips you should run the sheet through it not the headsail, that way you can let the sail run out in a gust. At least that is what I found on every other web site I could find on whisker pole usage. However there no replacement for doing it yourself so I went with Rick's idea and ordered just one clip for now and will see how it goes.

[delevi]

Yes, that's what they say... connect to the sheet, not the sail. This is good in theory, and perhaps ideal on a real whisker/spinnaker pole. The cheapie Forespar pole, however, which is the same one I have but without the spike, just doesn't work well with that. The sheet can bind and/or break the plastic fitting. I always clip to a small rope loop on the clew. If it needs to be let out, it can still be let out and the sail quickly furled in, then the pole is harmless and can be released after the headsail is safely furled up. BTW, this is a good way to attach as well. Clip in both ends and then unfurl. Go back on deck and adjust pole length, then sheet in as needed. If yo want to try making the spike thing work, try attaching a small enough u-shackle or d-shackle to your clew ring and run the spike through the shackle. You can also try rope... tie a tight loop that is small enough to hold the spike.

For those who don't know, a properly poled headsail can be flown on the opposite tack (theoretically flown backwinded) though it won't be backwinded when poled properly. This is a great technique if you're sailing say 165-170 degrees wing-on-wing. The mainsail will be flown normally on the leeward side. A preventer is crucial in my opinion. The poled jib/genoa will be on the windward side. The pole needs to be long enough to push the clew forward so as the foot is angling slightly to the bow. This will allow the sail to draw air, even thought it's on the windward side. Look at it as a wing extension of the mainsail. I hope this makes some sense. The technique is called Sailing by the Lee. I tried it several times, particualarly when too lazy to deal with the spinnaker. It worked quite well.

Leon