Inqism-09: DIY Spinnaker / Whisker Pole

[Inquisitor]

Its a rainy day here... so I needed a porch project...

As usual a bunch of more knowledgeable guys help me understand the problem... viewtopic.php?f=7&t=28253 The first being the $500 someone wants for a Whisker Pole for our size boat. https://www.forespar.com/products/twist ... oles.shtml.

So here is my attempt at a DIY Whisker/Spinnaker pole.

So far... I've got some basic hardware store stuff:

A heavy duty 23', three section painters pole. I probably don't need the length, but I figured the longer it is, the stronger and stiffer they had to make it. Besides I can telescope the second and third sections as one and it be that much stronger and stiffer.


Braided Fishing Line - I just keep this stuff around for projects... Like Frank's Red Hot, "I put that $#!+ on everything."


3 inch long, 1/4" Stainless Steel Hex Bolt and Small compression springs


... More to Come
Inq

[Inquisitor]

1. Drill Out the Rivet holding the aluminum end-piece that threads into a paint-roller. Cut the end of the rubber handle on the other end... and Lo and behold it is completely hollow end-to-end. Priceless!
   
2. Turns out, inside the piece it is hollowed out with a 1/4" cavity, that make it very easy to use a 1/4" drill to continue the hole out.
   
3. Using an 1/8" bit, drill a hole through the head of the 1/4" SS bolt. Cock it off at an angle so it comes through as shown. Debur the dik'ns out of it.
   
   
4. Put the SS bolt into the drill chuck. File the head somewhat round and smooth the corners. Cut the threads off and smooth the end.
   
5. Thread the fishing line through the spring, through the hole, around the bolt, back through the hole and through the spring. Tie off a nice bowline knot a couple feet up the line. The double line in this area will hopefully wear a little better, but the 300 pound test should be plenty to pull the pin.
   
6. Place the SS pin into the Aluminum end piece.
   

... next come the 3D Printed Pieces. TBD!

Inq

[Inquisitor]

External Hook for business end.

Now printing...

Inq

[Inquisitor]

All 3D Printed Parts Required.

From left to right:

• Two halves of the handle-side insert. Carved out area is for embedding a Snap Shackle I happen to have sitting idle for the last 12 years.
  
• Plug that goes inside the aluminum painter-pole-threaded piece. It retains the spring, yet lets the line through the center.
• Two halves of the sail-side hook/pin stop.

[Inquisitor]

Sail side hook / pin / spring assembled, but not sanded.


Sail side sanded and assembled with pole.


Boat side assembled with Snap Shackle and pole... line run to open pin.


I was thinking it would be cool to have the line run internally. Now... not so much. I can barely open it at the sail-end. If its wet, I doubt it'll be possible and not being able to open it at any point along the pole seems to be a negative. But... its going to the race as-is and get stress-tested at the end of the month. We'll see if it can compare to a real spinnaker/whisker pole.

Total expenditure: $45 and about eight hours of mostly CAD work.

Inq

[Jimmyt]

That came out very nice!

[Idiotfool]

Well done!

[Inquisitor]

Wouldn't call is a stress test, but it was used for about an hour...




I think I'll be re-designing the head. I didn't much like having the line inside. I'll reduce the spring strength and add some kind of thumb tab to make pulling the pin back easier. Otherwise it served the purpose well... although winds were only in the 5 knot or less range. Mostly less!

[Jimmyt]

Well, nothing broke, you didn't drop it overboard, and you learned some stuff to make it even better. Most of all, you were on the water in your boat. Sounds like a grand success to me.

[Be Free]

Any day when you don't learn something is a day wasted. If you learn something and you are on the water, that's twice as good.