MacGregorSailors.com

Pushing off from other objects, like the next guy’s boat, without damaging it. Many have soft tips.

Tomfoolery wrote: ↑Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:48 pm Pushing off from other objects, like the next guy’s boat, without damaging it. Many have soft tips.

Good to know... surely I wouldn't have figured that out from the little bronze sphere on the end of the old fashioned one. That'd put a nice dent, if not a scratch in someone's fiberglass hull.

Tomfoolery wrote: ↑Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:48 pm Pushing off from other objects, like the next guy’s boat, without damaging it. Many have soft tips.

Or pushing the next guy off his boat with or without damage. Your choice.

Inquisitor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 10, 2021 7:38 am

Tomfoolery wrote: ↑Sat Apr 10, 2021 7:24 am Take a look at line control whisker pole prices at WM or other sources. Twist-locks ain’t cheap either, but nothing like line control. I bought a well used one for my keel boat and only paid a couple of hundred. Only. Sold it with the boat, which is just as well as it was too heavy for a Mac.

I was looking at the one BWY recommends for Mac's. Forespar (the manufacturer) says its too small for our Mac's. It's over $200! If I go with what Forespar says I need... I need to get the $500 one.

I may be deluding myself, but I thought I'd burn another $40 to see if I could make an acceptable substitute.


I will take off the label.

You might try this:

PhysicsTeacher wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 2:29 pm ...
You might try this:

I definitely like his latching mechanism type pole better than these relying on twisting and friction. My previous attempt was like his with just a pin at the end and relying on it staying in compression. Which works fine once set up... but if you get the length too short, the sail comes off and you have to start all over. We'll see if this capture type will take the abuse I plan to put on it.

The only downside to that mechanism is that is has finite adjustment points. It looks like he had no problem finding one that worked for him. On the plus side, it's not going to slip like the friction ones do when they begin to wear.