MacGregorSailors.com

Senior citizen relatively new to this site and sailing so bear with my barrage of questions guys! Have installed a dozen mods from your site and have contributed several of my own and $ to this site and thoroughly enjoy it as Ive got a lot to learn. Considering using a whiskey pole with my 150% Genoa on my 2002X but cant find any in the catalogs. Can fabricate one I suppose. Any of U guys have experience along these lines? In one sailing book they suggest mounting bracket on front of mast but wouldnt that jeopardize the Genny? Tx much

Rick, although a whiskey pole sounds like more fun, I think what you want to search for is a whisker pole.

Rick:

Is your jenny on a furler or is it a hank-on?

You already have that Boomkicker installed?

PM me. I have an idea for you.

I bought a 6X12 ft Whisker pole from West marine a number of years ago for $100.
Forespar was the brand.

They are also advertised in Defender catalog. THey also have a website.

Forget the pole and just get the whiskey! Your sure to have a great time.

Have a look at this Mod:

Boat Hook Whisker Pole

Rich

You do want to consider the attachment ring for the whisker pole. On our boat the genoa sheets occasionally get caught on it requiring someone to go forward. I have an M and it usually happens if the mast rotates before the Genny is fully across after a tack.

BB

For last 15+ years have used a $20 telescoping swimming pool pole to whisker out the clew of my drifter as needed. Bigger diameter than a boat hookand thus sturdier. Trivial DIY mods at ends to fix same to the drifter clew and baby stays or shrouds. Holler if you want details.
Ron

Hamin' X wrote:Have a look at this Mod:

Boat Hook Whisker Pole

Rich

Hey does that thing work well??? I LOVE the concept! If it works well we must have some smart guys on this board . . . NOW Scott how about that custom A/C bud?

Hello Rick,
Just this summer, I built a whisker pole very similar to the Mod posted. I went to Lowes Hardware and bought 6-12 foot heavy-duty painting extension pole with a roller thread on the end, a new paint roller, a "U" bolt, and a brass clip with a "D" opening on the other end. I cut off most of the metal end of the paint roller and bent the remainder into a "question mark" shape and filed the end smooth. That was screwed on tightly to the end of the extension pole and fits through the jib clew (metal ring on the floppy end). In the handle of the extension pole, I drilled two spaced holes for the "U" bolt. Before attaching the "U" bolt, I slipped the "D" end of the brass clip onto the "U" bolt. I mounted the "U" bolt, and I was done. The total cost was about $55. It worked just fine for both the 150% Genoa and the asymetrical spinnaker (light air). A friend took two great pictures of it in action, but I'm not technologically astute enough to post them here. It easily clips onto the mast ring for the lower connection of the boom vang. Positioned under the life line, it holds the genoa sail in precise position. For keeping the sail even farther out, the whisker pole clips onto the lifeline. In that position the sail moves up an down significantly, but it still catches lots of air.
That's about it,
Dave "Jac"

You can use whiskey for ballast.

Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL wrote:You can use whiskey for ballast.

My favorite ballast is Wild Turkey 101.

However, there must be some slop, or some other problem in my ballast tank, because when loaded with the stuff, the handling of the boat becomes erratic.

Just kidding. Don't drink and boat.

Rich

Here in Puget Sound, we often find ourselves sailing in channels where the wind is dead ahead or dead astern. A whisker pole is very useful. My boat hook whisker pole is still working great. Here's a recent picture of it in action. Notice that the ring on the mast is at the same height as the two halyard cleats on the 26X mast. Good luck!



~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~~~
Rich Plumb, "Plumb Crazy"
26X, Covington WA

My forespar 6/12 adj works great with my 150 genoa. I have the version with the spike on the outer end which I like better than the clip. This makes it basicly the same as Rich's with his paint roller handle spike.

My mast ring is mounted higher, about half way up between the mast cleats and where the baby stays attach. This makes my pole level when the genny is fully unrolled. I think there is some variation in sails so you should find the mounting point that matches you particular headsail. I think my headsail may not be stock.

[quote=

"Just kidding. Don't drink and boat".

Rich[/quote]

Please tell me that's not a real rule - - - is it???

Rick