Paul, you shall (unfortunately) perhaps one day understand.

Posted By: Gary, Santana 2023A, Milwaukee
Date: 8/15/07 2:51p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Never let go of gin pole? (Paul Germain)

No lateral (port-stbd) support for my gin pole. Just pressure bearing down from the connections. About the 4th or 5th time I was stepping... no, must have been lowering my mast... I let go of it for a second to, I don't know, clear the snagged sheet (near my feet). 3-4 seconds time? In any event, the pressure exerted on the tip of my gin pole, while certainly nothing extraordinary, was just enough to... well, maybe 8 knots or so wind on the mast, pushing her a bit to starboard. Anyway, the pressure on the pole was just enough to 'kick' her a hair off to that side. What then occured, was the pole bent off to port side. As it bent (even from the first instance) more pressure was transmitted to it, aggravating the bending. Upshot was that, (near) instantly, I had an almost 90 degree bent pole from where it exited the mast. This, bending, in turn caused the mast to fall off to the port side, where it promptly bounced (and re-bounced, and re-bounced), flexing and sounding like a deep throated chime. As it would bounce into the air from impacting the cabin hatch, it was flexing like a dog. While the temporary guys I had attached to the mast kept it from going COMPLETELY over the port side, it certainly was NOT a pretty thing to see. I have NEVER let the pole out of my hand since. It stays in my left, as I, from the bow, 'sheet' the mast during stepping with my right hand (and the main sheet). While I assume it's because I made my own gin pole... probably not as sturdy as OEM... I still see where the same forces can negatively effect a sturdier built pole. Hence: "Never, ever let go of the gin pole." Hope you followed that explanation? I posted a photo of my gin pole a couple years back if you're interested. What's yours look like, and is it stock?