whisker pole

[kendall]

When I bought my triton it had both a whisker pole and a spinnaker pole on it, while playing around in the garage today, actualy digging out some brushes, I noticed that the center tube isn't locking now (was when I first brought it home) it has a rattle inside when you shake it, doing some searching I can find twist lock assemblies available from forespar, along with pole ends, but can't find anyway of opening it up without damage to make sure it is something included in the repair kit. the instructions are in the kit, but I don't want to buy a kit to take it apart to see if I need the kit. (I'm way too scottish for that)

Another question on the pole, looking through forespars site, twistlocks are for boats up to 25 foot, any comments on why that would be claimed? is the size recommendation more relevent to jib size instead of overal boat size?

This pole is a forespar roughly 7 foot closed and 17 foot fully extended, with the main tube aproximately 2 to 2.5 inches in dia. Forespar does have a 7/17 listed with a 2" body diameter, this just feels larger

any ideas on how to open it up without damage would be realy apreciated


Thanks
Ken.

[kendall]

Never fails, as soon as I say I'll ask for advice or help it falls into place.

Posted in case someone runs into the same issue

All it needs is a bit of light force, looks like thick plastic tape on the ends of the tubes hold them from overextending, one strip in the large tube, and one on the small tube form curbs when they're assembled, just have to shock the tubes apart using the inner tube as a slide hammer.

easy fix in my case, the pin holding the rubber offset wheel pulled out, drive it back in reassemble and the thing works like new.


Ken