Frozen Spinnaker Jaws... Vinegar works

[bolbmw]

The jaws on my spinnaker pole were frozen after this winter. Immovable... but with the coercion of a hammer and pin punch I managed to get the pole off the boat, however the jaws weren't having any more. Lubrication... didn't work. PB blaster... didn't work.

What did work was soaking the jaws in white vinegar for over 24 hours. A surprising amount of white galvanic corrosion goop worked free from the steel pin and the aluminum jaw.

A cheap $4 fix, but I'll be sure to keep them clean and flushed with fresh water from now on. Maybe it's a hint I should fly the spinnaker more.

 

[Loren Beach]

This Works

Thanks Bob!
I just did this for 24 hours for each pole end. Our "trigger" Forespar ends were frozen - discovered last winter when I brought home the pole for storage.
Working now. I then flushed them with fresh water, and will next work a lot of Harken McLube in and around the parts before returning it to the boat.