Patent ID: 7578252

Claim:
An inflatable whisker pole for a sailboat comprising: an elongate inflatable body having first and second ends, the inflatable body consisting essentially of an airtight and watertight material and at least a portion of the inflatable body being flexible and flattenable in a deflated state, and rigid in an inflated state when inflated to an internal pressure of greater than 2 psi; a valve for providing fluid communication between the interior of the inflatable body and a compatible gas source, the gas source comprising a manual and/or powered pump, or a compressed gas supply; a first connector affixed to the first end of the inflatable body, the first connector constructed and arranged to attach removably to a headsail or headsail sheet; a second connector affixed to the second end of the inflatable body, the second connector constructed and arranged to secure to an area that is stationary with respect to the hull of the sailboat; and wherein the elongate inflatable body provides adequate rigidity in an inflated state to maintain position of a headsail or headsail sheet and resists compression exerted by the headsail during operation of the sailboat whereby the whisker pole can maintain its internal pressure and float if lost overboard when in an inflated state.