AFTER building my north-sea version the Prindle 15 cat (see else in the home building forum list), I discovered that I could not lift the cat anymore at sea when I was capsized. This was caused by the mast weight (I use a Prindle 18 mast) and the lenght of the beams (now 2.50 meter).
So, something had to be invented. I made a epoxy laminated pole round a foam hart with on each end a fork-like extension. See http://www.catsailor.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=163&pos=3.
The fork will stand and hold just in the corner from the beam and the hull while the other end will be hang on the uphaul cord. See http://www.catsailor.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=163&pos=1
What is more important that I have something to grab for after the righting, in order to prevent a turn over to the other side (rolling over)
Last but not least it can also be used as the pole for hanging behind my car. See http://www.catsailor.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=163&pos=2

Thanks for the pics. Have you tried to right with it yet? I would have thought you have the pole too low with not much leveredge and will be in the water before the cat is up. Do you stand on it? The pole normally hinges in the middle and has a stop knot to hold it up high so that you can use your weight before you float in the water.

thanks for your comment. Yes I'm familiar with the normal pole constructions. But I was looking for something more simple and rigid and very important at sea, something quick. That is why I also made the "forks"" at both ends of the pole.

I can work my way up to the end of the pole if all my weight is needed.And again because the fork is loosely tied up to the hull/beam, I have something to grasp for (there is no dolphin striker!)

I forgot to mention that it can also be used to raise the mast in a bridle construction.

To be complete: here is a picture of the pole in mastraising mode:

http://www.catsailor.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1198

Afterwards it seems so logical to have only one leverage pole for every leverage task to be done on my cat.