Dave,
Many thanks for your reply. By the look of my poles, I will need to get a new one if I change the system. There are no fittings at the end of one pole, just a smooth hole, and a small block at the other.
Other than the experience of various crew members, is there any advantage in using one system over the other? I am struggling to work out exactly how this system was rigged, but could imagine that it would be easier to use in practice is I got it working again.
Many thanks
Mike