steering pole

A steering pole is a light spar extending from the bow of a straight deck ship which aids the wheelsman in steering.{{Cite web|url=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5390622.PN.&OS=PN/5390622&RS=PN/5390622|title = United States Patent: 5390622 - Steering pole for jet propulsion boat}}

Ancient literature indicates that steering poles have long been part of boat construction, and are referred to in ancient texts such as the Epic of Gilgamesh.{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/8458875/Babylonian-Story-of-the-Deluge |title=Babylonian Story of the Deluge |website=www.scribd.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124150633/http://scribd.com/doc/8458875/Babylonian-Story-of-the-Deluge |archive-date=2009-01-24}} {{Cite web|url=http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~andrew/bible/gilgamesh.htm|title=Andrew Jacobs has moved}}