I’ve been going back and forth trying to decide if I’m getting new one piece outriggers, or if it’s a good idea to try the telescoping outriggers.
Couple questions about outriggers:
Is it a pain to deploy them when offshore?
I would imagine managing the line is difficult when taking them down, is that true?
Do ya’ll like one piece or telescoping more?
How much lighter is carbon fiber than aluminum? Just asking because a couple hundred dollars for cfiber is a small price to pay to reduce stress in a hard top if they are significantly lighter!
Which outrigger bases are good? Which ones don’t you like?
I don’t have a lot of clearance (head room), so to avoid a lot of head injuries, are there any outrigger bases that protrude downward less than others?
Are they all generic so that they will accept other outriggers?
I personally like 1 piece because the line storage is more of a pain with telescoping to me. If I were to replace mine I would probably lean to CF. I have Lee sidewinder bases, outriggers, center rigger mount and center rigger and they are great.
Taco Grand Slam 270’s with telescoping poles and line keepers. Nothing to keeping the line, just get it sorted out and wind it up. Not bad at all to deploy.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
I have the taco telescopic ones. Not hard to deploy at all. I also put an eye on the front of my tee top and run the line to the front of the top and then to the back of the tee top and clip it. It keeps my line nice and straight, and I don’t have to worry about the outrigger extending while running out.
I have telescopic and buddy has one piece. I always extend mine before running offshore. It’s very dangerous standing on the side of a rocking boat in ruff seas. That being said I prefer one piece if storage is not a problem. They are stronger and no matter what anyone says its a pain in the ass to roll up line. Especially if they are multiple rigged. Yes CF if way lighter and if I were in the market for them I would check out BLY riggers on the hull truth. They are telescopic but you don’t have to run them in.
For aluminum I would choose the non-telescopic variety…especially if the Tacos are my telescopic option. The Taco riggers are like buggy whips, and that is what you DON’T want in an outrigger.
For telescopic I would suggest carbon riggers. The carbon is much stiffer (and of course lighter) than aluminum.
I have Taco GS270 striker bases and 15 foot telescopic outriggers that I am very happy with. With that being said, they can be tough to deploy in rough seas. I prefer to deploy them before I go out but if its really choppy it can loosen your lines and get them slinging around. I have a long and short on either side and a teaser line from just inside the short. Every boat has its own setup that works best for that boat. If you have a large enough boat with adequate storage I would suggest one piece poles… the bigger the better, honestly. One brand to watch out for is tigress 18 foot one piece poles… I saw one bend over last season while fishing with a buddy. My telescopic poles have proved to be very durable and easy to store when fishing inshore or cruising.
BTW always wear a pfd when walking the gunnel to deploy outriggers, just sayin
Go with Rupp z-30 bases, and you won’t have creep that the Taco’s have. Rupp has excellent customer service as well.
Carbon fiber is both lighter and stiffer. You get less whipping while pulling baits and teasers, and you can very easily take them in and out of the bases when trailering, which makes the telescoping thing unnecessary. Telescoping poles are needed if you’re on a smaller boat with aluminum in rougher water or you’ve got to get the poles down from sticking out past the transom when trailering.
The line storage works best with two plastic pieces that are sold by Taco or one of the starboard fab guys that do fishing equipment. You could make your own pretty easily. Works basically like a standup vacuum’s power cord storage on the back. You wrap the line between the two “posts” which you mount near the base of your poles.
Here’s the line caddy by taco http://tacomarine.com/item--Outrigger-Line-Caddy--F40-0030.html
They will fit other brands of poles.
If you go with aluminum, then I recommend 1.5" 15’ telescoping poles on a smaller center console. The 1.25" aren’t strong enough, and the 18’ have too much whipping when you’re using them or running with them extended. I prefer the tigress telescoping poles because of the track that keeps the buttons lined up. They are made of inferior metal or coating though, so they need to be woody waxed every few months. Taco’s hold up better as far as finish goes, but I have found that the buttons that hold the sections in place screw up on Taco’s. This is extremely aggravating especially if it starts during a trip.
The Rupp carbon fibers are the best, and as I said, you don’t have to have telescoping if they’re carbon fibers. This eliminates the problem with the spring loaded buttons, alignment and corrosion issues with the aluminums. You simply take them out of the bases and lay them in the boat when you trailer where there are low trees or you need them down out of the way. Yes, they are incredibly light. It will shock you to pick up a CF pole aft
Always had the Taco 1.5" 15’ telescoping poles on taco grand slam 270 bases and have been pleased except for as Phin mentioned, they do have a little bit of creep- probably just my hint of OCD coming out but nothing that affected performance.
I have seen riggers left in the extended position while running out cause spider cracks on some fiberglass T tops so i always shorten them while running out. A 15-18’ stick whipping around in rough seas creates a lot of force on any mounting surface though so if that is a concern, go with telescoping. Also easier to stow away during the offseason or when not fishing
Always had the Taco 1.5" 15’ telescoping poles on taco grand slam 270 bases and have been pleased except for as Phin mentioned, they do have a little bit of creep- probably just my hint of OCD coming out but nothing that affected performance.
I have seen riggers left in the extended position while running out cause spider cracks on some fiberglass T tops so i always shorten them while running out. A 15-18’ stick whipping around in rough seas creates a lot of force on any mounting surface though so if that is a concern, go with telescoping. Also easier to stow away during the offseason or when not fishing
256 Sea Fox cc
twin onehundredfiftys
Yeah, stress on my hard top is what I am primarily concerned with, and that’s why I’m more interested in the CF poles. Do you think 15’ or 18’ fixed CF poles will put too much stress on a world cat hard top?
Get a hold of this guy from thehulltruth.com. If you want to guy lighter carbon fiber is the answer. I would also go with 18ft riggers for a good seperation in your spread. I have 15 taco with the smaller diameter poles and there is to much bend in them.
There is an article on THT that states they are more conductive than aluminum amazingly enough. When I get back in front of my desktop I will try and link it.
