Outrigger Setups

Nofish · 11-16-2003, 09:25 AM

Skein, I'll bite on starting the thread. I am looking forward to Mel's (or anyone's) ideas on homemade outriggers. Bob

skein · 11-16-2003, 10:55 AM

Thanks, nofish. I'm pretty interested in this topic because I'm going to have some time this winter to add some stuff to the boat, and I'm thinking outriggers, especially inexpensive ones, are high on my list.

Mel, thanks and we'll wait for your "how-to" and pictures. Just don't get Roy involved with this thread. He's busy making cedar plugs out of bondo and shotgun shells, and we need him to perfect that before he gets sidetracked. :grin:

Oh, and don't mention to DipSeaDiver that I'm thinking of adding anything else to the boat.

Skein

Birdnest · 11-16-2003, 03:53 PM

I captain a fine Ed Wing,
All DipSeaDiver could say was cha-ching.
Work was a pain.
I answer to Skein.
After a couple of beers I think I can sing.

:grin:

KeyWest · 11-16-2003, 07:04 PM

I currently use Taco extendable outriggers as I have a small boat, so it makes carrying them easy. I have, in the past on larger boats, used home-made outriggers made out of cut off pike poles. Conduit could be used as well. Bolt a braket to the gunwal, run a bolt through it and the base of the outrigger, add a couple of eye bolts, and there you go. You can get some fiberglass extendable outriggers pretty cheap, however. They are supported by deck mount pole holders and make a pretty good outrigger - although they do bend back a bit since they are glass. However, they are light and easily carried. Lots of good articles in Saltwater Sportsman on how to rig, etc.

I have a 22' boat, 15' outriggers. With this arragement, I run 8 lines: 2 off each outrigger, 2 on the stearn clips, 1 way-way back down the center, 1 close down the center.

[ 11-16-2003, 08:07 PM: Message edited by: KeyWest ]

Tackle Time Bait and Charters · 11-16-2003, 08:13 PM

The Lady Dee (43' Delta)has Alum. Pike pole outriggers. Last season I had glass poles that hooked up on 3 20+ lb. tuna at the same time on the same pole. The Tuna won, broke the pole.
Pike Pole handles are 1 1/2"thin wall tempered Alum. tube. I run 4 spreads off each pole, 2 spreads off the stearn and 2 or 4 340 penn's on Lami's. Gene

Onokai · 11-16-2003, 09:03 PM

I put on a Taco set on my 23 center console this past season. The under tee top handels are great the 16 foot extendable poles are so so. What I've experienced is that the poles are made not to run extended while under speed while transiting. So you have to put them up and take them down out on the tuna grounds. NO easy task when it's rough. As we all know its always a lake out there eh.They are great if you have to go under a bridge or the like. But my fiends Lees go up and stay up while driving to and fro.So if you are thinking homemade go light and strong and buy high quality release clips and set them to release light or you'll end up like Tackel time and it will be broke pole time. Mark

ONOKAI

Beer Waggin · 11-16-2003, 11:31 PM

Try ruppmarine.com for some top of the line outriggers.
At the very least it will give you some very good ideas.

KeyWest · 11-17-2003, 04:37 AM

Sounds like we have the same Taco pole - although mine mount from the gunwal. Your absolutely correct about having to take them down to run - they are too heavy to run extended. I have read a number of times about folks breaking off outriggers - I use the AFTCO rollers and pre-set the release at 5#. I do this with a 5# trolling weight at the dock prior to going out - much like setting the drags with a drag scale - this is something that should be done prior to each trip.

If you have found some thin wall aluminum extendable outriggers - I would be interested!

Dean

kamloops · 11-17-2003, 06:01 AM

I sell 6' x 1-1/4" Alum snap on Bull Float handles for the concrete industry.
These are the same set-up I use across the stern
of my boat to mount/attach my handlines.The poles snap together, I use 3 pc for 18' of total stretch.
I would not have a problem with using 12' of alum handle for outriggers, 18' might be a little much. These sections are very light and quite strong.
My outriggers are Lee Jr. holders that attach to the side of the salon. I have 22' Alum poles (Lee) and run 2 lines off each rigger. I could run three if needed. I can run with them extended if the oceans flat.
Lee or Rupp will sell just the Poles if someone wants. Just look at their wewbsites.

But, like Mel reminds me every day :grin:
he catches more tuna than I do anyway.

Robalo Bill · 11-17-2003, 08:05 AM

Hi All....sounds like people are getting jazzed about outriggers. I researched alot of sites, trying to buy the best I could afford without breaking the bank. My first set was through "Offshore Angler", to the tune of $300.00. Then I stumbled on a stand alone section for outriggers on Ebay. I replaced my cheapy glass outriggers for aluminum for the same price.
These were new and offered by reputable dealers.

<Go to ebay and search for outriggers>

[ 11-18-2003, 06:30 AM: Message edited by: skein ]

Onokai · 11-17-2003, 07:37 PM

Key west Dean, I'm looking for and may have found some light weight aluminum outriggers that fit our Taco holders. They are pricey and I am still looking. I want to set them up and run with them up. They do break down but not as easy as ours. Our tube size is a bit odd.I talked to taco about this and they claimed no one has asked to make them to hold up to running extended. Sounds fishy to me. I have no on the bridges to clear so I can set them up at the dock or trailer. Mark

ONOKAI

KeyWest · 11-18-2003, 03:39 AM

Yes, I would definately be interested - I actually run a line from the tip back to the T-Top to support the weight as my gunwal mounts won't take that much weight - of course, it's another line to contend with. Putting them out in rough seas is a bit of a challenge for sure. I did have some aluminum, light weight ones before - but they friction fit - that's how they kept extended. Add a little salt water, a bit of corrosion, and you pretty much have full - time extended outriggers. So I replaced them with glass - but I couldn't run any large baits off the tips. So went with these Taco's - they work well, other than the weight, and having to take them down while running.

KeyWest · 11-18-2003, 06:58 PM

Questions for everyone - I use halyards, anyone use tag lines instead? I use double halyards, AFTCO roller clips, and Hallock double locking halyard pullies rather than the traditional glass rings at the base of the halyards. Also (a tip I learned in Salt Water Journal) is to use a barrel swivel in order to adjust the halyard length on the run - others ideas?

skein · 11-18-2003, 07:18 PM

Does anyone have any pics of how they're attached and raised and lowered? I'm a complete novice with outriggers, and know very little about the actual plumbing involved.

Skein

kamloops · 11-18-2003, 07:47 PM

skein,

Depends what kind of mounting surface you have.
If your going to mount them on the covering boards than you drill a raked hole and insert the tube base through the hole. Or some units you can flush mount on the cabin salon that use braces, usually attached in three different places.They form a triangle for strength. The brace type of outrigger require you to lower the pole by hand, usually unscrewing a knob or releasing a catch of some sort. If you buy the swivel type through the covering boards than all you do is lift and swing the outrigger into a fishing position.

Or, you can buy the Perko type that use a wratchet stub type of attachment. Those require the least amount of installation. But they have a tendancy to become dislodged in transit and while deployed. Don't ask me how I know that.

[ 11-18-2003, 09:30 PM: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

Miss B Haven · 11-18-2003, 09:14 PM

Cant seem to find time to do a drawing but here's a description of my poor mans Tuna poles.

Rod holders mounted 90 deg to the gunnel on about a 45 deg "up" angle. Mine are the rocket launcher type on the aft part of my rail. The plastic fish on kind would actually work for this cause the rod base don't take much of the stress.

2 cheap fiberglass fishing poles (not rods now, POLES!). Mine are only 7 footers, I'll be shopping e-bay and garage sales for some ~12 footers in 2 piece this winter for a little more spread. One piece is just too hard to store/deal with.
Run a stay line from the first guide from the tip forward on the boat and wrap around a stanchion with a snap. Make between a 45 and 60 degree angle. Run a release line off the tip of the pole. Make it long enough to bring the clip back inside the boat so you can secure it inside while running and reach it when hooking up.
Run a tag line on a swivel that rides up and down the clip line. Secure the other end to the boat with a wrap around something (rail stanchion again for me) and snap.
I'm using 200 lb mono leader and crimps for all these lines just cause I have it and its quick and easy. I'm also using the Scotty releases (only way to go they hold tuff line fine on the heavy setting and burried deep- thanks Keta for the tip).
I wouldn't run a hand line off these but they sure are cheap and easy for rod/reel riggers. You sure could run hands lines as long as the stay line is on the same part of the pole where the handline is fastened. The stay takes all the stress.
I was happy with the 7 footers until I tried running 150 foot hand lines off my corners. The hand line lures ran too close to where the rigger lines went in the water and got tangled in the windy conditons and on turns. Never had an issue at all with running my 90 foot lines on the corners with the rigger rods.
My normal spread with this is two hand lines (90 foot) on the corners, a short rod down the center at about 125 feet the two rigger rods at 150-200 feet back and then a long rod off the flybridge right down the middle and way back. The long rod just stays out when playing a fish on one of the other rods.

I can run as many as 5 hand lines off the transom plus the 3 rods but haven't found it to be necessary. Just to much stuff in the way when the fishing is good and usually when the fishing is tough the long rods are whats working anyway.

If this description doesn't compute let me know- I'll try to get to a drawing and get it scanned in.

Onokai · 11-18-2003, 11:20 PM

Key West. I have two types of releases. A set of rupps and a set of blacks. By the way my poles are 15 footers like yours, Both type of realeases are adjustable . They clip together on the line with snap swivels. They go thur a small pully with bungee,(not a glass eye). The line is tensioned with a special knot.All of this is above the tee top which gives you lots of rod room below.The thing I learned from saltwater Mag was keep the lines very tight. It sets the hook better if there is little or no play in the lines.Outriggers catch more fish or at least for me that is what I have noticed.Mark

ONOKAI

Nofish · 11-19-2003, 05:28 AM

Hi Mel,
Thanks for the reply - I was anxiously awaiting the details of your setup. Like Skein, I am looking for a winter project that's not too hard on the pocket book. I am assuming a "pole" means something beefy. I like Scotty release clips also - I tried them this summer as flatline clips and they worked well.

I am vocabulary challenged when it comes to outrigger lingo - but I think I get the general idea. If it isn't too much trouble, it would be great to get a scanned diagram of your setup. Thanks again for your input. Bob

Miss B Haven · 11-19-2003, 07:31 AM

Nofish- The "pole" was just a joke, there was a thread discussing the difference between "poles" and "rods "on the main board a while back.
Beef is good however but since the stays take most of the stress it's not for the hit but rather the flex from the boats movement. Stick to fiberglass, it's cheap and a lot less prone to breakage. No need for high tech here. A broom stick would work but the eyes on a fishing pole make good attachment points. Somebdy on my boat was talking about getting a blank and I asled why, you'd jsut have to add eyes to fasten the stay and clip lines. Garage sale poles are the way to go. I'm thinking a couple of thsoe old yellow Eagle claw spinning rods- surf casting models would work real well.
I was using to Penn solid glass rods picked up for backup rods at FMS for $15. Tackle time had a couple of crusty used Charter poles (one of them had the butt broke off the handle- how do you break off a butt for gosh sakes?) for $5 so I picked them up to use and keep my new Penns as backup rods.

OH- I was thinking after the post last night, a fishon rod holder will work but you would need to put some kind of stop (instead of a reel) on the rod to keep it from sliding down the holder. The rocket launchers have a bottom in them so they stay put.
The other thing is that the poles need to be mounted well forward. Mine are just reachable from the cockpit on the rail going forward. Similar to where you would mount "real" outriggers.
This setup would work real well for boats that don't have wide Gunnels or a cabin side or a t-top to mount traditional outriggers.
I've been thinking about using sone of the collapsible outrigger poles and just putting them in the holders still using the stays to supports them. I'd like to fondle one before I decide to go that route over a used pole though. :smile:

Nofish · 11-19-2003, 03:03 PM

Mel,
I must have missed the discussion over rods and poles - maybe I shouldn't have. Thanks for explaining your setup - it has given me a lot of good ideas and plenty to putt on over the winter months. I really don't have the room for a full outrigger spread (15+ feet). Since I would only be running one rod on each outrigger - your system sounds like the best fit (the price is right as well). I guess it's time to start scrounging. Cheers...Bob

Robalo Bill · 11-19-2003, 06:28 PM

Hi All

Skein...here is a link that outlines how to setup an outrigger. Also since I've changed to aluminum poles I'm selling my fiberglass telescoping poles they are 1 1/8 insert and extend to 15ft. Used 2 seasons .....Bill

http://www.wolfffishing.com/outrigin.html

KeyWest · 11-19-2003, 06:38 PM

That's pretty much how I have mine set up, except I run double lines off the outriggers, not a single, so the glass donut at the bottom is replaced with a set of HalLock pullies - they lock the halyards in place to prevent "creep". What is really important is the swivel at the end of the line - it's used to take out slack so you can keep tight halyards. In terms of how they are mounted to the boat - I use gunwal mounts, and since they are heavy outriggers, I run a line from the tip of the poles back to the T-Top to help support the weight.

Also, the drawing shows "Blacks" release clips, I use AFTCO as they seem to be much more repeatable for release tension and the rollers are alot easier on the line (I use spectra which is subject to abraision).

Dean

[ 11-19-2003, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: KeyWest ]

Nofish · 11-19-2003, 07:00 PM

Bill,
I was just browsing a catalog, trying to figure out where all the outrigger "rigging" went. Thanks for posting that website link. I hope you dont' get in trouble for including it in your post :grin:
Cheers...Bob

Onokai · 11-20-2003, 09:14 PM

There are some great outtrigger tips on page 42 of of the DEcember Sport

Onokai · 11-20-2003, 09:16 PM

There are some great outtrigger tips on page 42 of of the December Sport Fishing Magazine.Sail boat pulleys, and stouter lines for less cost than any pre rigged kit. Mark

ONOKAI

Nofish · 11-21-2003, 04:35 AM

Mark, Thanks for the tip - I subscribe to that publication, but hadn't really been focused on the whole idea of outriggers until recently. Those are great ideas. Bob

Miss B Haven · 11-21-2003, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Robalo Bill:
Hi All

Skein...here is a link that outlines how to setup an outrigger. Also since I've changed to aluminum poles I'm selling my fiberglass telescoping poles they are 1 1/8 insert and extend to 15ft. Used 2 seasons .....Bill

http://www.wolfffishing.com/outrigin.html

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Bill- whacha want for those glass po's?

Onokai · 11-21-2003, 06:31 PM

Bob I wish I had done outriggers years ago. This past season was my first. If you have a hard top put them up there out of the way if not put them on the rail forward. Mine are on top of the teetop. I have 360 degree access to work fish.They really do help to add up for more fish and I often leave the gear out when the stern rods have fish as they are out of the way,or you can reel the lines in and leave them hanging out of the way. Mark

ONOKAI

Nofish · 11-21-2003, 08:16 PM

Mark, I think I will pull the trigger and purchase a set of inexpensive ones. That one site posted by Bill had the complete fiberglass set (including base) for a not a whole lot. I know you get what you pay for, but good outriggers, and especially the mounting bases are pretty darn expensive. My boat is not as large as yours, but I do have a spot I could probably work with. I was just going to try to make some from old fishing poles, but I am pretty sure I need more spread than I could get with a 7 or 8 foot boat rod. Thanks for your help and suggestions...Bob

Nofish · 11-21-2003, 11:28 PM

Hey Mel, Check out the price of the collapsable fiberglass outriggers on that website that Bill is referring to. Very very reasonable for a complete setup ($149.00). Cheers...Bob

Salmo · 11-21-2003, 11:57 PM

Speaking of outriggers... My dad was a charterboat captain on the east coast. He used to own a 43 foot Post sportfisherman. One day we were at the fuel dock preparing for the next trip out. Some %%!%*#% idiot sailed by our boat way too close. Clipped our riggers and ripped them off the boat. I can still see the look on my dads face.

Man do I miss the bluewater!

Nofish · 11-22-2003, 05:34 AM

Hey Robalo Bill or Onokai Mark, or anyone with outrigger experience: I am thinking of purchasing a set of the fiberglass outriggers. Obviously, you are replacing yours - what kind of problems did you have with them? I found a complete set on the internet for about $120 (Fore and Aft Marine) but want to hear about any problems you (or anyone) may have had. Thanks for the help...Bob

Onokai · 11-22-2003, 09:01 PM

Bob. I have no experience with fiberglass poles. I would think they have too much play in them. I'm not liking mine only because I cannot moter at high speeds with them up. So I'm looking for a non- retractable set of aluminum poles I can set up at the dock and run out with. My set retracts to 6 feet and extends to 15 feet they are great except set up a sea is a pain.I have heard that west marine in oakland has a return outlet in the back of store (cheaper$) and that they often have poles. Most folks who have gotten fiberglass poles eventually get metal poles. You usully get what you pay for as you said.Mark

ONOKAI

[ 11-22-2003, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Whaler Man ]

KeyWest · 11-23-2003, 04:42 AM

I've used glass poles (they are still in my garage). They are inexpensive, so what you will run into may be (as did I):

1) Eyes are weak - lots of constant soldering - they are like fishing pole eyes.
2) Slip fit to keep them extended - so sometimes they start to creep in and telescope down.
3) Very limber. You can't troll heavy baits on the outside for sure. I don't see this is as a big issue for Albies, but if you were running large chuggers, daisy chains, etc., they wont work will on these.

Hope that helps.

Dean

Nofish · 11-23-2003, 05:38 AM

Dean and Mark,
I appreciate the input...thanks. Bob

Robalo Bill · 11-23-2003, 07:46 AM

NoFish...the glass poles have a tendency to flex more with heavier lures. Everything on them is lighter ...the eyes, shafts and they do not pin together. The glass poles extend but lock in place with friction..just like aluminum boat hooks. They are light and easy to deal with..if you run with them set up you risk them collapsing in ...leaving your rigging in a rats nest. No damage just damn inconvenient. They worked great with a single tag line, I just want to try something beefier and maybe try 2 lines. I maybe setting myself up for disaster...I find having 3 fish on standup rods with 2 people enough to deal with.

Bill