Product Review – TACO Internal & Collapsible Outrigger Poles
The continued development of the center console market has revolutionized the ability to quickly and efficiently head to the break to search for large, speedy, and tasty pelagic species, and having the right equipment onboard is paramount to the overall experience. In recent years, the concept of internally rigged outrigger poles started taking shape.
With an internally rigged outrigger, hardware that was once exposed, such as rollers and eye-ends, is now removed. That part of the rigging is on the inside and flush on the pole for enhanced protection. Additionally, the halyard lines, which are traditionally exposed to the elements, are now internally rigged along the length of the pole to its exit point, which helps to reduce tangles and cleans up a maze of lines.
TACO Marine recently unveiled its new OI Series Open Water Internal & Collapsible Carbon Fiber Outrigger Poles. A true game changing product, they are not only internally rigged for triple halyard lines but are adjustable and collapsible.
While internally rigged poles have played a role in evolving the sport, there remain several challenges with some of the products available. Most of the poles are difficult to setup, some are fixed—meaning they cannot be adjusted and are not easy to move around, and shipping these to and from a location requires a transfer truck and high cost of shipping.
The TACO internally rigged poles come in pairs, with each pole in three segments. They are packaged in a nicely fitted foam package in a box that’s shipped via UPS. The segments are easily assembled with a patented Twist & Lock connection system, and this makes setup and take down quick and efficient.
The poles also come pre-rigged with premium 400-pound mono in three different colors, with the excess mono on spools for easy rigging when ready. The multi-color scheme is a nice touch, as it helps quickly identify which line needs to be pulled in or let out.
Another unique characteristic the TACO poles offers is each halyard line is fed into its own tube running the length of the pole to its respective exit point. This feature is especially helpful in case the mono should need replacing, and having each line run through its individual pathway means there is zero chance of tangling on the inside of the pole and ensures trouble-free and smooth operation.
Innovative features run abound on these internally rigged poles. When installing and rigging, you have the ability to perfectly index the halyard line by using the adjustable 1-1/2” ratchet base/butt, which is compatible with all standard mounts in the industry, making it easy to align the rollers with the angle down to the gunnel. This allows for a smooth ascent and descent without additional friction on the lines by pulling against the edges of the roller openings. Once the perfect location is found, tighten the threaded locking collar and secure it permanently with a supplied Allen wrench.
To help identify the correct side of the boat on which each pole should be, TACO laser cut a “P” and “S” on the stainless-steel collar to indicate port or starboard location. With the already installed and different color halyard lines, all that needs to be done is choose rigging hardware, verify line length, make the connections, and the boat will be ready for an offshore trip.
The OI Series’ overall function and design provides a simplistic yet creative and robust product for offshore trips.
Right now, the OI Series is only available to boat builders. If you’re having an outrigger-ready boat built, now is the time to inquire with your builder about adding the OI Series to your design.
For more information on the OI Series, available in 19’ and 22’, and for updates for when these become available to the aftermarket, visit tacomarine.com.
