By TACO Pro Team Captain Orlando Muniz, Nomad Fishing Charters
Fishing boats are complex platforms with many different accessories that enable fishermen and women to enjoy the sport in a safe and productive environment. Although often overlooked, items like rod holders, lighting and outriggers aid anglers by keeping everything neatly organized and ready when opportunity when angling opportunities arise. On my charter boat, I use the riggers for several different types of fishing, which means they always have to be ready to go. Properly caring for the outriggers keeps the TACO Grand Slam 280’s working great.
Outriggers are usually mounted above boat tops – keeping them out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately, these systems are sometimes neglected, resulting in reduced efficiency. Maintaining outriggers isn’t difficult or technical in nature. It just requires a few minutes every other trip, or maybe once a month, to keep them operating smoothly. Here are some tips you can use on your own vessel.
The first and probably the most important thing you can do is to keep the outrigger bases and poles clean. Make sure to rinse your system off with fresh water after every trip. If possible, soap and water works even better. On many occasions, salt crystals stick to the metal and can’t be removed with water alone. Properly washing and drying is the best way to keep everything looking new. On occasion, you may see small rust stains appearing on metal parts. If you see this, brush a little rust remover before washing. Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel and aluminum aren’t always “stain proof."
Although there aren’t a ton of moving parts associated with outriggers, make sure that parts that rotate and move are kept well lubricated with a high-quality marine lubricant. Everything should move smoothly without sticking or squeaking. You should also check your clips and halyard for excessive wear and/or damage. Also, don’t forget to check the stretch on the bungee cord periodically. The sun can damage these cords and cause failure when you actually try to stretch them.
Last, but certainly not least, is to coat your aluminum rigger poles with some sort of wax or polish. Applying a protectant will help repel the water and keep everything looking and working perfectly. Using all of these tips will insure that your next fishing trip will go off without a hitch. Remember, if you take care of your boat, your boat will take care of you.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Orlando Muniz
Miami-based Captain Orlando Muniz of Nomad Fishing Charters uses TACO Grand Slam 280 Outrigger Mounts and 15’ Aluminum Tele-Outriggers to fish the waters from Miami to the Florida Keys. For more than 25 years, Captain Orlando has been a fulltime fishing guide. With a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Captain Orlando is a regular writer for multiple fishing and boating publications.
