Power Pole on Sportsman Boats
You've probably seen those pole like things on the back of bay boats and wondered what are those. More recently you've probably seen them on more offshore or "deep v" boats and thought again, what are those? Those interesting poles are called Power Poles and while originally adapted by the bass and inshore anglers, they've grown to be loved by all boaters over the last nearly 25 years.
The idea for power pole came to John Oliverio, an avid fisherman, when he was out fishing a flat with his beloved yellow lab. He desired to have a device that would keep his boat in position without having to throw and anchor scaring the fish or using a handheld pole which limited casting ability. Having a background in computer science and mechanical engineering he brought his idea to life in 1998. Since then, power poles have grown in popularity not only among fishermen but also the average pleasure boaters where the application possibilities are endless.
Here at Sportsman, we’ve noticed a significant increase in power pole applications on boats that are not typically thought of as shallow water fishing boats such as our Open and Heritage series boats 26’ and under. These boats are typically used for deep offshore fishing, but we’ve seen a trend in pleasure boaters using shallow water anchors at their favorite sand bar or securing the boat off an already crowded dock during those busy holiday weekends.
One thing to keep in mind when installing a power pole on your Sportsman boat is the style bracket for your specific model. For instance, most bay boats are equipped with jack plates which are already set to accommodate power poles on either side whereas boats without can be a little tricky. In this configuration we recommend using the squeeze plate bracket which mounts between the motor and the transom of your boat using the existing motor bolts thus eliminating potentially damaging the stringer and other critical components on the interior side of your transom. The squeeze plate also allows more room for the swim ladders.
Now if you are someone that already has a transom mount on your boat don’t fret, the vast majority of our older models have a different style stringer that will accommodate this mount however new models 24’ and up will not as they have a different stringer footprint.
Each application has its pros and cons but the jack plate (if equipped) and squeeze plate for transom mounts are certainly the two that will suit your Sportsman the best. Whether you’re fishing, pleasure boating or both, adding a power pole (s) to your boat will certainly enhance your experience on the water and give you total position control with the touch of a button. Tight lines and happy boating!