When it comes time to buy outriggers for your boat, many boat owners are unsure about the correct length and setup to choose. As a result, they often turn to online research, only to be met with a wide range of conflicting opinions regarding outrigger length versus boat length.
In many cases, people choose shorter outriggers as a safer option, without fully considering the primary purpose and benefits of outriggers. Before discussing their main function, it’s important to first understand the recommended outrigger length based on your boat’s size and configuration.
As a general guideline, your outriggers should be the same length as your boat, or as close to it as possible. While it’s difficult to choose outriggers that are too long, selecting outriggers that are too short can limit their effectiveness.
In Australia, most boats fall into one of two main styles: centre console or cabin boats. Within these styles, there are three common mounting positions for outrigger bases—gunnel-mounted, side-mounted on the cabin, or mounted on a T-top or hardtop.
Although boat length provides a good starting point when selecting outrigger size, the mounting position also plays an important role. Different mounting locations can affect how outriggers perform, adding an extra layer of consideration when aiming for optimal setup and performance.
For this setup, 18 ft outriggers are recommended.
When outriggers are mounted high on a T-top or hardtop, a shorter rigger length can be used because the added mounting height already provides a clear advantage. The height difference at the rigger tips between gunnel-mounted and roof-mounted installations can be up to 8 ft, which is a substantial and performance-enhancing difference.
| Boat Length | Outrigger Length |
|---|---|
| 15ft – 18ft | 15ft – 18ft |
| 18ft – 20ft | 18ft – 20ft |
| 20ft – 24ft | 20ft – 22ft |
| 25ft – 35ft | 22ft – 27ft |
| 35ft + | 22ft – 36ft |
For this setup, 20 ft outriggers are recommended.
Although wishbone bases are mounted higher than the gunnels, there is still typically a 4–5 ft height difference compared to T-top or hardtop installations. This reduced mounting height makes longer outriggers necessary to achieve the correct height, spread, and overall performance.
Mounting outriggers on the gunnels places them closer to the water, which can increase lure spread. To compensate for the lower mounting position, selecting longer outriggers is recommended—provided there is adequate reinforcement beneath the gunnels.
If sufficient reinforcement is available, longer riggers will help maintain optimal height and performance. If not, 18 ft outriggers will still deliver good height and spread.
For this setup, either 18 ft or 20 ft outriggers are recommended.
While these options remain within the general guidelines for boat length, boat configuration and mounting position can slightly alter the ideal setup. This highlights the importance of understanding an outrigger’s primary function and how choosing the correct length and mounting location can directly impact fishing performance.
Many people think that the main purpose of outriggers is spread. That is to get the lures/baits out wide and into clear water so the lures can easily be seen by fish. If that was the only reason to use riggers then almost every boat could get away with using 12ft riggers which would almost get any lure into clear water. Off course spread is important, getting the lures as wide of the boat as possible also helps prevent lures crossing over and tangling when performing medium to tight turns.
While the spread achieved through the length of your riggers is vital, it’s not the main function of outriggers. The most important function, which in reality is never talked about or considered by so many, is in fact height.
When it comes to outrigger poles, height rains supreme and this can be achieved through longer outriggers or by the set angle of the base itself. Its far more critical than spread because it’s the single most important factor in how your lures and baits perform.
By increasing height, you will reduce water drag on the main line, leader and snap which intern creates copious amounts of bubbles. Higher set riggers will force the lure face to angle up making it pop, breath then give off a large bubble trail as it dives. Riggers that are set low place more mainline and leader in the water which makes the lure wallow through the water. It’s a known fact fish are turned off by large amounts of bubbles given off by mono and snaps.
Height will also increase the effectiveness of how crisp your line releases from the rubber bands/release clips simply because there is less line being dragged through the water, it’s a more direct line from the lure to the clip.
With higher set riggers you can run your lures closer to the transom which enables you to make substantially tighter turns if you run over a bait ball or mark a fish on the sounder. It also reduces the potential of line crossovers and tangles.
What angle is ideal for riggers? Anywhere from 40 to 45 degrees is a good range to stay in. However, this comes with a caveat, the shorter the outrigger the more towards 45 degrees you will need to aim.
While this angle is optimum it’s not always achievable due to the design of the outrigger base. Most wishbone bases are made with a pre-set angle while some brands have full adjustment. If you have a base that is pre-set then the only way to change the set angle of the riggers is to use packing “Spacers” in in order to lift the rigger tip up.
What is the length of the boat?
Will the outriggers be mounted on a T-top or hardtop (high mount)?
Will they be mounted on the gunnels (low mount)?
Will they be mounted on the sides of a cabin?
What material is the mounting surface—fibreglass or alloy?
Does the mounting area have adequate bracing to handle rough conditions?
Is the boat new, and does the manufacturer approve the chosen outrigger base under warranty? (Especially important for alloy boats)
What type of outrigger bases will the poles be mounted into?
Will dredges be run from the outriggers?
How will the outriggers be stored when travelling to and from the ramp?
