Patent attributes
An adjustable outrigger moves a trolling pole on a fishing vessel to an elevated, outboard position for trolling and inboard to a lowered position when not in use. The outrigger of a preferred embodiment is operated using an operating handle. Rotating the operating handle in one direction rotates a pole held by the outrigger from an inboard position to the outboard, deployed position. Simultaneously with the rotation in the horizontal plane, the pole is elevated in the vertical plane from a near horizontal position to a suitable trolling angle. The operating handle turns a shaft that communicates the rotation of the handle to an internal drive mechanism, which is housed in a drive mechanism housing. The rotational motion is converted to a linear, vertical action using a ball gear mechanism. A track provided by a bayonet coupler converts the linear vertical motion into a combined vertical and rotational motion.
