| The power pole for boats system is an innovative | | | | on a purpose-designed adapter plate rather than |
| solution for anchoring small, recreational boats in | | | | directly onto the transom. When not at anchor, the |
| shallow water. The system is particularly popular | | | | unit retracts and folds to about half its in-use length. |
| among fishing enthusiasts who desire to position their | | | | The unit stores vertically at its installed position on |
| boat in a specific area of water sometimes for just a | | | | the transom. |
| few minutes. In these situations, the anchoring must | | | | Boat batteries power the unit and it may be |
| be performed precisely, quietly and quickly and then | | | | conveniently operated from a handheld remote |
| cast their line without scaring fish away with a | | | | control pad. The unit is supplied with or without the |
| clanging anchor or a vibrating trolling motor. | | | | remote control unit. The power-pole anchor is suitable |
| Like most successful products, its basic idea is simple. | | | | in both fresh and salt-water settings. The system |
| The system is modeled on the ancient pole method | | | | eliminates the need for deploying a conventional |
| of shallow, quiet water boating in rivers, lakes and | | | | anchor. Importantly, the power-pole system is |
| lagoons. Under this method, the boater propels the | | | | eco-friendly, causing minimum disturbance to a water |
| craft with a long, handheld pole. Visualize picture | | | | bottom. |
| postcard images of, say, Cambridge University in | | | | The unit is tough and durable. It will not rust; it is |
| England with boaters lazily gliding on the River Cam, | | | | produced with an anodized coating or a special |
| one person standing in a small punt with a long pole. | | | | paint-like coating designed specifically for marine |
| The modern power pole system is not concerned | | | | applications. Although the system holds securely, |
| with propulsion; it focuses exclusively on what | | | | producers nevertheless recommend that the boat |
| happens at the destination. Once those Cambridge | | | | remain supervised when the power-pole is used as |
| punters reach their chosen spot of water, they often | | | | the primary anchor. Anglers that use the power-pole |
| thrust the pole in the riverbed and secure the boat | | | | claim it expands their sporting flexibility in subtle ways. |
| to the pole. That is the essence of the power-pole | | | | For example, the system allows very effective |
| system. | | | | downwind fishing since they can fine-tune the drift of |
| The power-pole system uses patented technology | | | | the boat by repeatedly dropping and weighing anchor. |
| and robust hydraulics for ease of deployment and | | | | The power-pole also improves sight fishing; the angler |
| solid holding strength at anchor. It is available in a | | | | maintains better visual contact with the fish. Similarly, |
| range of models allowing different sized boats to be | | | | the lure can be controlled better during windy |
| anchored at depths of up to six or eight feet. The | | | | conditions as well as a more sensitive feel over the |
| power-pole can securely anchor boats up to about | | | | line. |
| twenty-six feet in length or 3,600 pounds in weight in | | | | The power pole for boats generally comes with a |
| winds blowing up to thirty miles per hour. The anchor | | | | three to five year warranty. They are available in a |
| is deployable or retrievable in a handful of seconds | | | | range of colors with white, black, gray or silver |
| and at the push of a button. The anchor will hold fast | | | | perhaps being the most common. The supplying |
| in virtually any bottom surface whether it be sand, | | | | dealer usually performs the installation. Alternatively, |
| rock, gravel, mud, silt, grasses and so on. | | | | some mechanically inclined purchasers and the |
| The system deploys quietly and with a minimum of | | | | necessary tools install the unit themselves. Some of |
| pump noise, water vibration or disturbed material | | | | the criticisms leveled at the system are that it cannot |
| lifting from the bottom to cloud the water and scare | | | | be used in open waters subject to rough chop; that |
| the fish. It is considered a significant improvement on | | | | it is very expensive; that it can only be |
| trolling motors. The unit mounts directly on the | | | | stern-mounted and this allows the boat to spin with |
| transom, above the waterline, next to the outboard | | | | the wind or current; and that it is bulky. |
| motors outside the boat. Alternatively, it is mountable | | | | |