A gleaming set of outrigger poles set sport-fishers apart from every other type of boat. Once you spot a pair of triple-spreader riggers mounted to a vessel's hull sides, you know that the owner likes to do a little fishing, or at least wants you to think he does. But once the poles are installed, setting up a halyard system to work with your fishing style becomes the true test of your offshore intentions. You'll find several companies that make prepackaged halyard kits that include all the line, clips and gear needed to set up your riggers, but none that we've seen come with the high-quality components that make up the kits offered by Flat Rigs.

Flat Rigs uses 100 percent EPDM cords as the "shock" component of the outrigger cord. These polymer cords contain no rubber and will not blacken an angler's hands or the boat's gunnels. In addition, these EPDM shock cords are UV-resistant and come with a three-year warranty against breakage, excessive stretch, chaffing or corrosion of any kind.

The kits also come with high-quality Rupp release clips — either Nok-Outs or Klickers, depending on your preference. Ronstan block pulleys, some of the finest engineered marine pulleys in the world, round out the Flat Rigs halyard systems and are offered in single, double and triple pulley configurations.

For more information, visit Flat Rigs at www.flatrigs.com.