Mounting downriggers

[indybleck]

I have a 1988 Sea Ray 230 that I want to mount a couple of Cannon Mag 10 electric extendable boom riggers. Problem is there is not a lot of room aft to mount tracks and a board. I'm thinking about putting a couple of flush mount rod holders in the top of the transom and using gimbal mounts for the riggers. I'm wondering if the rod holders can handle the stress of the riggers while I'm out fishing. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Old Ironmaker]

The gimbal mounts I am picturing are not robust enough to take the weight and stress of the riggers bouncing around. I mounted mine to an aluminum plate and the gunnel is sandwiched between that plate and a second plate to bolster the gunnel below the gunnel rail which is wide enough to take a plate. Tracks are not required. As far as a rod holder standing up to the stress of the rod alone, it depends on how it is mounted to the gunnel or transom. A 40 pound King can snap a rodholder held by a few screws clean off a gunnel. For your boat I would build a stainless downrigger tower 10" or so high or a stainless/hardwood hybrid across the back of the transom like we did on a buddies 23 foot Cuddy. Can you post a pic of the gimbal mounts you are thinking of using?

"edit" Gimbal mounts hold the rod or downriggers? I may have misunderstood.

 

[indybleck]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cann...5-swi0kN-PNg_AcLJrIaAlviEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Looking at something like this. Thinking about mounting two flush mount rod holders then these in the holders or putting a plate or board across them then the riggers on the board.

 

[dingbat]

I run a pair of uni-troll 10 STX mounted in straight, 9" deep, stainless steel rod holders on the transom.

Gimbal mounts on swivel base. Pulling 12# ball both inshore and offshore.

Fish #80 tackle out of the same holders when not occupied by downriggers. Not going anywhere.

The question becomes, how strong is your transom?

 

[Roadblock007]

I have an issue with my gunnel being too narrow to mount downriggers and I didn't want to do a board or drill a lot of holes. So after a lot of research I bough Scotty downriggers because they offer a side mount bracket which puts all of the force on the side and top of the mounting surface at the same time. If you want to see what I mean just google "scotty 1025". Another thing I liked about it was that when I take the downriggers off all that is left on my boat is a small flat plate on the inboard side of my gunnel.

 

[indybleck]

Transom is solid, I'd like to put the flush mounts by the ski tow hook one each side. So the riggers would actually be outside the boat. Just have to make sure there is clearance, because there is a storage compartment back there too. I like the Scotty's but I'm not sure I can mount them far enough aft and are the mounts universal or do they only work with Scotty riggers. The flush mounts can be used for walleye trolling or a grill when I'm not using the riggers. Think I'll take the plunge see how it works. My riggers are on swivel bases also. Thanks for all the help, this is one of the best sites around.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Where ever you decide to mount the riggers just make sure you don't have to kill yourself to set lines. Before you mount anything make sure it is where you are comfortable reaching cables etc.

 

[Roadblock007]

Transom is solid, I'd like to put the flush mounts by the ski tow hook one each side. So the riggers would actually be outside the boat. Just have to make sure there is clearance, because there is a storage compartment back there too. I like the Scotty's but I'm not sure I can mount them far enough aft and are the mounts universal or do they only work with Scotty riggers. The flush mounts can be used for walleye trolling or a grill when I'm not using the riggers. Think I'll take the plunge see how it works. My riggers are on swivel bases also. Thanks for all the help, this is one of the best sites around.

I bought Scotty downriggers, but all you would have to do is measure the bolt pattern and see if it is the same. Like I said, I researched my set up for a while. My booms are 48" and have a "tip up" feature so they are both far from the boat AND I can just tip them and grab the ball/set the releases.

 

[indybleck]

Thanks for the help, I'm going to look at both options. I'll let you know what route I go and how it turns out. Probably won't be for awhile. Once again thanks

 

[JimS123]

I have a 3 piece taffrail that was OEM to the boat. If you only have narror side decks you could easily thru bolt a set yourself. Attached to the side rails I mounted a 12" x 60" piece of stained and varnished white oak using QD clamps. When I'm not trolling the whole board comes off easily. Two Canon DR, plus extra rod holders, etc. are bolted to the board.

One pic shows the rails without the board, the other with the trolling setup mounted.

 

[dingbat]

My booms are 48" and have a "tip up" feature so they are both far from the boat AND I can just tip them and grab the ball/set the releases.

What size weights do you use and what waters are you trolling?
Can't imagine "just tipping up" using the weights under the conditions I fish

 

[Roadblock007]

What size weights do you use and what waters are you trolling?
Can't imagine "just tipping up" using the weights under the conditions I fish

I have swivel bases as well though, and I forgot to say that the booms are extendable to 48" so they are not always at that length all the time. We fish in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

 

[Thalasso]

I have swivel bases as well though, and I forgot to say that the booms are extendable to 48" so they are not always at that length all the time. We fish in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

I use the Scotty's also in Erie

 

[ondarvr]

I have Scotty's, Penns and Cannons, the tip up feature on the Scotty's works well, I use 10-15 lbs balls and there's no problem tilting them, I haven't used heavier balls though.

​A gimbal mount will work, and they can be beefed up a bit if needed.

Don't mount them too far back, or outside the boat, you need easy access to the DR to use it. I can run 4 DR's on my smaller boat, I use 2', 4' and up to 6' booms along with swivel bases to position the lines correctly.

 

[indybleck]

I'll have ball retrievers on the cables, swivel bases so the only part I need access to is the switch and the clutch. I'll be able to swing the tip close so I can get to the ball and cable. It's not easy to think about drilling holes in a boat. I'm going to keep thinking about it over the winter. Plus I'll keep looking for pictures of other setups for ideas and walk the deep water ports around here to see other setups.

 

[ondarvr]

I really don't care about drilling holes, the boat is just a tool to fish with, if you can't use it, or modify it for its best potential then it's kind of worthless. I like fishing, I don't care much for boats, they're just a necessary evil needed to fish in some locations.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I really don't care about drilling holes, the boat is just a tool to fish with, if you can't use it, or modify it for its best potential then it's kind of worthless. I like fishing, I don't care much for boats, they're just a necessary evil needed to fish in some locations.

Exactly. It's not like you are drilling holes in the hull below the water line. A boat is just another piece of tackle. Expensive for a tool but just a tool. I have to sometimes go out for a boat ride with my wife and relatives and friends. I don't get the purpose of it. I get incensed when I see guys and gals fishing while I go for a put, put burning valuable fishing fuel, I don't get it at all.

 

[indybleck]

Exactly. It's not like you are drilling holes in the hull below the water line. A boat is just another piece of tackle. Expensive for a tool but just a tool. I have to sometimes go out for a boat ride with my wife and relatives and friends. I don't get the purpose of it. I get incensed when I see guys and gals fishing while I go for a put, put burning valuable fishing fuel, I don't get it at all.

Yeah you guys are right. I take the kids tubing once or twice a year, other than that it's used to put fish in the freezer.