Mounting System for Downriggers

[TSCTSC]

Any advice on a mounting system for downriggers? What do you use to construct a rail or track system? Where do you bolt it to?

I am hoping to find something that is removeable and will bolt preferably not to the gunwale. I do not feel comfortable drilling the gunwale and if I make a mistake, I cannot patch it up.

Have seen the Pursuit system or Bert's custom tackle system in Cabela's. Looks nice but a little pricey. Anyone has experience with these things.

Any advice or help appreciated.

[cyberamish]

On my old boat I made a mounting board out of treated 2 x 6's. I ran two legs down from the top board to the floor and then had brackets on the bottom of each leg that I screwed into the floor to secure it. It held tight, even after hanging up a ball once and bending the arm on the rigger. Since the screw holes werein the floor they were pretty much invisable when the whole thing was out of the boat.

[BDR]

On my 1850 sportfish there are 2 pedastal mounts on the back casting deck. I took 2 seat bases and pedestal then mounted a 9' 2x12 to the seat bases. It does over hang onto the gunwhale to take that torque. I can comfortably run 4 riggers with this set up.

I do wish that it was easier to reach over the back of boat but this was the best I could do without putting perm mounts on the rail.

[TSCTSC]

Thanks for your ideas.

Any photos?

What I have now is quite temporary. On one side, I have a seat pedestal with a 2x12 board of 3-4 foot mounted on it. On the other side, I have an economy seat pedestal screwed into the floor with a 2x12 board 3 foot long for my downrigger.

My current plan is this - reinforce the floor with 3/4 inch thick treated plywood and cover them with marine carpet. Total wood thickness should then be about 1 3/4 inch. Then install 2 12 inch tall Scotty Downrigger Pedestals. These pedestals have thumb screws so that they can be removed from the bases if necessary. I then plan to mount a 2x12 66 inch long treated lumbar across the top of these pedestals.

You think it would work?

I also agree with you guys...trying not to mount stuff on the gunwale. Hard to true-bolt them and not able to reinforce the gunwale with additional wood. And if I make a mistake, I have holes which I cannot cover up.

[SteveWilson]

I've mounted two 17" Bert's Custom Tackle tracks on my gunwales (near the jump seats on my 18' Lund Fisherman). On my boat the aft gunwales are reinforced with plywood. I cut some plate aluminum as another backer to the plywood and through bolted them. On my boat, access to the aft gunwales is pretty good so it was fairly easy to bolt everything up. At present I use Cabela's rod holders on Bert adapter plates (works well). When I can afford a couple of downriggers I'll add them, but for now the rod holders work well for trolling 'eyes.

[Surface Tension]

What boat your mounting these to? I don't like the idea of putting wood on top of a wood floor. Can you post top view pic of the stern?

[smokercraft]

Buddie and I use to share a set of downriggers,we mounted everything on a 2x10 that would fit across back of either of our boats. Then just used a c-clamp on each side, clamped to the outside lip of the gunnel. Wasn't the fanciest looking but worked good and we could switch system from boat to boat in 2 minutes. Never had it loosen up during use or trailering.

[Paul Waldowski]

Here are a couple of pictures of what I used to mount my boards.

[TSCTSC]

How do those posts hang on to the sides of the gunwale? They look really nice. And how strong are they? Can you sit on the board?

[chunkytrout]

Sweet set-up Paul.

[Paul Waldowski]

They are clamped onto my boat with an item called "Eagles Feet" that is avaiable at Cabelas. The board is a 1" X 4" piece of oak sitting on top a a 1"X "2 square base. It goes on and off in under 15 seconds and required no drilling into my boat. It also allowed me to run bolts all of the way thru the base of the riggers and thru the 1" X 2" base for secure attachment. I run 2 riggers of this board and with a pair of stackers can run 4 poles. My planer mast will also attach to this board. The board itself cost me around $75.00 bucks max. So far I have had it for a little over 4 years.

[Paul Waldowski]

Thanks Chunky!!

[Northlander]

Paul your going to run your board mast in back? I have never seen that. What is the reasoning for that? I would think it would be hard to get lines and put releases on. I think everyones I have seen have been in front including mine.

Maybe Im just confused and reading your post wrong?

Nice setup though. I have seen a lot of guys run that board setup and its quite functional.

By the way is that a 18' Mr.Pike? If so how do ya like it? What year? If you have more picks of your rig can you send them to me? I may steal some ideas for my Explorer if thats ok. [email protected]

[Paul Waldowski]

Steve,

The mast attaches under the board for storage when it's not in use. Reading my post I guess I didn't explain that very well

I will see what I can scrounge up for pictures. Steal away

[Northlander]

Oh yes thats makes a lot of sense now. Great idea. Ill try to get picks of my set up and send it to you. Maybe we can get some ideas from eachother.

[TSCTSC]

So these Eagle Feet things allow you to clamp onto the side of the boat? It must be secure cos it has served you well for 4 years, but it just looks like a small area to clamp on to. So with the Eagle Feet, you can basically mount anything onto them, right?

[Paul Waldowski]

Anything that you can bolt onto them

[TSCTSC]

Here is my current setup for my 2 downriggers.

[TSCTSC]

Paul...how do those eagle feet work? Could not find them in Cabelas either.