DIY Downrigger?

[charleville]

I have been following this thread now for some time with interest, as a mate and I are shortly going to be given one of his fathers old boats. Don't know too much about it, other than it's 4.8m long, enclosed bow and fiberglass. Has a 70hp Johnson on the back, apparently his father was told it would not support the weight of a 4 stroke (brought is some years ago). I only mention all of this because I am interested in opinions about the suitability of the 1050 downrigger for a boat of this size/type.

If suitable I would look at getting it professionally installed, rather than stuffing around with it (ie stuffing it) myself. Any thoughts comments?

No problems at all on such a boat. Mine is a 4.75m Quintrex and the DR suits it well.

Installation is as simple as drilling four holes and screwing on the base plate into which the DR slides and locks into place. Nothing complicated about it. I have used a bit of backing timber to ensure that the stress on the aluminium side deck was spread over a wide area but again, there are no alligatprs in doing this.

[charleville]

Where do you get parts from around bris . I have one but do not no how to rig line to lead weight
Cheers chris

Pretty well any tackle shop will sell the release clips and other accessories which can be a bit expensive. Some people use rubber bands instead of the release clips - works out much cheaper, of course.

There have been some good articles written in Bush & Beach Magazine by Mono and Webby on the use of downriggers.

Also, if you just Google downriggers you will find some good stuff written on USA websites.

[Fafnir]

No problems at all on such a boat. Mine is a 4.75m Quintrex and the DR suits it well.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I suspected it would be ok, but was not sure what size DR would suit that sized boat.

Installation is as simple as drilling four holes and screwing on the base plate into which the DR slides and locks into place.

At this stage, without having seen the boat, just not sure what sort of access I will have to get some backing timber on the other side. I am assuming it should be fine. Just don't like the idea of all that weight being supported by four screw holes through fiberglass. But either way, seems worthwhile ordering one now so I have it when the boat arrives.

[Steve Jassid]

that1pg........................ understand your train of thought.... but some fisho's are over besa blocks.......... and 18lb/foot rail.. and telecom green and yellow rope! bet more out there have done a lot worse... lol

[Lovey80]

Hi guys. Just re reading the posts as im about to purchase one very soon. Below is a photo of the rear port side of my boat. Can you guys that have them give me any info on how i should mount mine. I was planning on mounting it on the rear port step as the gunwhale on mine is in use for a bait tank and cutting board on the Starboard side. If I mount it so the DR is stait out the back is there a real danger of the wire getting caught considering the step is low and rearward?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers Chris

[charleville]

I was planning on mounting it on the rear port step as the gunwhale on mine is in use for a bait tank and cutting board on the Starboard side. If I mount it so the DR is stait out the back is there a real danger of the wire getting caught considering the step is low and rearward?

Chris, as you can see I have done a photoshop mock-up picture of a DR in the position that I think you suggest. The DR is not quite the way it would look in real life as the one in the picture that I copied is pointing to the starboard side but ignoring that little inaccuracy and assuming that the DR points out the back, I could not recommend such a spot for the following reasons...

1. It would be very difficult to get the lead bomb in to clip on the release clip. That stretch that you would have to do would be extremely uncomfortable and indeed probably dangerous to you in rough weather. You would never do it again after the first trip, I reckon.

2. When you do have a fish on, you do need to be able to wind up the stainless steel wire whilst you are playing the fish, otherwise your fish will wrap the line around the stainless steel wire in a real mess and you will probably lose the fish. I would hate to be trying to do that when the DR is down over the back and you had to lean down to get at it.

3. One of the safety must-dos with a DR when trolling is to have a set of wire cutters handy in case the bomb hooks up on something on the ocean floor and drags the back of the boat under. Again, if the DR is under water at that stage because it is mounted on the step, that will be very difficult to do.

A sturdy bracket mounted above the step and level with the gunwhale might do the trick for you. It would be better pointing the DR over the side than the back though simply to keep it away from the prop, I suspect.




Also, Scotty does have rail mounts and a list of mounting tips is availaible at http://www.queenscreek.com/downriggerbook4.html

I suspect that you will pay big gold for their mounting accessories, though. A locally made bracket may work out to be much cheaper.


Someone else may have a better idea, maybe.



.

[Lovey80]

Charlie you are a champion, yeh mate thats where i had planned to mount it but must reconsider after your very valid points. The position you suggested would have been my first choice but there is a live bait tank that sits right inside the transom and almost hard up against it so bolting will be a problem. The other side has the battery compartment in that spot. Would you recommend purchasing the DR and taking it to someone to weld a bracket in that position to fit? As far as original rod holders there is one f'ard of the bollard you can see on the back corner and one that mounts on the rail just forward of that.

Cheers Charlie keep the ideas comming.

Chris

[Lovey80]

Charlie i had a look at the site, do you think that getting the rail mount will work by mounting on the handrail? Although it's not parallel do you think that would be a problem?

Cheers Chris

[charleville]

Would you recommend purchasing the DR and taking it to someone to weld a bracket in that position to fit?

Chris - Given your problems with screwing bolts through your transom, I suppose that welding would be the way to go. I cannot comment much but a welder may be able to offer advice.

Charlie i had a look at the site, do you think that getting the rail mount will work by mounting on the handrail? Although it's not parallel do you think that would be a problem?

Chris - i am not sure that I understand the question. What is not parallel, please? The handrail is not parallel with the side of the boat???

I would not have a clue. Have only ever seen the rail mounting fixtures in the Scotty pictures but it looks OK to me...

[Lovey80]

Yeh the hand rail comming from the top of the transom to the back of the rear step is angled slightly downwards. Can you see a problem with using the rail mount here? If that is a viable option then using the current rod holder at the rear corner will be possible

Cheers Chris

[charleville]

Yeh the hand rail comming from the top of the transom to the back of the rear step is angled slightly downwards. Can you see a problem with using the rail mount here?

Chris - I would not think that there would be a problem. No problem with the angle of the boom over the side for sure. The end pulley will swivel through 360 degrees so it makes no difference what angle the boom is at ...



(clearly, I need to rinse the salt off mine )


Looking at the DR rail holder, it looks like the bit of wood sits on the outside of the rail to ensure that the DR has something solid to lever against. The only frigging around that you would need to do, if any, I think is just with the piece of wood which, I think, is something that you add to the fitting anyway.

I note from the internet that the rail mounts sell for about USD $42 which even after conversion to Aussie $ sounds not to bad to me compared with what a welded bracket might cost.

Remember though that I have only had experience with my own DR which is screwed to my boat - ie I am not an expert in other mounting arrangements. Actually, I am not an expert in anything much.

[Lovey80]

Thanks Charlie, I ordered mine last night and once it gets here i'll size it up to what will work best. I think I may just buy the rail mount in Australia surely the mark up isnt as bad as the DR itself. If it works out how I want it i'll consider buying a second for the other side. On Friday night I was fishing in some very fast running tide and was having trouble getting the bait to the bottom as i was anchored up a DR would have been perfect.

Thanks again for all your help I'll post some photo's once i get it mounted in a week or so.

Cheers Chris

[Steve Jassid]

Lovey 80 - I note your comment. Thanks Charlie, I ordered mine last night and once it gets here i'll size it up to what will work best. I think I may just buy the rail mount in Australia surely the mark up isnt as bad as the DR itself. If it works out how I want it i'll consider buying a second for the other side.

Just a suggestion...... My tinnie is at a local Aluminimum Bull Bar Builders.. having custom job......... the price you pay for buying Scotty mounts in Oz is, I think still a bit pricey.. why not try custom job that realy works for you! any local manufacturer types may deliver wot you need perhaps?

[Lovey80]

Thanks steve, is it a mount you are getting made for the downrigger? If so what were you quoted for the job. The down rigger just turned upso im keen to get it mounted. I'm very impressed with the whole process from Cabelas and would recommend them to anyone. 6 days and it was at my door thats including the weekend.

Cheers Chris

[Steve Jassid]

Hey Chris..... My tinnie is being fitted out with new gunnels by a guy who manufactures aluminium bull bars, etc. for a few big truck sales and transport companies. He also knows boats. I was thinking more along the lines of taking a template of the mounting supplied with the scotty... and having a 'gimble mount' manufactured to fit rod holders insitu ... possible pay less and end up with custom job that alleviates any pain with retro fitted and factory fitted gear thats insitu............. just a thought.... I have plenty of em'..... specially in winter Steve