Mounting Downriggers

[cwpowell]

Hi guys, my dad and I are getting the new boat ready for the water today. We had to rewire the aerator and bilge because the guy we bought it off of had a really shotty wiring job done. Anyway it's a 16' Starcraft aluminum. We have some Cannon Easy-troll manual downriggers we want to get mounted on it. How did y'all do yours? Whats the best way?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Charles

[Fisherman]

Is it a console or tiller model? Some use a full side to side mount (wooden plank or actual rigger mounts) attached to the gunnels, others use individual mounts along the side, again, depends on how wide your gunnels are. I have mine mounted on 14" high pedestals which are bolted to a 1"x8" maple board that spans the center bench seat. No flex action whatsoever.

[PERCHER]

If you can post a picture of the boat maybe a few of us can give you a couple ideas.

[PERCHER]

If you can post a picture of the boat maybe a few of us can give you a couple ideas.

[PERCHER]

If you can post a picture of the boat maybe a few of us can give you a couple ideas.

[PERCHER]

If you can post a picture of the boat maybe a few of us can give you a couple ideas.

[Fisherman]

Hey Percher, you have a twitchy finger...

[Pigeontroller]

I made my own Transome bar(downrigger board)

 

[PERCHER]

Darn net book

[DRIFTER_016]

I have a side console Fisher and I mounted my easy trolls forward of the console.

My boat has raised casting decks for and aft and it is safer leaning over the side where the boat is the deepest. I have never had any tangling problems in the near,y 19 years I've owned the boat. I have had the right rigger hit and watched a rainbow clear the water on the left though. :

My gunnels are wide enough to bolt the bases down without any modification or adapters. Another bonus of mounting them forward is you can watch your rods without getting neck pain from always turning around.

 

 

 

[cwpowell]

Hey drifter, thanks for your post, it really helped. What I am looking for are those bases that you slide your driggers into that you have bolted to the gunnels.

[DRIFTER_016]

Hey drifter, thanks for your post, it really helped. What I am looking for are those bases that you slide your driggers into that you have bolted to the gunnels.

 

 

They are the mounts that come with the downriggers, you will have to order them as replacement parts from a Cannon dealer.

 

Like here: Cannon Easitroll Mounts

Edited April 6, 2010 by DRIFTER_016

[cwpowell]

The gunnels on our boat are not wide enough so they will be bolted to the back corners of the boat.

[PERCHER]

Just don't mount them to far back.I had no other choice.

Edited April 6, 2010 by Percher

[POLLIWOGG]

Mount a pair of sidecutters on a lanyard next to each rigger, A buddy saw 3 waves pull down an 18'er after it snagged bottom with riggers.

[Fisherman]

Mount a pair of sidecutters on a lanyard next to each rigger, A buddy saw 3 waves pull down an 18'er after it snagged bottom with riggers.

 

That's the prime reason I will never bottom bounce or drag my cballs. It's also wise to properly adjust the cluches or brake mechanism to allow freespool when snagged.

[Roy]

It's also wise to properly adjust the cluches or brake mechanism to allow freespool when snagged.

 

Good tip, Fisherman.

[Grimace]

If you are mounting it on the gunwale make sure to put a backing plate underneath. See if you can avoid putting them at the back corner.

[skeeter]

I would think that after the first wave or even the second wave i would have been slamming the reverse gear real fast.

or even neutral.

 

then after that i would just throw my underwear out.

[BITEME]

If you can post a picture of the boat maybe a few of us can give you a couple ideas.

 

 

Whats up with that there brother

they put you back together wrong or what

[BITEME]

post a picture we can help .....honest

[PERCHER]

Whats up with that there brother

they put you back together wrong or what

dang surgens

Edited April 6, 2010 by Percher

[cwpowell]

If you are mounting it on the gunwale make sure to put a backing plate underneath. See if you can avoid putting them at the back corner.

 

Why avoid the back corners?

[PERCHER]

Why avoid the back corners?

To far back on the corners makes them harder to operate.Ideal place is where you would have ample floor space to access the riggers.

[John Bacon]

I would think that after the first wave or even the second wave i would have been slamming the reverse gear real fast.

or even neutral.

 

then after that i would just throw my underwear out.

 

Backing up into waves is a bad idea... probably worse than having your cannon balls snagged.