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I'm trying to figure out how to mount downriggers to my whaler and having a hard time finding a solution. I elected to not mount the rear grab rails on the boat, which before hand was going to be my rigger mounting option. Because the rail is so narrow, only 2" from inside of rubrail to inside the hull, I have very little space for any sort of mounting plate. Not to mention it angles down towards the water..I would like to install a wood mounting board across the back but I need some sort of bracket to mount it to...I found this from scotty, anyone have any experience with this model bracket?
http://www.scotty.com/fishing-gear-equipment/downrigger-mounting-systems/1025-right-angle-side-gunnel-mount.htm
My next step would be to have a buddy try to fabricate something out of stainless that I could mount the board to. Anyone have any experience on this front with a Sakonnet?
Not a sakonnet but close. Take a look at the rear fishing station I built for my 16' custom in my personal page. You may be able to mount a downrigger on something like this. I have since added a downrigger that drops into a socket recessed into the top of the fishing station and extends over the top of the ss rail on the port side. It is custom made and lighter duty. Not made for deep deep trolling, only down to about 30 feet or so but the top of the fishing station could easily be made large enough for any downrigger
"It's just a forty eight year old Whaler but it's all mine"
Joseph R Palmieri
I have not used that mounting plate, but I have a custom 1966 16' so I was wondering the same thing, as I use down rigger for king fishing off the reefs and in the gulf stream around weed lines, now if you look at a wood locating diagram from your boat, which does exist, IDK if it exists on this site, but at continuous wave it does, you can find a good place to mount it, in the wood, and if you had a lighter down rigger, I have canon uni trolls with the adjustable booms, I would keep them short on the boom, due to added torque with the extended angle, and I would get those expensive weights that are really thin and have less drag in the water, to further reduce your drag an limit any damage to the boat.
or you can use the poor mans down rigger, get some shot line about 30ft or, attach a planer (size depends on the size of lure/bait you will be trolling) and attach it to your transome eyes, an use rubber bands to send down your lures when either a fish takes it, or you reel up to inspect your bait if your trolling threw weed lines or other crap in the water.
