Building a Planer Board Mast

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SuperD

SuperD

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Jan 22, 2009
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I really hate dragging inline planer boards in with a fish so I thought about getting some Bert's Custom Tackle masts until I found out how proud they are of them. I'm going to go with 2 - single spool masts, 6' height. BCT wanted $359/ea or over $700 for the pair. I put my creative thinking cap on and started working up my own design. I've ordered some loose pieces from Cabelas and a couple of aluminum tubes from Amazon. Here is the first round of Cabelas parts. I drilled and threaded the thumb knobs on the bases. Aluminum tubes are in transit from Amazon for the riser part of the mast. For the spool, Cabelas had some Depthmaster III - 45's in the bargain cave for $40. They easily hold the spool of 150' of mast line. I'm debating on whether or not to stay with the Bert's pulley wheel of go hardware store. If I wanted to pinch off another $20, I could return these pulleys and get comparable ones for cheaper. However, I would end up buying some additional SS hardware so the savings would be diminished. I'm anxiously awaiting the poles so I can start putting it all together.

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Did a little work on them today and got the tops finished and the middle line guide. Next will be the reel mounts and the base connection.

PlanerParts3_zpsr5ac9xe8.jpg


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They look good ! I made mine out of a piece of galvanized electrical conduit. It fits in my front seat hole on my Crestliner. I mounted a hardware store pulley on a spring at the top like you did. I mounted the reel... Like the one you bought, to the mast with hose clamps. I like mine because I can take it on or off easy by pulling it out of the seat hole. I would take a picture of it but it's late and I'm tired !! Here is another tip, buy off shore or Scotty releases. Don't but the Larvicks with the alligator clip. They suck. I use my board all spring, I just got back from Boysen res. near thermopolis. Fishing was slow but we caught theses monster rainbows.... Off the planer board !!
 

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callelk said:
Just curious, what are the dimensions of the planes? They look huge online.
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And they are. I'm thinking about mounting some downriggers on them. laugh hyst I'm just guessing but they are approx. 12" X 24". The up sides in my opinion were that they are very stable, even in rough water and they are large enough that hopefully other boaters will be more apt to see them.
 
I was on a visiting trip to Duluth, MN where my brother lives. He arranged a fishing trip with his brother-in-law out on Lake Superior. With 3 of us on the boat, 4lines were set on each planer, no traffic interfering, no lice but others fishing kept a wide berth of each other. Planers are a way that is used on these lakes in the east. There were also 4 Big Jon electric downriggers and 2 of these were being used. The masts for the planers were tall and setting lines out was like hanging clothes on a line only without the drawstring. Dave, you might consider a flag pole for your planers or a construction road cone. Just thinking rolleyes
 
SuperD said:
And they are. I'm thinking about mounting some downriggers on them. laugh hyst I'm just guessing but they are approx. 12" X 24". The up sides in my opinion were that they are very stable, even in rough water and they are large enough that hopefully other boaters will be more apt to see them.
Click to expand...

Used on the great lakes they would have to be big because of the swells but 12 X 24??? Maybe not downriggers but 3-6 oz weights would go unnoticed by these canoes....
 

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