Downrigger mounting

[bkondeff]

I have a 16' tracker targa and just got a very good deal on a Cannon Uni-troll. My problem is where to mount it. The side rails are only 3" wide. The only place that makes sense is on the back platform, but it is 5/8" plywood covered by carpet.. I will need to use a 6" pedestal, just to get level with the side rails. Cannon has 6" and 12" mounting rails that you can use as a base, then you can take the pedestal/downrigger in and out of the flat rail. My biggest concern is will the plywood be able to handle the downrigger? I thought the 12" rail would be best as it would give me more attachment points to the plywood.

Here is a link to pics of the boat which shows the back platform:

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/gallery.cfm?boat=3251

This link shows the Cannon Aluminum Swivel Base Pedestal Mount 6" and 12" Rail.

http://www.boaterslandfishing.com/cannondownriggers.html

I can not find a way to get under the plywood to put a reinforcement plate, short of pulling it all apart, which I do not want to do.

So, do you have any helpful idea's? I have never used a downrigger and have never been on a boat where someone else has so I hope to learn from others experiences as learning from mine have always been painfull or expensive or both.

P.S. The boaterslandfishing.com website seemed to have fairly good prices.

Thanks

 

[Petty4life]

here is what i did

 

[Kokonuts]

Dr Mounts

My boat came with 4 Pole Holders mounted on the sides with 3/8's" Blind Nuts .

I think you could use them to mount the block to the plywood. Blind nuts are like the drywall anchors that collapse on the insde when they are tightened up. Just drill the holes set in the blind nuts and tighten. Then you will have to get the 3/8's" bolts the right length to mount the block.

A trip to the local hardware store & you should find all you need!

Kokonuts......thumbsup

 

[Flyguy55]

This might work . Its what I'm using

I found by going to Cabelas , then Cannon Downriggers . It doesn't come up on Cannon downrigger mounts .

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...abelas/en/common/search/search-box.jsp.form23

 

[dubob]

bkondeff,

I also have a Targa 16 and mounted a Cannon on each gunnel. I sent you a PM with me cell number. Call me and we can discuss it. It really isn't all that hard.

 

[bkondeff]

Thanks for your responses so far. I will check on those blind nuts for sure if I proceed with my proposed plan. My rails are just under 3" wide so unfortunately the clamp mounts won't work, plus I think they are meant for DR's with 24" or shorter boom's, and mine is longer. Dubob, I will call you after the holiday, but I am very interested in speaking to those with a similar boat. I PM'd Kokaholic and he may send me some pics of his, which appears to be the same boat also.

Keep any opinions coming please.

Happy Easter.

 

[Kokaholic]

My mounts are basically the same as what Petty has on his boat. The only diffrence in ours is color. The serve the same purpose. Renforce the under side with some additional plywood and or some aluminum plate of sorts and you will find that its more than sufficinet.

To help with that problem, make sure that your down rigger has its drag set correctly. This way if you did snag a ball up, the drag will function correctly and prevent damage to your boat

 

[Kokaholic]

Here are some pics of my mounts. you can see the rigger mounting plate bolted to 1/4 inch steel plate that has been powder coated. Bolted from side and top.

Also here is a couple of photios of my remote troll mount and with my kicker on that I did yesterday.

 

[SmokeOnTheWater]

Looks like Mark & Jason have the right answers! You may even need to have custom bases built that conform to your gunwales? If this option doesn't work for you, try locating them on the back deck forward of the transom. This setup may give you a workable solution and provide easire access? With Cannon's swivel bases and your longer booms mounted on the back corners of the deck it may work well for you? Just another idea!

 

[Gene]

My set up

I would use aluminum instead of steel due to rusting caused from the elements. i am goung to try to post my pictures of my set up, hope it helps

 

[Kokaholic]

Your only limited by your imagination. Some great ideas, I would look for someone that can build something from steel or aluminum, fabricate it custom to your boat, the 3 Inch gunwale shouldn't be an issue to do it this way , the clip you see in one of my pictures is used to clip an old golf towel to on each side of boat to wash/dry hands, come home and just throw it in the wash. Ready to go for the next trip.

 

[twisted lines]

I mounted mine on scotty swivels for the height and used T-nuts under the Plywood worked for me. But I did find a killer deal on them. TL

 

[SmokeOnTheWater]

Love the mirror finish on your boat TL. I'll bet it serves as one BIG OL Flasher.thumbsup

 

[twisted lines]

Love the mirror finish on your boat TL. I'll bet it serves as one BIG OL Flasher.thumbsup

Thanks: It was so much work I sold it last week....... laugh hyst

 

[Petty4life]

mine is a piece of stainless steelbent over and bolted threw the side and threw the top, it hangs over the out side of the boat reather then on the inside

 

[skookum9]

In seeing steel mentioned, and the comment about rust being a concern, I thought it should also be mentioned about the use of dissimilar metals. The concern here being that of electrolysis. Your boat is aluminum so you would be best to stay with aluminum. If you choose not to do this, I would strongly recommend using insulators between all metal parts that are not of the same material. This is even a concern with the hardware that you use to mount it, like the nuts and bolts and such. With that said, my compliments to all of you out there who have come up with so many workable solutions to these everyday sort of problems. It just adds evidence to my theory that fishermen are some of the world's greatest innovators!

 

[dubob]

I use a track system on my Targa V16. I bought all the gear from Capt Gary’s out of Muskegon, MI. I’ve used the system for 4 years now and have not had any problems at all. I even have the pad inserts for the tracks for those situations when I don’t have the D/R’s on the boat.

You can see pictures of the gear below. I like the offset hole pattern on the track because it fits the gunnel width on the Targa. And the 12 inch length has room for a track mounted rod holder when stacking 2 lines on one D/R. I use this short mount pedestal that does fit the Cannon swivel base. And the inserts come in white or black. I have black.

 

[bkondeff]

I can not thank you all enough for all the great responses.

Dubob, you mounted the tracks right on top of the narrow gunnels? Are the tracks wider than the gunnels? Mine measure less than 3"wide.

 

[dubob]

Dubob, you mounted the tracks right on top of the narrow gunnels? Yes.

Are the tracks wider than the gunnels? Yes.

Call me for details.