Down Riggers.

brettcooper · 15 May 2008, 17:06

I just bought the RubberDuck RDF-470. A 15' 5" RIB. Check it out at www.rubberduckinflatableboats.com... I was wondering if you guys know how to attach down riggers to this boat and if its even possible??

codprawn · 15 May 2008, 20:31

What are down riggers???

Nos4r2 · 15 May 2008, 21:52

Downriggers are for trolling a fishing lure.
I do hope the web address in every one of Brett's posts doesn't mean he's trying to advertise....

columbiachop · 16 May 2008, 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Downriggers are for trolling a fishing lure.
I do hope the web address in every one of Brett's posts doesn't mean he's trying to advertise....

hmm. hey brett, post some pictures of YOUR boat and we'll try and figure it out. i've seen people strap a board across the tubes and mount the bases of the downriggers on the board.

PacificNWrib · 17 May 2008, 16:15

Actually, I have a pair mounted on my AB. I started another thread awhile back about this same subject. I will post some pictures of my setup.

The mounts are made or distributed by the West Systems. Also, if you contact Polaris, they will custom make some for you.

John

dverstege · 18 May 2008, 01:30

I agree with columbiachop. I have seen this set up and it works great it is also very easy to remove for storage. If you do your base wide enough you have a work place for tackle box, rod holder if needed. It may not be pretty but that's the way I'm going so I can switch between rib and sib.

Tomas · 18 May 2008, 11:13

I troll for Wahoo and downrig from a SeaRider.

Davis Instruments www.davisnet.com makes a model 510/11/12 (colors) Trolling Depth Controller. The unit attaches to your line and allows adjustment from 5 to 80 feet. It weights less than 4 oz and trips when you get a strike so you don't fight the device. They are very inexpensive, and work. I think the online boat gear retailers probably all carry them.

I've worked charter boats down here, from time to time for 20 years and used conventional wire line/lead ball equipment and find the Davis works almost as well. I also tried a metal planer that was line attached and did not like that one at all.

Davis has a reputation of making critical marine tools out of inexpensive but durable materials and....they all work!

Tomas · 18 May 2008, 16:37

Oh...one downside (no pun intended) about the Davis gizmo vs. a ball & wire. I would rather troll at 7kts in order to cover more ground and find out where the game is lurking.

Davis recommends trolling at 2kts. I probably go at 5 and push the limit but it seems to work. 7 is too fast.

Given the forces that a conventional downrigger exerts, It would likely take an aluminum pedestal bolted to the deck with a mounting plate for the unit, sufficiently close to the transom to allow the arm to extend. Don't underestimate the force applied with a 10 pound lead ball at 7 kts or so. Another word of caution on strength; on more than a few occasions when the ball was retrieved, the lead was deeply scarred with tooth marks! Were the unit not attached correctly and a 50# gamefish to grab your ball, oops there goes the downrigger, ball and all.

PacificNWrib · 20 May 2008, 02:43

Here are photos of my downrigger mounts. Sorry for the delay.

They can be easily removed by the 3 bolts.

Tomas · 25 May 2008, 15:13

Nice clean install! Now you've got me thinking....

Tomas

jyasaki · 28 May 2008, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacificNWrib

Here are photos of my downrigger mounts.

Are those suction cups? Or are they glued on mounting points?

jky

I suppose I could look it up since Davis is about a mile away from where I work, but that sounds too easy...

PacificNWrib · 28 May 2008, 18:18

They are glued on mount points.

jyasaki · 28 May 2008, 23:18

Good. I was going to say that's a pricey piece of eqpt to trust to 3 suction cups...

jky

PacificNWrib · 29 May 2008, 17:25

I would agree, but still at 130.00 each. Someone could definitely fabricate one and powder coat it.

solos60 · 30 May 2008, 18:34

My previous RIB had downrigger brackets attached to the Transom at bottom sides. I used one for my VHF antenna. The attached photo reflects how they were mounted.

DeCourcy · 07 October 2008, 06:07

Haven't been to this site for a while, but if anyone still cares about ways to deal with downriggers, this pic gives you an idea of what you can do (as stated earlier in the thread).

-DeCourcy

DeCourcy · 07 October 2008, 06:09

I just realized, that it may be hard to tell, but what you see at the end of the 2x6 are the mounts for the downriggers - but while underway to the fishing grounds, I usually just keep the actual downriggers stowed.