planer board set-up

[tony borck]

I'm lookin to set our boat up w/ planer boards . We have a 22' larson w/ cuddy. Problem is ....where do I mount the mast ? All the places I've looked say to mount it off the bow ! We cant be getting up on the bow like that every time we wanna put 'em out or bring 'em in ....our bow wasnt set up to get up on....at least very easy. help !!

[FISHEAD]

IF YOU HAVE A HATCH YOU COULD MOUNT THE BIG JON MAST RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT AND LOWER THE HAND CRANKS SO YOU CAN REACH THEM THROUGH THE HATCH WITHOUT HAVING TO STAND ON THE BOW. THEY ALSO MAKE ELECTRIC MASTS WHERE YOU CAN OPERATE FROM YOUR HELM.

[Chairman]

Look up the Kachman mast from Riviera on the Offshoretackle.com website. Easy to install and you don't have to go the the front of the boat to set the boards.
Chairman NPAA #6

[FreeByrd]

I've got the Kachman mast (actually two - one on each side of my hardtop) and it is GREAT. Check out the website, it is Spring loaded so to retrieve the boards you basically drive over to them and pick them up. Don't need to go to the bow - and don't have the added hassle / expense of Electric retrieval.

As far as setting lines from the stern, just rig up a lanyard that goes over the tow line. When you are ready to set lines, pull the lanyard to get the towline close enough to reach - hook up and go. With a little practice one guy can do everything himself. just keep the clicker on and the clutch disengaged on your reel when you hook up. At first it will be easier with one guy holding the rod and one guy hooking up the release to the towline. You can make your own lanyard - or buy a lanyard that is made and sold as a downrigger lanyard for use with long booms. This is made my Cannon and works great.
Email me if you wish.
Good Luck,
Steve
steve199132@yahoo.com

[Gumbo]

It doesn't have to go on your bow. I have a buddy who puts his in the back of his boat and he loves it there. Mine's on my bow and he likes his setup more. The bow is a good spot because it's high and keeps the line out of the water. But if that doesn't work for you, put it where it does.

[war-n-peace]

I'm in the proccess of making a pair of telescoping single masts for my walkaround out of 1 1/2" and 1" diameter electrical conduit, each mast consists of 1-4' section of 1 1/2" and 1-4' section of 1" conduit, inside the large piece I made an 8" long nylon sleeve to press into the top and bored a 1" dia hole for the smaller piece to slide into, in the extended position I drilled a 1/4" hole through both pieces for a lock pin to be inserted.

On the boat I am mounting 2-1 1/2" ID stainless steel clamp on pole holders to my bow rail on either side of the windshield to slip the masts into (gotta beef up the mount a little) and I am putting a shock line from the center of each mast to the front cleats of the boat for a little added support.

With this setup I can let the boards out from the cockpit by reaching over the windshield, extended they are 7'4" long and collapsed they are 4'6" long and will fit in the built in pole holders on either side of the boat when not in use, I'm a Machinist by trade and am making them at work, at the rate i'm going i'll be able to try them out next year :-(