Mounting downriggers

[DJL66]

I have a Crestliner Serenity with gunwales that measure approx. 4" wide. I want to mount downriggers with swivel bases but I am unable to get access directly under the gunwale. Has anyone mounted downriggers with just SS screws or should I find a way to mount them with SS bolts? Any help would be appreciated.

[rebs]

I have a Crestliner Serenity with gunwales that measure approx. 4" wide. I want to mount downriggers with swivel bases but I am unable to get access directly under the gunwale. Has anyone mounted downriggers with just SS screws or should I find a way to mount them with SS bolts? Any help would be appreciated.

yes I mounted them on my starcraft with ss screws and they are solid, the top gunwale aluminum on my boat is heavy gauge

[ffishman]

I made a whole trolling board for the back of my glass boat. I attach it with 4 long eye bolts which I attach to the boats rear cleats. The part under that rests on the glass I carpeted, so, no scratchs. When its on, I can troll 5 rods off the back. On each end I mounted a swivel base for the down riggers. When I'm not trolling, I remove the board, and there is no sign one was ever there.

[Triton HWA]

I used the rubber motorguide mounting inserts when mounting my Cannons on my Triton, Works very easy on blind holes and been going strong 2 plus years now

[DJL66]

I used the rubber motorguide mounting inserts when mounting my Cannons on my Triton, Works very easy on blind holes and been going strong 2 plus years now

Not sure what these are.

[Hot Runr Guy]

Not sure what these are.
I think the trade name for these is "well nuts". I've seen them at Ace Hardware. They are a brass threaded nut, and a rubber casing, that expands when tightened.
HRG

[perchjerker]

I would not trust those for downriggers.

I have a Crestliner Sportfish and could get to the underside of the gunnels. Was not easy but I did it.

[T Mac]

I have a Crestliner Serenity with gunwales that measure approx. 4" wide. I want to mount downriggers with swivel bases but I am unable to get access directly under the gunwale. Has anyone mounted downriggers with just SS screws or should I find a way to mount them with SS bolts? Any help would be appreciated.

I'm with "PJ"...I wouldn't trust "just screws".
For downriggers, I always bolt through and have backing, if your gunwhale has none.
If you snag your downrigger ball on the bottom, the forces involved are very strong.
I have seen downrigger bases get torn off if not installed properly.
That makes for a pretty ugly top deck when it happens!

[walteye]

I used this method on both my CL FishHawk and CL SuperHawk. I made 2 brackets out of aluminum angle, mounting the Cannon swivel mount to the top of the aluminum. The sides will then slide over the gunnels-I through bolt the brackets with 1/2" x 6" nuts and bolts-drilled through the sides of the gunnels, right above the rub rails. I back the aluminum with plastic so it doesn't scratch the paint when sliding it over the gunnel. When I take the mounts off-I have chrome plugs that fill the holes.
Walteye

[DJL66]

I used this method on both my CL FishHawk and CL SuperHawk. I made 2 brackets out of aluminum angle, mounting the Cannon swivel mount to the top of the aluminum. The sides will then slide over the gunnels-I through bolt the brackets with 1/2" x 6" nuts and bolts-drilled through the sides of the gunnels, right above the rub rails. I back the aluminum with plastic so it doesn't scratch the paint when sliding it over the gunnel. When I take the mounts off-I have chrome plugs that fill the holes.
Walteye
Sounds interesting. Would you have any pics?

[walteye]

DJL66-I will take some photos tonite and post them. As was in a prior post-if you hook the bottom you can be stopped dead or rip something apart unless the mounts are solid.
Walteye

[Brad1]

This product is intended for bolt through applications when there is no access to the rear of the mounting surface: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/326480019.htm

[perchjerker]

This product is intended for bolt through applications when there is no access to the rear of the mounting surface: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/326480019.htm


those are fine unless there is floation under the gunnels like there was in my Crestliner.

[fisher-1]

I had a couple of brackets made by a buddy of mine who is in stainless fabrication business,
these are on a Crestliner 1650 Fish Hawk, I have a very tight fitting custom cover which I had it made before completely rigging the boat (NEVER DO THAT!!)
so I couldn't mount anything on top of the gunnels and had to recess those brackets down & flush with the gunnels,

5/16 bolts with lock nuts at bottom
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i193/stinger_1/DSC02775.jpg

drilled, tapped & bolted from outside, secured top & side with marine grade adhesive,
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i193/stinger_1/DSC02773.jpg

custom rail mount rodholder brackets for my old cannon mini mags,
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i193/stinger_1/removed.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i193/stinger_1/new_bracket.jpg
as you can see the horizontal rodholder for large wire dipsys and the one facing back is for the rigger rod,
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i193/stinger_1/n.jpg

this setup puts a lot of stress on those brackets, specially when you hook a big king on the wire dipsy, but they have been rock solid for the last 4 years.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i193/stinger_1/shanjerry2.jpg

might not be perfect but just thought of throwing in some ideas,

[N8ARW]

I have a Crestliner Serenity with gunwales that measure approx. 4" wide. I want to mount downriggers with swivel bases but I am unable to get access directly under the gunwale. Has anyone mounted downriggers with just SS screws or should I find a way to mount them with SS bolts? Any help would be appreciated.

I'm not sure what gunwale the Serenity has, but here's what I did on my 1950 Sportfish. Aluminum extrusion clips in slot on outboard side of gunwale and I drilled and tapped two holes on the inboard side for thumbscrews. The rod holders are mounted the same way.

[DJL66]

I'm not sure what gunwale the Serenity has, but here's what I did on my 1950 Sportfish. Aluminum extrusion clips in slot on outboard side of gunwale and I drilled and tapped two holes on the inboard side for thumbscrews. The rod holders are mounted the same way.
Did you have those made up or is it something that you could purchase?

[N8ARW]

Did you have those made up or is it something that you could purchase?

I purchased mine through my Crestliner dealer Ravenna Marine in Ravenna, OH (NE Ohio near Cleveland.) As far as I know, it's a Crestliner part.

http://www.ravennamarine.com/

[Gilligan]

Like N8ARW not sure about the Serenity but the mounts he has fit into the slottet gunnel track on a Crestliner.

I have the 2150 Sportfish and I went with a Traxtech track system. The track accepts both rod holders and downrigger mounts. Many different track lengths to suit your needs.


http://www.traxstech.com/

[DJL66]

Thank you all for the responses. It looks like I'll probably go with the traxtech system in the 24" length. A little more than I would like to spend but this way I can mount a few more accessories without drilling anymore holes.
Thanks again,
Don