Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

[nofearengineer]

I am in the process of installing two downriggers on my bass boat.

Yes, I like to troll too.

I really don't have any better place to install my downriggers (Cannon Uni-Troll 10's) than on my gunwales, just forward of the seats.

Cannon makes gimbal mounts for flush rod holders in 9" and 12" post length. I would of course, prefer to use the 12" for the extra strength. However, I can not find a 12" stainless, gimbal style, flush-mount rod holder. Everything I find is 9", like these:

from C.E. Smith. They are of obvious great build quality, but as I said, I would prefer the extra length if I can get it.

Any ideas?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

The strength will be the same with either length, this is because the rod holder only mounts at the surface no matter what the depth is. The 12" model will just sit higher up off the surface if used in the 9" mount. This would give slightly more leverage on the rod holder, but I doubt it would make a difference.

 

[nofearengineer]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

Thanks, ondarvr.

I'm planning on putting a pretty thick backing plate of marine plywood inside the gunwale, so that will hopefully help with any torque caused by the longer gimbal.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

Ayuh,... On some boats, you Need that extra 3" to clear things like railings or whatevers...
I doubt you'd notice Any difference,... Til you snag a ball on the bottom....
But,... That's why downriggers have a drag...

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

Here's another option. I use the square mounts on my Cannon down riggers like these ( with the swivel mount also )
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...cabelas/en/common/search/search-box.jsp.form1

That way you could mount them out to the edge where they would be out of the way and it would be a stronger mount.

Jeff

 

[rolmops]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

Why do you need rod holders?
The unitroll 10 comes equipped with a rod holder at the back. There is no real need to make extra holes in the gunwales.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

...rod holder at the back. There is no real need to make extra holes in the gunwales.

That, and after re-reading this thread several times I looked up cannon's website to clear up my confusion... Why do they call these a "gimbal mount?"

I always thought a gimbal was a pivoting/self leveling device- wrong term? I don't have much product knowledge on Cannon....

 

[basstracker219]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

hmmm... downriggin for bass, were, what are you using for bait and what kind of boat do you have?

 

[nofearengineer]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

Why do you need rod holders?
The unitroll 10 comes equipped with a rod holder at the back. There is no real need to make extra holes in the gunwales.

I actually want the rod holders so I can go the gimbal-mount route, mounting the downrigger in the rod holder. Thus any hole I have to put in my gunwale will not hurt the value of the boat later, when I inevitably "boat up." A shiny stainless rod holder will look a lot better than 4 bolt holes or an abandoned downrigger plate to most potential buyers. I've grown accustomed to the fact that most bass boat "people" don't share my enthusiasm for trolling.

That, and after re-reading this thread several times I looked up cannon's website to clear up my confusion... Why do they call these a "gimbal mount?"

I always thought a gimbal was a pivoting/self leveling device- wrong term? I don't have much product knowledge on Cannon....

I agree. I can't find any reason they call this a "gimbal." However, I also can't figure out why baitcasting reels with the handle on the left, so you can cast with your right, are called left-handed reels, and vice-versa.

hmmm... downriggin for bass, were, what are you using for bait and what kind of boat do you have?

I will mostly be downrigging for strped bass, walleye, trout, and (if the Lord answers my prayers) Musky. However, at Dale Hollow, where I'm going to christen these things, you can even catch big Smallmouth downrigging. My boat is a 2005 Tracker Avalanche...you know the one....the aluminum boat that looks like 'glass. I've got an Opti 115, that's probably going to get upgraded to a 175 at some point, and they are Smartcraft Troll Control capable, so I'm hoping to tweak my trolling speeds that way, rather than using a plate. A bit more expensive, but more tunable and reliable.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

...I can't find any reason they call this a "gimbal." However, I also can't figure out why baitcasting reels with the handle on the left, so you can cast with your right, are called left-handed reels, and vice-versa. ...

Ahh, I see.

Just like today's cabinet manufacturers - they call muntin-and-glass cabinet doors "mullion doors" when for the previous 400 years muntin bars were how we named cabinet door parts that held individual raised or flat panels, and mullions were things that joined two different assemblies.

I am not a big cannon fan so I can add their poor english to my reasons to not prefer them LOL

language entymology... OH! There's another oft misused word

 

[GTRiem]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

I think you should look at Cisco,Traxtech,Berts,Cannon or GreatLakes for the different mounting systems avalible.
The size of the gimbal rod holder is an industy standard size- small for boats under 30' ,large for boats over 30' this includes length and diameter.
If your just wanting a way to mount the DR a 6" track would be sweet because then you could install the plastic insert when you dont have the DR on there. JMHO
GTR

 

[dingbat]

Re: Gimbal Mount Downrigger Question

I agree. I can't find any reason they call this a "gimbal."

A two axis gimbal is used as a fixed pivot for the butt of a trolling rod. Inside the gimbal there is usually a horizontal pin that the fishing rod locks into, preventing rotation about the long axis of the rod, making it easier to reel.

Look on the end of the downrigger mounting plate. Should find something that looks like a gimbal