How to Rig a Trolling Board?

[punch1]

Before drilling too many holes in my boat, I'm looking for your input on how to attach a trolling board that will soon have four downriggers attached to it. I'm looking for a setup that is easy and quick to take on and off because I do a lot of inland fishing with the boat as well. Any and all ideas are very much appreciated!

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: How to Rig a Trolling Board?

What kind of boat do you have? <br /><br />I would also go to some of the downrigger sites (scotty, etc.) and look at waht they sell. I should give you some mounting ideas.

 

[punch1]

Re: How to Rig a Trolling Board?

SeaDawg,<br /><br />I have a Crestliner SportFish 1750 with Merc 125 and 9.9.<br /><br />I checked some of the site you mention and have only found their boards that run $300 and up. I'm just looking for suggestions on how to attach a board to the boat. Any ideas?

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: How to Rig a Trolling Board?

I went to Crestliner's web site, and looked at the 1750. If it were my boat, I would try to come up with a a bracket that would slide in the 2 rear deck pedestal seat mounts (the ones right in front of the live wells. You can buy a pedestal pipe, cut it in half, weld it to an appropriate aluminum plate, and then attach your board to this plate. Then, you can remove it easily too. Hopefully this would not place it too far up in the rear of the boat.<br /><br />If it would, I would still use aluminum (to prevent corrosion from electrolysis) and make an attachment bracket that would bolt to the transom on each side of the motor. the bracket would always stay in the boat, and the board could be removed if needed.<br /><br />But without seeing a picture of your exact boat, it's hard to say the best way to do it. Hopefully these thoughts will help.

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: How to Rig a Trolling Board?

One possibility would be to mount some flush mounted rod holders on the gunwales, then you can buy Penn Gimbal mount which slide into them. Or mount your own boards to tubes that fit into the rod holders. That would make the setup totally portable and you have additional rod holders for inland fishing.<br />Rod holders=$20 to $40 each.<br />Penn Quick mount = $60. ea, or make your own.<br /> Check out Boatus.