Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

[Starcraft Enterprise]

I just bought a pair of Cannon Uni-trol 10 HP downriggers and am trying to figure out the best location to mount them. These are the large bodied manual model with a telescoping boom that extends out to 53" with swivel mounts and 8 pound weights.
Fully extended I am assuming they will be putting alot of pressure to the mounting points on the hull. I considered buying gimbal mounts and using my existing rod holders, but after inspecting my rod holders, I think they would break.
Any Starcraft owners have experience with mounting these? Any suggestions on strong locations and reinforcement? Any pics of your downriggers mounted?
Below is a pic of the downrigger and the location I was considering. With the downrigger swiveled to port and starboard, I would be able use my existing rod holders for a second pole on each downrigger.

Cannon website- http://store.cannondownriggers.cust.shopatron.com/products/325070/Uni-Troll

 

[Gnarly]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Ive got mine mounted further forward on my islander 221V , for a couple of reasons the guy with the net is usually towards the stern and the downrigger gets in the way of netting a large fish if its too far aft with the motor house in the back , Ive removed my aft seats for cockpit space and when I pick the rod out of the down rigger I walk aft to fight the fish leaving space for someone to pull up the two riggers without tripping over each other. As long as your not making tight turns while trolling it doesnt seem to bother anything. I'll post pics tonight

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Here is two shots of where mine are mounted. They where there when I bought the boat, sorry I don't have a top view.

.

Jeff

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Ive got mine mounted further forward on my islander 221V , for a couple of reasons the guy with the net is usually towards the stern and the downrigger gets in the way of netting a large fish if its too far aft with the motor house in the back , Ive removed my aft seats for cockpit space and when I pick the rod out of the down rigger I walk aft to fight the fish leaving space for someone to pull up the two riggers without tripping over each other. As long as your not making tight turns while trolling it doesnt seem to bother anything. I'll post pics tonight

So maybe this would be a better location?
I noticed on all of the locations that I test fitted there was flex of hull, especially at the stern. Anybody add any reinforcements?

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Mine are reinforced, I haven't used them as of yet though. Gnarly dose make a good point in locating them though. I was thinking the person who mounted the ones on my boat placed them there so you could run them aft or to the side. I to was thinking that when you get a fish on the rod, you are then detached from the downrigger so you could play the fish forward and the netter could still be between you and the stern.

I'm just thinking out loud, I have yet to use a downrigger. I'm anxious to try, but don't take what I'm saying for me knowing what I'm talking about.

Jeff

 

[Gnarly]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Thats pretty much where mine are mounted (scotty's) and I also have the scotty ball holders right behind them so you can quickly pull up drop the ball into them toss the teaser head/hook into the boat and head off towards the bait ball and birds you spotted at the drop of a hat and be ready to get fishin just as soon as you get there.

I used some 3/8 inch UHMW for backing plates on mine, no issues so far

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

If I mount them here, could I still run them aft if they are fully extended?

 

[Gnarly]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

you sure could, you'll find that anything over about a 45 degree downrigger line into the water your trolling too fast anyways unless your chasing coho and dont forget you dont want to be dropping that 8-12 pound ball even 6 inches as it'll kick the crap out of your mounting point and probably open the snap sending the ball to the bottom on its own , you want to be able to place it into the water from inside the boat, for this reason alone I prefer a shorter arm on the downrigger.

Nice boat by the way!

 

[Broadcast]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

I like the riggers a little farther back. You can fish them straight off the back, 45 degrees to corner or 90 from the side. Also, depends on what other fishing delivery systems you will be using. If you mount them forward, do you eliminate a place for your dipsy diver rods? They normally go in front of your riggers. I have a rigging template, I'll see if I can find & post.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

The pervious owner of my boat mounted them (Scotty) too far back. I wish they were mounted more forward. If I move them I will have to fill the holes. I used ss fender washers and ss bolts for mounting mine. It seems to work and I use 13# cannonballs. I like the idea of using some 3/8 inch UHMW for backing plates. Gnarly is bang on for the reasons he mentioned. Too many things can go wrong when the fish of a lifetime is on the line. Anything you can do to increase your odds for success is desirable.

If I mount them here, could I still run them aft if they are fully extended?

If it?s for running to you?re favorite fishing hole, sure why not. You could swing them all the way forward when you are at the dock and or have a fish on, gets things out of the way.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Gnarly and I fish west coast salmon in the salt chuck. Things are different in the great lakes. When in Rome, do as the Romans. Over here we mostly fish (Chinook) with only 2 rods. For Chum fishing we (2 guys) fish with 4 or more rods. When fishing 4 rods we stack them on the down rigger line. Front rods are on the bottom and aft rods are on the top. If we put a fifth rod out, it goes in the center near the transom on a slip weight. For us a deep diver is something for backup should you lose all your cannon balls.

In your case you need to be comfortable when you crank them up. Out here we push a button and up she comes. You will be doing this by hand and need to be able to have room and not be in some crazy position or your back will hurt by the end of the day. I started by using a set of Scotty manual down riggers. After 2 years I switched to electrics as it was killing me cranking from over 150 feet.

Something else to think about is when you have your down riggers on and your boat is on the trailer. Can you still get in and out without having to sing in a higher key?

 

[Broadcast]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Wow! Things are different in the Great Lakes. Average Spread for Salmon here would be 14 - 15 rods. On the bigger boat I fish 5 riggers, 6 leadcore / copper rods, and 4 dipsy diver rods.

A couple of pics of other boats and their rigger placement.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Manual downriggers was not my first choice, but I definetly could not afford electric models. I found these on Craigslist and could not pass them up. The guy I bought them from, bought the downriggers and accessories new, but never used them. Everything was still in its original packaging. He is moving and selling off everything he can so that he does not have to move them.
Here is the list of everything he sold me for $160.

Cannon Uni-troll 10 HP downriggers x2 $310.00 each
Cannon 8 pound weights x2 50.00 each
Cannon offshore stacker release x2 $17 each
Cannon offshore single line release x2 $13 each
Cannon adjustable line release x2 $15 each
Cannon Terminator kit x1 $28 each
Yellow Bird side planer port x1 $18 each
Yellow Bird side planer starboard x1 $18 each
Offshore Tackle planer board release OR-3 pack $9 each
Offshore Tackle adjustable planer board release OR-10 pack $20 each
Total $901.00 plus tax from Bass Pro Shops

$901 worth of downrigging equipment for $160, I could not pass it up.
Now I just got to learn how to use it.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

SE heck of a score. Only a mad man would pass up a deal like that.
You did great. I?m sure Broadcast will give you some tips.
Oh and nice boat I have the same one.

Broadcast your insane (only kidding). Have you every had all your rods go off at the same time? Out here a double or quad headers are a gong show. I once was fishing with 4 rods for Chum salmon and had all four rods go off. The guy I was fishing with had a bad wing and could only drive the boat. I managed to bring in three of them but the forth one got a way. I was shaking in my boots for an hour after that little show.

I think the big difference is we have tides and currents to deal with. In some places we fish, the current can be going in different directions depending on what depth it is. I have had my downrigger cable get tangled up because I was fishing at different depths even though I was trolling in a straight line. We also fish structure and that means lots of turns and sometimes we have to dodge other boats. Right rod to the rocks but some guys don?t get it.

The best spots are shared with all your friends.

 

[Gnarly]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Geez!!!
14 rods man are you nuts??? lol

I dont know if I could afford the anchovies for a season running 14 rods much less the tangled downrigger cables and sore wrist from crankin all them reels in.

I guess things are a lot different on the great lakes but I'll hang here with GLG and put up with running just two in a boat , heck we only fish for salmon when the halibut are slow anyways.

 

[Broadcast]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Don't want to hijack SE's thread with fish stories! Ha! SE - the type of fishing you'll do & space, will dictate where the riggers perform best on your boat. I imagine in OH it's lots of walleyes in Erie. That means multiple rods, planer boards, in tubes on the gunnels my guess. In front of the riggers.

GLC - lov'in the bumper boat pics! Same on Lake MI & Huron on the good days!

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

Don't want to hijack SE's thread with fish stories! SE - the type of fishing you'll do & space, will dictate where the riggers perform best on your boat. I imagine in OH it's lots of walleyes in Erie.

I will mostly be trolling for walleye at Brookville lake, a 17 mile reservoir in Indiana and saugeye in the lakes around Ohio. I hope to make it to Erie this summer, but it would be a one time trip.

That means multiple rods, planer boards, in tubes on the gunnels my guess. In front of the riggers.

That is what I was thinking too.
Well, I will move onto the planer boards after I get comfortable with the riggers. I was hoping the planer boards would work from the tubes in the gunnels, but learning how to use them is a whole nother ball game.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

I fish with the two rod straigh out the back with lead weights or deep sixes.
The two side rods are hooked to the down riggers. Since I do not have seats next to the engine the netter stands in the back corner of the boat. On my boat if the down riggers where mounted farther forward I think they would be in the way for getting in/out of the boat. I think the cannons have quick release bases so mounted farther forward would not be a big deal with access in/out. Mine mount with two 1/4" allen bolts so they are alittle more trouble to remove everytime you come into dock. I think either place will work, I would set them in the different locations make sure you can crank the down rigger and operate well.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

We love some downriggers in Michigan

Up until last year we were limited to two lines per person so we used to get creative and run stacker lines to get more hooks in the water.

Now we can run three per person

Here's a shot of my dad's setup, two electric big johns and a planer board mast port and starboard.

You can see where my SS has mounts, I may use them when I find a good deal on a pair

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Mounting downriggers on a Starchief, pics.

How the h--- many rods can you use on the Great Lakes we fish 1 guy 1 rod. Thats the wdfw rules they allow 2 rods on some lakes but you still have the same limit but have to pay a fee for the second rod . Would think your fishery would show a big drop on numberes some day then its almost to late to correct the problem.