Planer boards

[jusfloatin]

Good day to all, I am looking at getting a couple of planer boards for this upcoming season. Will it ever get here?

I have been looking at two models:
Cannon's Elete dual planer
Church Tackel TX-22

My experience is very limited (only seen on TV but I know that my life will not be complete if I didn't have a couple in my arsenal)

Any help as always would be appreciated.

 

[Jarhead44]

Re: Planer boards

I am getting into planer boards this year too. I went with the yellow "off shore" model. This one has the tattle flag but they make you pay 25 bucks for the upgrade kit for the flag which consists of a small spring screw stand off washer and piece of wire. I want to try trolling spoons and Rapallas.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Planer boards

Why not just make a set? They are cheap and easy to make.

When I first started out with boards I found plans online and made a set using 1 x 6 and all thread. Cost me about $25. After using them for a year I found them inadequate to pull big baits and they where troublesome when it got rough out. If you've ever flipped a board, it's certainly makes for some very tense moments.

I then made a of set of the 3 board planers like in these plans. Way over kill for what you guys want to do but it give you an idea of a direction to go. I run 6 rods off each board up. Baits range in size from 2 oz. lead heads up to full size umbrella rigs. I use 0.095? diameter trimmer line x 125 foot in length for my tow lines. The secret is getting the tow line connection point as high off the water as possible.



http://www.downtimecharters.com/Ideas/Planer_boards/planner_boards-plans.pdf

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Planer boards

I thank you Digbat, I will be makeing myself a set.

You use a old rod to reel it out but I was wondering if you could use an old downrigger and it's cable or would the steel cable would be to heavy.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Planer boards

Down rigger cable would be over kill. For a small, 2-board setup you don't need anything nearly that heavy. #135 planer board line would be much easier to handle and store.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Planer boards

I thank you Digbat, I will be makeing myself a set.
You use a old rod to reel it out but I was wondering if you could use an old downrigger and it's cable or would the steel cable would be to heavy.

1x6 pine boards are ok on smaller waters. I made my own in the 1x6 plan, and spar varnished them of course. Used ice-fishing tip-up flags for safety markers, but you can't miss that shiny pine board anyway I think the beveling of the angled edge is critical to them running well. 80# fluorescent orange monofilament pulls them just fine.

However, on seeing other boaters' home-made boards operate, I think that a strip of weight on the bottom edge as ballast on the outside board would be an improvement. I have also considered just selling the 1x6 boards and making new ones with 1x8s- I saw some taller boards with a little bottom-edge ballast and they ran almost 90-degrees from the boat. Mine do not drop back much, but they do drop back a little.

I also used maple sugaring line to cover the threads of the bolts between the boards. It just barely fit over the bolts, and I had to work hard to get it on the 5/16 rod. It seemed like a good idea at the time BUT it creates too much resistance in the water I think. Maybe I will append this post in summer after a little experimenting.

Downrigger reels would work well, but I made my own with a 4" hole saw for the cores and 8" circles cut from 1/4" baltic birch. I varnished them well (spar varnish, not urethane!) but the baltic birch doesn't have waterproof glue so I may not have them last forever, but all the material was free and leftover and making them did not take very long.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Planer boards

I saw some taller boards with a little bottom-edge ballast and they ran almost 90-degrees from the boat. Mine do not drop back much, but they do drop back a little.

The angle has some effect but it's primarily the location of the tow eye that determines how far back they track.

I also used maple sugaring line to cover the threads of the bolts between the boards. It just barely fit over the bolts, and I had to work hard to get it on the 5/16 rod. It seemed like a good idea at the time BUT it creates too much resistance in the water I think.

I use 3/8" Stainless all-thread and cover it with 1/2" ID PVC tubing

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Planer boards

Mine don't "porpoise" as much with the bevel just so.

And if you used 3/8" with a cover tube, I guess my 1/4" covered is probably not an issue worth expirimenting with. Probably should try the weight - strip of folded lead flashing should work as a test.

Mine jump out the water in a very slow rythmic fashion over 3.2 mph- maybe gives nice action to the lures for salmon, but court's still out on that. I feel like I would prefer them to run smooth other than wave action. What do you think?

Thanks for the input.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Planer boards

The slack in your lines is what is causing your boards to jump. You need to get more board in the water as a "rudder" to generate the pull you need.
Three ways to do it:

1.You can add weights to the bottom if you have boards tall enough to begin with.

2. Make the boards taller and longer (increase in weight)

3. Add a 3rd board to the mix.

I get close to 75 lbs of pull off my boards when running 125' lines.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Planer boards

Just wanna take a second to thank all for there great ideas as well as there suggestions.

I asked earlier whether you could use downrigger wire and I should have explained my question better.
I was concidering using a couple of small Scotty downriggers which are called lake trollers

http://www.scotty.com/fishing-gear-equipment/laketrollers/1073-bracket-mount.htm

and are designed more for a small alluminum boat. I can get a set up here cheap, very cheap and the size would fit great on the bow of my closed bow runabout.
Which is anouther question if useing this would be acceptable, would it being on the bow would its position be high enough for it to work good.

Mark_VTfisherman I realy liked your idea of doing the middle board with Spar as I have used Spar on some other projects and it does not matter what type of wood you use that stuff makes it look like a million dollars.

Again thanks to all for your input.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Planer boards

......I can get a set up here cheap, very cheap and the size would fit great on the bow of my closed bow runabout....

I was going to do that but missed the bids on stuff I was willing to pay for.

Which is anouther question if useing this would be acceptable, would it being on the bow would its position be high enough for it to work good.

I think you would want to be at least 6' off your deck with the top pulley. I have used mine lower and was...very underwhelmed. Line in the water creates drag, etc.

Mark_VTfisherman I realy liked your idea of....Spar.....that stuff makes it look like a million dollars.

Thank you. I love spar varnish too. Not spar urethane, but spar varnish Spar urethane has a nice finish, but I think that varnish is more durable. Urethane seems to have less build per coat, but I like it as a "dip" for small wood parts. Learned that from a woman who retired from a career as a wood snowshoe maker.