downrigger location & opinions on best puller.

localboy · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:28 pm Post subject:

I only have the actual Scotty mount, well, mounted. No pivot base. It's thru bolted with a large piece of Starboard/fender washers under the gunwale. Piece of Starboard is on top since the gunwale is slightly arched; the puller rocks back/forth. To break off, it would have to be some horrendous amount of torque. I don't see it happening unless the plastic somehow degrades due to UV.

Not the best pic, but everything outside is wet...as usual.

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=AU-KAI&id=pot_puller_base&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

smckean (Tosca) · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 7:48 pm Post subject:

localboy,

My mount is not pivot either. Mine is the same model as the one in your photo; however, it is bolted into another Scotty piece that is clamped to the rail. Certainly my setup would be easier to break than yours; however, it wasn't the the mounting system that gave way, it was the Scotty piece clamped to the rail to which was bolted the upside-down U "channel" thru which the Brutus mounting pin goes (same as in your photo) that broke. It broke right thru the holes in that mounting plate (a risk you don't have in your setup). I'll try to get a photo up.

The torque that broke mine was large (as I say, the hauler was holding the entire boat to what was essentially an anchor in a fairly strong current -- maybe 2 knots). I don't think it was the absolute amount of force that broke it, so much as it was that the force was "amplified" via the Brutus acting as a lever arm, plus the fact that the torque was being applied at an odd angle.

It was my first time out with the hauler and luckily a friend suggested that I tie the hauler to the boat with a lanyard. His suggestion saved my hauler Wink

.

Teufelshunde · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:03 pm Post subject:

Tosca,
I know the part you speak of that broke and your explanation is probably why others have had their mounts break!
As far as stuck pots - I found that if you pull the slack out of the pot line and tie it to the rear cleat of your boat the motion of the ocean rocking the boat will slowly unstick the pot without having to pull it with the boats motor power. Thumbs Up

smckean (Tosca) · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:32 pm Post subject:

Devil's Hound,

That's an interesting idea. I'll try that next time.

In the situation I described above that method would not have been possible because the boat was in the clutches of that current. The pressure on the boat was immense. I was lucky not to have had a bigger disaster.

That situation was only my 2nd time out shrimping. I've learned a lot since then. Frankly, I just don't "allow" myself to get surprised by current like that anymore. I've learned that current tables are pretty useless near land since the eddies and so forth can make a supposed slack into near max current just 1/4 mile away. Now I go early and "get the lay of the land"......err......"water".

localboy · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 2:17 pm Post subject:

smckean,
I had a home-made version of that mount. I had planned on it being removable. The one time I used it while shrimping, I did not like the torque/forces it applied to the cockpit railing, so I removed it and installed it as shown above. I personally think the railing is too high and not designed for something like that. It could probably work for a down-rigger application but not for pulling heavy shrimp gear in currents, as you encountered. Just my opinion. I sold the Scotty base.

smckean (Tosca) · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 8:38 pm Post subject: