Rocket Launchers and Down Riggers

hammerhead · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:35 am Post subject: Rocket Launchers and Down Riggers

Well I thought i read here that c-dory now makes a rocket launcher tower for over the cabin to store rods and net.Or do you guys just have them built custom?

Thanks for all the advice on the downrigger, I think im going to go with the scotty 1106 with swivel bases, unless someone can tell me why I should spend the extra $100 to get the Cannon 1116 pro pack with dual adjustable rod holders???

I did notice the 1116 model has the rod holders mounted to the base instead of the downrigger arm. Im new to downriggers so I would like to have the best set up for trouble free fishing, well less trouble anyway.....stuff happins Smile

Hope I can pick up the Amigo from rick this weekend CoolSmile

digger · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:31 am Post subject: Rocket Launcher

I had mine built by a local company, and 4 others that I know of had rocket launchers built by the same company. Carlson Sheet Metal of Spokane, WA. was the outfit. Built for around $300. They should still have the blank I provided for the 22 cruiser. Don't know about any others, although I've seen several various launchers........Regards, Ron

If you need to contact the outfit, this is the phone number.......509-535-4228

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:06 am Post subject:

I know there are regional differences in where products are manufactured and sold, such as with outboard motors.

The Scotty downriggers are distributed, have a great market share, and have a very good reputation in the Northwest, from all observations and reports.

However, if you look over the Scotty and Cannon models in a catalogue, it would appear that the Cannon's sell for nearly TWICE the cost of the equivalent Scottys. Why?

What features or characteristics do the Cannons have that make them so much more expensive? Are they worth it, or just overpriced? Question

Joe.

Les Lampman · Last edited by Les Lampman on Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

CAVU · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject:

I concur with Les. Additional food for thought: I have an older (I know this is a relative term) couple who fish often with me. When I was using the boom-mounted rodholder on the Scotties, they had a hard time reaching out and pulling up on the rod to pop the release. Using a gunnel-mounted rodholder made that movement much easier due to the lower mounting height. May be a factor for some?

flapbreaker · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject:

I don't know who made my radar arch. Les at EQ marine went through a third party I think. I really like mine. I don't like to store the net up there though. Once you get the net wet it drips on your head so I rigged a rod holder in the gunnel to deal with that. You can see it in my photo album.

Rabidfish · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject:

Although I have yet to see why... This area seems to prefer the Cannon.
While I wouldn't (or couldn't) justify the additional costs with the Cannon, obviously a great number of people here do...

Bottom line... Does it catch more fish? or Is it easier to use?

All I need my downriggers to do is hold the "bait" at the depth (or depths) I want them to run at. If the Scotty does that as well and as easy as the Cannon, then I may choose on price.

Now, if one is better at corrosion control, or longevity, or even spare parts and service, then that figures in the the decision also...

If you have any doubts at all... refer back to "Does it catch more fish". Here in the Midwest, "fish in the box" makes up for a lot of other problems...

Les Lampman · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject:

Ted Osborne · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject:

I previously had Cannon's and always thought they were too slow in retrieval and were hard to control on letting down. Sold them and got Scotty's and never looked back. They are simple to maintain and are guaranteed for life. I don't even use the rod holder on the downrigger itself. Installed rod holders that are easy and fast to get to.

flapbreaker · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:43 pm Post subject:

I may be wrong but the down side to the cannons is that they have the auto down feature which requires more battery juice. May not be a concern for some but for me it's definately a consideration. I Kinda like the free spool down method of the Scotty's

digger · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:11 pm Post subject: downriggers

I know that I'm outnumbered, but I really like my electric Penn downriggers with swivel mount. They are slower than Scotty, but work very smoothly with the clutch release setup similar (but better) than Cannon. I bought mine off ebay for around $125 each...just waited until a proper purchase could be made. A buddy of mine had electric Scotty's and rode in my boat and used the Penn's and was sold. He bought 2 new Penn's and has his nearly new Scotty's off the boat and ready to sell. I know that Penn parts are spendy, and they discontinued the electrics, but now are selling them again through Boaters' World, and most likely other marine dealers. Just my $.02............ Moon

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:01 pm Post subject:

i have had or used all the downriggers except walkers. I love the penn manual down riggers No one makes a better one. The cannons are more $$ because they power down and up which is better and they have built in ion-control, I don't know if this makes a difference or not but all my friends that have them love them. Works really good if you kokanee fish a lot. If you want a black box with any others you have to buy it separately for around $100. I love the penn electrics alot, they power down, but they stopped making them for a while then came back but may stop again. I have the scottys but would not have them again and the rod holders are in the wrong spot for sure. Got them because so many people brag about them but I can not under stand why??

CAVU · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject:

Tom,
What part works good for Kokanee? Were you referring to the ion control? Also I have used Scotty for many years and I can't see any down side. Are you referring the rod holders on the boom? I mounted mine lower on the gunnel and like that location.

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:40 pm Post subject:

yes the ion control for kokanee is really important. to much and they scare off really fast. yes the rod holders are to far out and you can not move them closer in on the arm as they are sloted. if I want to mount rod holders on the rail I would mave not bought downriggers with rod holders. a design should work if you are paying that kind of money and scotty's ,imho, dont work as good. I have had cable troubles, they did not wrap right, just burned a belt sunday. I really dont like the free spool clutch system that much. I can do it just fine, but I have to train every one that comes on the boat so the balls dont drop at 80 miles and hour in to the deep. the penns or scottys you just hold your rod and hit the down button. when you reach your depth hit stop. you can do two rods at once if your reels are set right. also the little reterive stops on the scottyes are always falling off or moving. the cannons and penns just read the current inthe cables or somethng and they stop at one foot from the top. No stop thingys to fall off. I thionk cannons cost more because they are better. next boat gets the cannons with progamable depth control.

and the most popular downrigger in sales is the walker. and I have never seen one on a west coast boat so go figure.

Sawdust · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:57 pm Post subject:

Oh boy! Different strokes for sure. I have Canons on the 22 CD and don't like them. One of them has more time on the UPS truck going back for repairs than in the water. Have used the Scottys on several boats and wouldn't buy anything else!!

Durned fish doesn't have a clue which one you use!

Dusty