Pot Pullers

rogerbum · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject:

I hate to be the contrarian here - well actually never mind that is what I do... Rolling Eyes

Anyway for those of us in the state of Washington here's what I think --

1) Crab pots are generally not that deep and are fairly easy to pull by hand especially if aided by a pulley (I use a cheap one that mounts in a Scotty rod holder). I can catch my breath while running to the next crab pot.

2) Shrimp pots are generally deep and it would be nice to have a puller for those....I might need a little extra time to catch my breath between shrimp pot pulls.

3) Our seasons are SO short (especially for shrimp) I can't see getting a puller at all. It will take up garage space for most of the year and probably will only see 2-3 shrimping days and a dozen or less crabbing days.

If I only amortize the cost over my shrimp (maybe a few hundred a year) the cost per pound goes way up... To put it another way $500 invested at a relatively low rate of return would generate enough annual income to allow me to buy more shrimp than I can catch per year. Laughing

Mr. Fisherman · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:54 pm Post subject:

Well, I agree with you, mostly, but here is the thing...
My buddy has re-discovered prawns off the Oregon coast. I say re-discovered because I know we aren't the first to fish them there but he just had his first successful trip. Well he got 1 and that is better than anyone else I know of. The thing with fishing Prawns ni the open water is that the Jellyfish are thick and they sting like crazy when they get into your ropes. Not to mention we are fishing around 300 feet deep and need enough scope for the current etc.
I am thinking that a gas engine is certainly faster but is also: more expensive, gets hot, gets temperamental after being exposed repeatedly to a salt water environment and you have to be aware of fuel and oil concerns (leaks etc).
The best electric pullers are also expensive but typically they are lighter, store easier, operate quieter but they are also: Slower and the life of the electric motor and components in a salt water environment are questionable.
If money were no object I would probably go with the Cushman as I believe they are a bit more towards the commercial end of the scale, heavy duty.
Maybe I'll just wait until my buddy is pulling in buckets at a time but then I wouldn't be there helping him make history, I'd just be reading about it. And I could surely go to the store and buy my prawns, but I would rather catch my own. Kind of like eating my own canned Tuna that I catch myself... anything else is just cat food once you have done it yourself.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:19 am Post subject:

Thanks, Gary - I will keep the upgrade in mind...

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:29 am Post subject:

Ray, to both your questions and the two Rogers' comments:

The Ace Pot Puller works great. You do not have to hand pull the pots at all, the motor does the pulling, you just keep tension on the line. It is NOT fast, but if I am pulling four or six crab pots from 50 feet three or four times an outing (what with the poachers around here, we can't leave them unattended, so we stay out and pull the pots hourly), or a couple of shrimp pots from 300+ feet, I am just too dang old to do that by hand, even with a hand pulley. This thing is essential for my enjoyment of crabbing and shrimping. I have the Scotty hump mounted directly on the gunwale with four hefty stainless machine screws with fender washers on the underside - it is plenty stout to bring up any weight of recreational pot. And yes, Sensei's big gas powered davit could out-pull the Ace four to one, but the Ace is little, clean and quiet, fairly inexpensive, easly installed and removed, easy to store, and meets my needs. If I were going to pull lots of pots from deep in the ocean though, I would at least consider going with a bigger, gas-powered operation.

Salmon Slayer · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:14 am Post subject:

A davit and puller are on my radar screen for this coming season. I am looking for a davit to pull pots as well as heft the 5hp Evinrude over the side into the Zodiac (I am not getting any younger either and almost dropped it this year).

Both electric and gas have disadvantages (I miss my hydraulic snatch block!) and I am wondering if some type of hand crank with a mechanical advantage is out there somewhere for this application.

Would be interested in any info on placement of davits, how anchored to the hull or gunnel, etc.

Mr. Fisherman · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:18 pm Post subject: Well now I've done it....

Roger, it is ALL YOUR FAULT!

I just picked up 2 shrimp pots with a Honda motor and a nice davit.

I hope to get some clues on Shrimping next season... I can hardly wait.

Bearbait · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:38 pm Post subject:

Here's my thoughts for you to chew on. I have a puller made by anchor mate, it looks just like the windlass' they sell. I made a mount with quick release capability for the starboard gunnel. I quickly found out that it needed a fairlead to keep the line coming onto the center of the capstain. Once I had it set up properly it worked great. It would be nice to have a davit but it works as it is. I chose this puller because it is very small and stores easily. As for speed, it isn't real fast (I don't remember what it's rating is) but it is as fast as I can easily keep up with while keeping tension on the line, if it was much faster it would be difficult to keep up. I easily pull 5 shrimp pots at a time and a few weeks ago I pulled a very big crab pot with 19 king crab in it and it worked fine.

JT · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:59 pm Post subject: Pot Puller

Sounds good Bearbait! Can you post some pictures?

JT Very Happy

starcrafttom · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:01 pm Post subject:

I have used rogers and I just bought a ace line hauler that I used today for crab pots. Rogers gas puller throws the line at you as it pulls the pots off the bottom and can really lift a lot of weight. The ace is slower 125 ft per min. if memory serves right. So heres the difference. If you are just going out for the day and only pulling pots then going back home, them get the gas. They are fast and easy to use. If you are going to travel and shrimp and crab on the way or go fish while the pots soak, then get the ace. the ace is small easy to store and quiet. I keep mine in the hatch under the table floor. fits great. The gas is large powerful takes up room and smells. So its more of a what you want in a puller deal. I want to take mine to canadian for a week and not have it in the way. I dont want to have to deal with the gas transfer or having it mounted the whole time. If I just pulled pots close to home and never traveled with it then the fast powerful gas would be my choice as it is for roger. hope this helps.

Sawdust · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject:

Okay,

Gotta speak up because I use these tools a lot. A whole lot. Use the Ace for inshore crab pots and it works great.

Use the beeg EZ pull, made down on Hood Canal, for shrimp. It's almost as fast as Roger's gas machine and a whole lot safer for old folks. I sold my Honda gas rig after six months of use. Kept getting my tie caught in the spool Wink

No, no, Roger. Not a tater sack tie -- this is one of these gadgets you hang around your neck when you are going to a Brat reunion and want to impress Robbi, or Cynthia, or Robbin, or Patti, or Beth, or... oops, Diane looking over my shoulder, so lets drop this one. Thumbs Up

Dusty

Mr. Fisherman · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:33 am Post subject:

Dusty, I was headed the very same direction... but I got the davit, block, puller and 2 weighted and rigged shrimp pots for less than the Ace puller. It was only lightly used... about 10 hours on the motor. How could I pass that up... (don't ask my wife).

Now I just need some of you hard core shrimpin guys to invite me up and show me the ropes...

Sawdust · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject:

Yer on. Come on up, but our normal shrimping areas are closed for spot prawns for the rest of the year.

You got a real deal on the puller. I really like mine - second one I've had. The first one broke the Scotty mount and took a swim. Watching it fade slowling from view as it went to the bottom in 300 ft. of water was NOT my favorite day. Cry

. Oh well - a thou here, a thou there. Boy, the price per pound of shrimp sure went up. Now that the horse is gone, I lock the barn door. Keep a safety lanyard on the Puller. Laughing

Dusty

doc · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

We are in the process of building a custom davit to mount in the aft port cockpit of our 25. We are going to put a Safety Puller Light Professional motor and sheave assembly on it when they become available again from the factory after a motor redesign hiatus. We decided on a heavier set up since we want to be able to haul king crab pots and strings of shrimp pots. Will share photos when we get there.