Mounting Downriggers

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From: C-LionRay (Original Message) Sent: 2/7/2003 11:03 PM
A discussion on mounting downriggers and all that is associated with them.

From: C-LionRay Sent: 2/7/2003 11:07 PM
I have a 95 Angler and need to mount my new to me electric Scotty downrigger.
Where is the best place to mount it?
How should I go about wiring it? Should I route it off the main switch panel or install a bus bar in the cockpit to use for future stuff back there? Should I put in another panel? I have a fuse for it.
I plan to add some lights, another bilge pump, a wash down system and a socket for accessories like an adapter for my handheld GPS.
I don't want to have to redo this work. Please help me get it right the first time.
Thanks in advance....


From: Sea Wolf Sent: 2/8/2003 6:03 AM
Mr. Fisherman- Here's my view on your questions:

1. In general, the fuse panel for these cockpit located accessories should be in the cockpit for convenience. Why run 4 or more sets of wires back from the helm considering the difficulty and voltage loss?

2. I would wire the fuse panel into the main off-1-all-2 switch to be able to turn the whole boat on and off with one action. The one possible exception to this would be the bilge pump. If this pump is to be a main pump left on to drain the boat while at rest (anchor, berth, dock), then the pump should be wired directly to a battery so the rest of the system does not have to be left on. If it's strictly an auxillary pump to be used while operating the boat, then wire it through the fuse panel.

3. Find a convenient position for the fuse panel out of the weather and where you can have access to the rear of it, or can set it up on a hinged "door" so as to get to the back of it for working on the connections. This is easier to specify than to find, perhaps. Look for a fuse panel with a cover and/or weatherproofing a good as you can find if the rain, splash, etc., is going to be able to get at the panel in any form. It is my understanding, however, that even with the best panels the weatherproofing refers to the front of the panel, and the back must somehow be protected otherwise. Finding a place toward rear of the cockpit with a dry backside and access might be a very difficult task. If you can't find a good spot in the rear of the cockpit, then think of mounting the fuse panel on the rear outer cabin surface with the rear panel access either under the port or starboard side inside the cabin, depending on how your Angler CD-22 is set up currently.

4. Be sure to use adequate gauge wiring to the fuse panel and throughout. Add up all the anticipated amperage use, add a couple (at least) spare circuits on the fuse panel and a generous allocation for the added amperage, and look in the table in the W-Marine catalogue and use a good, ample gauge wire size for the + and - leads to the fuse panel.

5. Im sure there's more to this, but others will chime in and finish off and critique this beginning. Joe

5.

From: Sea Wolf Sent: 2/11/2003 7:00 PM
Mr. Fisherman- One final thought: Another location to mount the fuse panel that would be almost as convenient as in the cockpit itself might be just inside the cabin on a vertical wooden face board along the asileway, such as found in the Cruiser model on the port side. This sooden panel (plastic, later years) makes up the side of the rear seat of the dinnette and houses the water tank below. The fuse panel would be pretty much out of the weather there, and would be locked away by the door when the boat was not in use. You wouldn't have to use a waterproof fuse panel, either. Working on the connections would be about as convenient as you can get. I don't know how your Angler is configured however.

You're not getting any response on where to mount the downriggers. That's probably because the position is going to be determined by what make and model they are, what type of fishing you'll be using them for, what type of rods and rod holders you have or will get, etc. Pretty hard to generalize, considering the many alternatives, except tp tell you to figure it all out and make them convient to operate, which you already know! Joe

From: 2nd Byte Sent: 2/12/2003 12:23 AM
Hi Ray,

Joe covered the electrical aspect pretty well and what he says is right on the money. Wha' who said "money. As to mounting the downriggers, it's pretty subjective as to where, but this is what I did for what it is worth.

My lazerettes have the older style hinged cover as opposed to the new style "Hatch". The rear edge of the Scotty mounting base is 7 1/4" forward of the front edge of the lazerette cover. This give me ample clearance for the fuel fills, which are about 3/8" forward of the lazerette cover. On general principal I would use a backing plate.

It also gave me plenty of room for a fish cleaning table on the side of the boat that tilts out, down and away from the gunwale, draining all the mess into the water. That incidently I made from starboard and it's mounted with one of the dual deck table mounts from West Marine. Have two sanitary female sockets on the gunwale and the table stores right under the shelf against side of the cockpit. (out of the way when not in use). You have a Angler I believe instead of the Cruiser so you have a lot more room than I do, but I would opt to put them in about the same place if it were me.
Thus, rather than worrying about finding a fish cleaning table when I get back to port I have the option of coming in with nice clean filets and no fuss.

Kick it around and good luck.

Mark

From: Mike Sent: 2/24/2003 9:30 PM
From: TEACHER (Original Message) Sent: 1/27/2003 8:40 AM
I want to install 2 Big Jon downriggers that were given to me. They are manual and usea 4x4 mounting plate do I need backing under the fiberglass? I have The Crusier model 16 ft so I am thinking that I need to mount them as far back as as I can and I want them to go off the side not out the back. Any info will be greatly appriciated. We don't go much over a 8lb weight. Thanks for any info
Lane (teacher) on LET'S RENEW

From: Mike Sent: 2/24/2003 9:30 PM
From: Da Nag Sent: 1/27/2003 9:30 AM
Whether it's mandatory or not is subject to debate, but given how easy it is to make and install them, I didn't even give it a second thought with mine. Not worth the risk...

Just pick up some 1/2" high-density polyethylene from West Marine or your local plastics shop - we have Tap Plastics around here, and I've used Seaboard for all my backing plates. West Marine sells Starboard - same stuff.

Bill

From: Mike Sent: 2/24/2003 9:31 PM
From: TEACHER Sent: 1/28/2003 9:54 AM
Thanks, Bill
I felt that I should use somthing as a back up. You are right it is easy enough done and most likely is good insurance. On my old boat I have hung a down rigger ball and before I got sorted out I lost the ball. As you said it is easy enought done.
Lane.

From: Mike Sent: 2/24/2003 9:32 PM
The previous three posts were moved from a like titled thread on another CBTech message board. I figured they would be more useful here.

Mike