Downriggers on a 16 Cruiser?

B

bncwaite

New member
Can anyone show/tell me any pointers on mounting downriggers on a 16 cruiser? Having the sides sealed kind of puts me in a tough spot on where to mount them. I have some Big Jon manuals but I don't know if there going to work. Thanks in advance.

Brandon
 
Being totally new to downriggers, I mounted a canon on the port gunnel, just behind the foam and liner on my 16 cruiser. You can reach up in there easily and it is open. It puts the rigger a little further back than I would have liked, but it works.
 
Hi Brandon---- my used 16' cruiser boat came with down riggers already mounted, since the boat was orginally owned by Ben Toland (the builder) I can only assume that alot of forethought was considered with the exact mounting position. I have never used the down riggers, and the boat is presently in storage in Vermont, I can get you the manufactures information and send you pictures sometime in Sept. To the best of my knowledge, the permanent rubber/plastic mounting brackets are located on the starboard and port sides, just in front of the stern cleats. Hopefully this is of some help---------Rich
 
After careful examination I'm going to mount them on the port/starboard gunnels. This seems to be the most logical place. But there's still one problem.....I have "quick disconnect" bases so the rigger slids to the left when removing. So on the port side the rigger will hit the cleat. So I'm going to have to find some type of 2-3" bracket to raise it or try to flip it around.

lloyds...did you use a backing board for yours or just some fender washers? I'm not sure if I'll need the backing board or is it overkill?

fiddlers.... Hopefully the riggers will be installed by Sept. with a couple of limits of Kokes to boot by then but thanks for the offer.

Now I have to work myself up enough to be able to drill some holes in her!!!

Thanks to everyone for their insight/help. :thup
 
Steve and Caty: Yes, I know I need an album. Just too busy boating and fishing. We are leaving tomorrow for vancouver island, hope to meet up with CAVU in Uclulet and get that free salmon dinner.

bncwaite: I did not use a backing plate, I just used the washers. The glass is pretty thick back there in front of the cleats. The canon slides out the back so the cleats aren't a problem. I put the bases several inches toward the bow in front of the cleats and pointed out at about 45 degrees. Grabbing the cable and ball is a pain. Sitting on the gunnel is the most comfortable but in the ocean it is asking for a dunking. I will probably use a boathook to get them up close to grab.
 
lloyds....thanks for the all the answers to my many questions....washers it is!! Have fun this weekend....sounds like a blast!!

If the sturgeon bite wasn't so good right now I would be able to install em' this weekend .Oh well it'll have to wait till next weekend.
 
bncwaite: Wish I had more info. I see you are from martinez. I fished there once about 20 years ago. Launched and went out by the mothball fleet. Never saw so many large sturgeon jumping in my life. Didn't catch any but had fun watching them.
 
My house is about 5 minutes from the Martinez launch and a 10 minute cruise to the Fleet. Yeah those bigguns like to jump!! Whenever they're jumping they seemed to have lockjaw though. Three keepers were caught of the Martinez pier on Monday so I have to try my luck Saturday.

Fishing hasn't been like it was in the 80's though. We now have a smaller slot limit(46-56") to help the dinos make a comeback.
 
You guys still have a good thing going down there in the estuary though. Fishing the slot at alameda for stripers was also a lot of fun, till the navy comes out and runs you out because you get too close to the carriers. Five years till retirement then the bay and delta will get a good long visit.
 
Hi Brandon---- before I started drilling any holes, I would want to check with the dealer that sold me the boat or even with the factory. If you bought the boat from Les at E.Q. Harbor Services on Whidbey Island this would be my 1st contact.

Rich
 
I'll leave it to the reader to determine how much this compromises safety, but here's the ideal solution to downriggers for the 16/19's in my opinion. Both of these models have wide gunnels, filled with flotation.

Pick up a pair of these Tempress tackle hatches. Install them in the side of the gunnels. They fit the wide gunnel depth perfectly in both a 16 and 19.

Voila - instant and significant tackle storage in a place that is "unused", and the hole doubles as an access point for the underside of the downrigger bases.

Yes, you lose a minimal amount of flotation where the tackle hatch is installed. No, the small amount doesn't concern me in the least - but if it bothers you, seek another solution.
 
Da Nag,

That truly is the best idea I've heard of yet. After this weekend's fishing trip I decided I definitely need to utilize some storage space!!

After you cut out the floation material to reach the gunnel can you reuse the piece of material? Or re-fill with some aftermarket expanding foam or just leave it empty/hollow? I know that the little amount of foam being removed isn't anything to lose sleep over.

Thanks for the great idea. Would you happen to know of any pics of this modification?
 
Will post a couple of pics of the mounts on my 18 as soon as the site cooperates. It just sat there when I tried to add a couple of pics tonite. they are an aluminum pocket with an aluminum L bracket that just mounts to the inside of the gunnels. Sorry i don't have the name of the company off the top of my head right now but they do work slick. I added keeper pins to mine but probably not necessary.
Norm
 
Norm,

It sounds like you are talking about the Offshore Brackets like these. DownriggerMount4_640.jpg
DownriggerMount5_640.jpg

I think these are some of the best mounts made for downriggers. I had them mounted on the railing on my sled as pictured. On the 27' I may or may not put a full railing on. Either way I am going to use these mounts. They are very secure and work really well.
 
Gary, exactly what I have minus the rail mounts. On mine the pockets are just screwed to the inside of the gunnels. with all the load on the fastners in shear they are way strong enough. (I've proved that with one bottom hangup and a busted cable)
Norm
 
Part of what I liked about these mounts was that I can simply lift the downrigger out of the slot and store them in the garage. Also, by turning the downrigger around in the mount they then face into the boat making docking very easy. I've also used them turned in when I had to work on the downrigger. Granted you can do this with a swivel mount but it was faster and easier to just lift it up and turn it around than to swivel the downrigger.
 
Brandon--- I just ran across some new pictures of the recent Chesapeake Gathering and under the photo section for Lankford Collection is a good picture of my boat (Don Quixote) showing the down-rigger mounts. with max. enlargement you should be able to get a pretty good idea of the exact location. Page #3, bottom left hand corner, picture # 69, hopefully this will be of some help towards your installation.-------Rich
 
Back
Top