Downriggers

A

Anita Marie

New member
I am getting ready to outfit our boat with downriggers and I have a few questions :

1. Penn or Scottys
2. Manual or electric
3. On the Penns can the swivel base be removed like the Scotty
4. Is Penn really not making electric downriggers anymore. (spare part availability)
5. How stable are they when you use the recessed rod holder adapter.

Thanks
Fred
 
On Snoopy-C I have Penn electric downriggers. They work excellent. I've used Scotty and Canon electrics, but prefer the Penn. I have the pole holers on the downrigger, and they are plenty stable. I have 4 ft boom, and use a cable clip to pull in the cable when I need to hook the fishing line to the downrigger. I do use Scotty clips however. The swivel base still uses the stationary mount on it, so the downrigger can be removed easily. However, on Snoopy-C I have a bolt through the bracket on the downrigger which can have a lock to hold it inplace. I therefore never remove the downrigger, and feel comfortable with having it on the boat when I'm not around. Parts are easily obtained through Penn website. I still see new Penns around the stores in this area. Ron
 
Sorry about forgetting the rest of the question. If you ever use electric downriggers, and you use downriggers very often, you'll never consider using manuals again. However, once again, on the manuals, I think that Canon is ok, but I prefer Penn. I don't really like the horizontal reel of the Scotty.
 
Well I don't want to make your decision difficult but I prefer Scotty's. My last boat I had Penn's they were nice but I like my new Scotty's better. The retreave on the Scoty's is at least twice as fast and some how they made them pull half the drain on the batteries. I also like the clutch handle on the Scotty's, very easy to use to lower the ball down. I think the horizontal spool on the Scotty's operate the same to me as the vertical Penn's but the Scotty's are more compact. Looking down the cable on the vertical Penn's allways made me nervous if the cable was to break it could come back on you. Not only do the swivel bases remove easy but the tilt up gives you lots of options for travel positions. Yes only choose manual if you have no power to opperate. Being able to hit the switch and forget the downrigger when you got a fish on is well worth the price. For the rod holders I just installed a custom rail forward of the splashwell kind of like Da Nag had on his 19 ft. This is where I mount my rod holders. I like this better so I don't have to lean out over the side of the boat to get my pole off the downrigger mount. Which ever way you go Penn or Scotty's you will love them. They really up the chance to catch your fish.

Good Luck
Wayne
 
Recently heard that Penn was going to quit building downriggers. Better check first. I've had them both, and I much prefer Scotty.

My 2 cents,

Bill
 
Anita Marie":sfdwbazp said:
I am getting ready to outfit our boat with downriggers and I have a few questions :

1. Penn or Scottys
2. Manual or electric
3. On the Penns can the swivel base be removed like the Scotty
4. Is Penn really not making electric downriggers anymore. (spare part availability)
5. How stable are they when you use the recessed rod holder adapter.

Thanks
Fred
Click to expand...

1. Scottys
2. Electric, I will never own another manual downrigger, ever.
3. I have a Scotty so I do not have to worry about it.
4. see #3, also Scotty has a lifetime warrantee.
5. I use rod holders on the boat. I have been fortunate to catch some very large fish and do not trust the rod holders on the downriggers. Well that and mine did not come with one....

I could not be more pleased with my scotty electric. I have fished 400 feet deep and it is just a joy to fish with. All alone, no problem. Flip the switch and fight the fish, priceless. I can't wait to add another one.

I bought mine used. Had to replace the cord end and the cable. Not one single problem so far. I highly recommend them.
 
Howdy Fred!
I have had Penn manual downriggers and I really liked them, but I would go fer electrics.
Penn electrics are my favorites for easy operation, but they don't make them any more.
I have Scotty's on Haileigh's comet and am quite happy with them.
The big plus for Scotty is the fact that they use far less current so are not so hard on the batteries.
On Penns, the swivel base stays on the boat. I think there was a pair on Little Buddy when you bought it.
I have the pole holders on the downrigger and they work fine.
I'm not sure what you mean by stable . I'm not worried about them breaking thats for sure. I don't set the drag that tight on my reel.
I just read your post again and realized that you are talking about the mount for the downrigger.
Some of my marina neighbors have them, and they seem to work good.
They do allow for a clutter free gunnel.
You are welcome to come play with our's if you like.
dp
 
It took me a few years, but here was my final vote:

I prefer Cannon for reason of the clutch-design: It will allow "slip" (as a "clutch" should)

When my electric Scotty snags-bottom, it will break the cable (if the engine is engaged) The Cannon does not but will; slip-the-clutch because its drive-system is first run through the shaft that drives it's clutch.

It is not much more strain on the batteries than the Scotty is, and it's much quieter.

Another thing I noticed (at least on my down riggers, and there a few years old) is the tapered spool on the Cannon does not snag and tangle it's cable in the spool as much as my Scotty (non-tapered) does!

There are "trade-offs" between them both... it's still a close match.... I say get both! And make sure (if you have the 'mola-$$) go electric!!
 
Hey Fred, do you remember the action we had this September for silvers?
That's probably good enough reason to go with electric. King fishing is even more work, you'd be cranking 2 to 3 times more than silver fishing and with the manual, the chances of losing fish increase, especially fishing alone. It's a bummer losing a nice king on your downrigger wire because the crew couldn't crank it up fast enough. Right Bill? :cry:

I don't really know what the better brand is, but if you got the money I'd go electric.
 
Jon - CLou":1au1gbou said:
It's a bummer losing a nice king on your downrigger wire because the crew couldn't crank it up fast enough. Right Bill? :cry:
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Somehow, I don't think criticizing the captain would be wise, so I'll refrain from commenting. Especially when he cleans your fish.

I just long for the good old days - when he baited my hook as well... :lol:
 
Thanks for all the input from everyone. It looks like I will get one 1106 Scotty. I like the boom extension. I was really interested in the Penn electrics but if they are not going to make them anymore I guess I would be SOL if something went wrong and I needed parts.

Fred
 
Anita Marie,

I must apologize for giving you bad information.

Recently heard that Penn was going to quit building downriggers. Better check first. I've had them both, and I much prefer Scotty.
Click to expand...

In my new 2005 Cabalas catalog, there is an electric "850 Penn Downrigger."

Earlier when you posted your question about downriggers, I had just been on the telephone with a downrigger repair shop in Portland. They had overhauled my Penn electric and in the course of conversation, advised me that Penn would be dropping the downrigger line.

I do still prefer the Scotty and for me, I have received excellent service from their repair center in Concord, Calif.

Bill
 
I've had both the Penn and Scotty electric downriggers. In my humble opinion the Scotty electric is a clear cut winner. Pros & cons have already been discussed & don't need repeating.

Good luck!
 
We've used Penns and Scottys with good success. My brother prefers Canons. Electrics are much nicer than manuals, however do to costs (new 25 CD's aren't cheap), we have Scotty manuals with the gunnel mounts placed forward of the rails. The location has worked well and the mounts are easy to remove (two screws with knobs).

The warranty on Scottys is unparalleled in the industry. We had a pair of ten-year-old electrics repaired in Portland, OR at no cost (new gears, belts, one motor, and updated stops). They truly stand behind the lifetime warranty.
 
C-Sick":113jr8cy said:
Scotty makes the extended downrigger that telescopes out. Is this necessary? Any pros / cons appreciated.
Click to expand...

C-Sick - I have the extended Scotties - they help a little in turns but I have to admit, I rarely have them extended much. The ONLY way to retrieve the ball and clip on a line when they are extended is with one of the down rigger weight retreivers. Scotties makes these - basically a plastic loop that you put around the cable. The loop connects to a line that goes back to a holder on the gunnel. This allows you to retrieve the ball without leaning WAY out. I didn't learn about these until this past season (after 3 years of fishing w/o them). I bought one to try it - it's a must if you use the Scotties extended and very helpful even without. I'm going to put another on soon (when I get around to it....). It's a nice safety device.

However, even with that, I don't really run the down riggers extended much. To extend them, you either have to reach out pretty far OR, rotate them into the cockpit with a swivel base, pull out some extra cable and extend them. Also, when they are extended, you need to adjust the stopper on the cable so the ball doesn't hit. Too much trouble to deal with in my honest opinion. I suppose if I was running more than two downriggers (one off each side and one or more out the back), I might need to use them in the extended position but with just one on each side, I don't do it.


Roger on the SeaDNA
 
As I troll with my main almost exclusively, I wouldn't have any use for the Scotty extended arm or swivel base. Not sure if they are necessary with the twin applications though. I did install a Mac Troll Saver on my kicker for cheap insurance should I get really out of shape. It would only take one foul up to pay for the Mac considering the cost to replace cable, ball, flasher and lure.

I use the green rubber bungee thingy's which are about 18" long that I attach to the ball and end of the cable. This places the ball right at water level which is good for the gel coat and if you attach the release to the top of the bungee it's not a far reach to grab the release line. I do make a point to lean over the downrigger when reaching out as the floor can get a bit slippery.
 
My personal preference is the standard boom on the Scotty rather than the extendable. Just simpler, easier, and more convenient for me. I outfitted both my last two CD's with the standard booms.
 
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