Downrigger and pole holders Mounting

[Seif911]

Good Morning All,
So on my Carver I have a wrap around railing in the cockpit area. I will be fishing and diving with this boat. I can't wait! Anyhoo, has anybody mounted Downriggers and fishing poles on those boats? What do you suggest for it? Any pics? I have a bad felling I will have to pull the railing off the cockpit.
Thanks,
Steve

[Seif911]

Nothing for ideas here? Does anybody use their boat for fishing? I think I will be leaving the railing on. I am thinking of making a 'Z' type of frame for the down riggers. It will sit on top of the railing, bolt to it from underneath but then go out a little and have portion go to the base to take some of the weight and stabilize it. I'll give pics when I get my idea worked out.

[waybomb]

Wish I could help you. Not a fisherman. My neighbors fish, bring me my rainbows all fileted and ready to cook, which we do right away. Nothing like fresh Rainbow Trout. Especially when all I have to do is cook them!

[AaHubb]

Sorry not much help here either as we get our fish from the freezer. The prior owner of my boat installed a couple of those rod holder pockets. Looks like he just cut out a large hole and used screws to secure them in place.

[(destroyer)sailor]

I guess you can fish off just about any boat. I have a new-to-me Carver28 Command Bridge which places me on the O-1 level flying bridge conning the boat. We cruise with this boat [but we could dive from it and or place crab traps from it]. Downriggers however usually need to be close to the water operated off the main deck each with one or two rods. I also have a '76 Bayliner Saratoga Express 2550 trailerable boat that has two Penn downriggers that I've used for salmon fishing on Puget Sound since 1980. On that boat I am close to my rods and downriggers which need constant tending, adjusting and watching while trolling. If you get a fish on you try to take the other equipment in as not to get a crossed line foul-up. Downrigger fishing is not as simple as it looks. The key is to be very close to the gear. Hope this helps.

[Seif911]

Good morning,
The cockpit on this mariner is relatively close to the water so it is definitely doable. To your point though, this will have to be a 2-3 person fishing job...always. The driver is on the bridge thus never seeing the poles at all. I have a solution for the view, I was going to install a rear view camera so I can keep an eye on the poles from the bridge. Unless we totally stop the boat, which is difficult while trolling, the person driving will need to continue to drive . No great solutions yet, just more people fishing. I'll start taking pics when I design the mounts. Can't wait to start Salmon fishing and scuba diving.

[Seif911]

I have the Downriggers all mounted. I promise I'll get some pictures. It went quite well. I found some rectangular brackets, almost like u-bolts, that go around my 4" railing. I mounted 2"x8" boards on top of it and then welded together aluminum to from a Capitol 'I' that is used for support on the back on the boards. It is very solid and looks good too. I can stand on these things now.

[Seif911]

Hey All,
Here are my pics as promised...

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[carrigerber]

Seif911,
Do you happen to have your pics still? I am unable to see them in the above post.

We are looking to get a Mariner 36. Our broker is trying to talk us out of it saying that it is not a fishing boat. (well duh .. any boat can be a fishing boat! LOL). How has your experience been fishing off of your Carver??

Thanks
Carri

[Capt'n CRUNCH!]

Hey Steve,

Same here - would love to see your solution to mounting downriggers. I am working with a 26' Santa Cruz and it has that beautiful teak taft rail all the way around the cockpit - and definitely do not want to remove it, nor do I want to drlll holes in the fiberglass...

Anyone have images of bracket type mounting for downriggers?

Thanks,
Mark & Christine