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Thread: Mounting downriggers on an old aluminum Tracker

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    McCall Idaho
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    81

    Default Mounting downriggers on an old aluminum Tracker

    (Off post). Thanks for all the great advice on rods and reels.

    I bought a 1987 16.5 ft aluminum side console Tracker boat to use in the Boise Idaho area. After chucking the old 2 stroke motor for a 30hp 4 stroke, I am now ready to start thinking about mounting a couple of downriggers for the upcoming season. My wife bought me a pair of Cannon Lake Trollers for Christmas and I am thinking about mounting them. The boat does not have any mounting rails but does have a couple of sealed compartments just before the motor area. I was thinking of re-enforcing those and mounting the down riggers on them, but not sure. Any advice on mounting DRs on an older aluminum boat?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Utah
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    The floatation boxes at the back is a decent option but I’d recommend building a couple of pedestals that mount to the boxes and then mount the downriggers to the pedestals. I think they will be too low mounted directly to the boxes.

    Just for grins, can you post a picture of the gunnel?
    2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually, 21' North River Seahawk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    McCall Idaho
    Posts
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    Default

    The boat is in my barn up in McCall Idaho, while I am in my “winter cabin” down in Hermosa Beach. Yes, I am a wimp for not liking to live in 5 feet of snow for 5 months. So no pictures for now.

    The two areas look like flotation containers and are located on each side and are about 3 feet long and maybe 10” wide. You are right in that they are about 5” down from the top edge of the boat. They are made out of 1/2 inch ply and covered with carpet. My plan was to take the top off, reinforce the area and cap it with 3/4 Marine ply with some sort of marine poly coating. I like the pedestals idea. Any suggestions on where I might get the parts?

    The boat also has an old bottom line fish finder, thinking about swapping that out also. Will be a fun project that requires lots of field testing.

  4. #4
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    Utah
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    Marine carpet or vinyl is super easy to come by. For ease of construction, I think I would just build another little box (pedestal) and screw it to the top of your other box.
    2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually, 21' North River Seahawk

  5. #5
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    Dec 2018
    Location
    McCall Idaho
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    Good idea, that was my going in position...until I took a close look at the condition of the plywood. It shows a lot of degradation due to being stored inside and outside since 1987. So no matter what I do, I need to tear it apart and rebuild it with some decent marine grade wood and seal it properly. I am afraid that if I snagged something with the down rigger, I would lose the whole kit and caboodle over the side of the boat. I will prolly ultimately recarpet the boat, but the top of the areas will be something other than carpet. I like your vinyl idea, that would give a good surface without snagging on hooks, etc.

    Any ideas on making a pedestal?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Utah
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    How about a triangle piece of plate aluminum screwed to the top of the gunnel on one corner and the top of the transom on the other? If there are any metal fab shops near you, a common style is much like a Z that screws to the gunnel at the top and the bench or box at the bottom.

    Last edited by SuperD; 03-09-2019 at 05:37 PM.
    2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually, 21' North River Seahawk

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