Help with mounting SS rod holder to Scotty boom

[Whole in the Water]

I want to mount this SS rod holder onto the boom of my Scotty downrigger to replace the plastic Scotty ones as they have been know to break over time. I have already tried just clamping it on the boom, but it twists/moves when fishing and I don't want to lose my rod & reel.

I am thinking of drilling hole through the top of the cap of one of the two sides that clamps onto the boom. I cannot get access to the inside of the boom tube so I was thinking of using a SS concrete wedge anchor bolt to keep the rod holder from twisting.

What do others think of this idea? Are there better ways/ideas to bolt this securely to the boom? If so please share. Thanks.

 

[scott craven]

A couple wraps of duct tape on the boom and it should tighten down and stop moving.

 

[Whole in the Water]

I put a good quality piece of rubber on it and clamped it down and it still slips. Should I just reef down on the bolts? I don't want to damage the rod boom.

 

[Corey_lax]

Weld them on? I wouldn't drill through it just because it will weaken the boom.

 

[ship happens]

Rubber inner tube or flat sheet rubber works really well.

 

[Whole in the Water]

That is what I am using now - good quality flat sheet of rubber.

 

[scott craven]

I would crank the bolts down.
Doubtful it would damage the boom.

 

[Gear'n'beer!]

why anyone would want a boom mounted rod holder for trolling is the real question

 

[Whole in the Water]

Cause it works best this way for me.

 

[salmonkiller01]

The original mounted holder has a thru bolt I thought. What about tapping the outer clamp and put a bolt threaded thru the clamp and the original Scotty boom hole is just for keeping alignment (stop the rolling of the holder

 

[Whole in the Water]

Not sure if the original rod holder does or not as they look like and are described by Scotty as a clamp on type like this



They do have a bolt through model


but this is not what I have

 

[MikeyL]

From personal experience with a rod holder breaking at the connection and almost losing a rod and reel to the sea gods. I upgraded and got the duo rod holder base. I don’t like the how it’s just a piece of plastic holding the rod holder to the boom.

The duo rod holds are most solid mounting to a base. Just my thoughts and you can find them used on Facebook market for a decent price.

 

[Corey_lax]

clamp them as tight as you're comfortable with and a little weld and it won't spin. But really, it shouldn't spin if you get the right size clamp for the tube, and put a bike tire innertube in there for friction.

 

[BA48]

Drill a 3/16 hole in center of cap, tap to 1/4 inch thread nf or nc. Clamp back on to downrigger where you want it, put a 1/4 inch set screw in cap tighten down to mark downrigger shaft. Remove unit to see where set screw marked downrigger shaft, drill a 1/8 inch hole in shaft. Now clamp holder back on use the 1/8 inch hole for the set screw to seat into.

 

[Aquaholic]

The newer booms have a routered out slot for the rod holder base piece so it doesn’t move. Are your downriggers an older version? I don’t mean new as in the last few years, I think they’ve been this way for quite a while.

 

[ab1752]

From personal experience with a rod holder breaking at the connection and almost losing a rod and reel to the sea gods. I upgraded and got the duo rod holder base. I don’t like the how it’s just a piece of plastic holding the rod holder to the boom.

The duo rod holds are most solid mounting to a base. Just my thoughts and you can find them used on Facebook market for a decent price.

View attachment 85990

I tried every combination and this works best for me. I didn't like the additional torque on the boom, plus it was a never ending adjust, crank, replace hockey tape. These work great and won't snap off, just for the hell of it.