Looking for Advice and Suggestions

[Duffman]

Hello all. I joined this forum a while ago and have been spending my time going through many of the threads and posts, looking to pick up and share as much information as possible. Lots of great info here!

Last fall I picked up a Lund SSV-14, and my plan is to get out and do some saltwater fishing in the Vancouver Harbour/Bowen island areas when weather and tides permit.

I've fished saltwater about a dozen times with either friends or on charters, and am pretty familiar with the gear and rigging it, but most of my experience is on the rivers.

I'm in the process of rigging my boat with one downrigger to start, and have decided to go with a manual Scotty to save on weight. Once I get a better idea of how the boat handles, I may add a second downrigger, and may go electric with that one.

I've received some good advice from Howard (Curly Top on the HBC forum), and now I'm looking for more advice or suggestions, especially with setting up my first downrigger. I've looked at all the mounting options out there, and short of getting an aluminum bracket fabricated to use as a mount, I've pretty much made up my mind on mounting one of those 6" Scotty pedestal mounts on the rear port-side split bench so the rigger can clear the gunnel. Has anyone used these? Maybe have any other suggestions of which mounting system to use, or any other advice?

Thanks in advance.

Duff

 

[trendsetter]

Sounds like you've got the right idea with the pedestal mount. Just make sure the downrigger will clear your gunnel. Also, try to mount it where it will be easy to crank the wheel while still maintaining balance in the boat. When you are out there and the waves pick up it can be a pain trying to crank up 10lb / 12lb downrigger balls while the boat is rocking back and forth.

I wouldn't go with electric in that small of a boat. They are heavy and require a heavy battery to power them too. Not to mention they take up a lot of space. You could do it but would have to get creative with weight distribution.

Cheers

 

[eaglemaniac]

Hey Duffman: Welcome to the site. I also have Lund and I used this setup from Scotty with good results. Good Luck. eman

http://www.scotty.com/fishing-gear-equipment/downrigger-mounting-systems/1021.htm

 

[Duffman]

Thanks guys.

Eman, does that mount not put a lot of stress on the hull and gunnel, resulting in any kind of metal fatigue? I was thinking of getting Scotty's 1080 DR, and do you know if that will fit that mount?

Duff

 

[Pippen]

Welcome to the site! MB_Boy from over at HBC.....I have corresponded with Curly Top/Howard a few times; he'll be a great source of info for you!

I think as others have said you've got the right idea for mounting.


One thing to be wary of when running a boat like yours is pay VERY careful attention to the weather/weather reports AND the tanker/cruise ship traffic as they can throw some BIG wakes. We've been tossed around pretty well in a 36' boat in the past so be wary of them.

I would highly recommend picking up a handheld VHF to have with you....a cell phone is great and you'll be in reception area based on where you're talking about fishing but you can pick up some good VHF options for ~$225.00. I picked up a great one last year; Standard Horizon HX851 from a place down on Granville Island and he gave me a great deal on it.

Be careful too if you're fishing Bowen area and have to cross the mouth of Howe Sound as the outflows can really kick up coming down the sound and even if English Bay appears calm it can be snotty once you get out around Point Atkinson.

 

[lure-washer]

I fished from a 14ft. Lund for years, with good sucess. Easy to manouver and a good boat. Is this a deep hull model or the standard? The deep hull makes it quite a bit more seaworthy in rougher water.
I suggest that you mount the downrigger as far back and as close to the gunnel as possible. Even with the rigger as above, the cable is desperately close to the motor and it`s not a good scene when the cable gets wrapped around the prop. Suggest strongly that you have a prop guard.
I fish for quite a few years with the one downrigger, and then thought why not two and double my chances of success. About all the second rigger brought was trouble, as I had to mount it near mid-ships and the cables were very close together especially during turns, and when they get crossed under the boat, it`s not a good scene either.
Watch the weather closely, and have fun.
Lure-washer

 

[Duffman]

Good advice guys thanks.

Pippen, or your alter ego, MB_Boy, I think we've chatted on HBC (My use name over there is "Angus"). Howard did give me some great advice.

One thing I do know, and have read lots about on this forum, is to be vary aware of the weather. I'm kinda interested in seeing what this boat can handle (it is deep-hulled), but I'd prefer to be around for a while and have no plans to take risks in this small-ish boat.

LW: I was thinking about running two rods off the single downrigger; one deep and one shallow. Did you try this on your Lund? Any thoughts on how this would work out, or would I most likely end all tangled up?

Duff

 

[eaglemaniac]

Hey Duff: I've never had any problem with metal fatique as it was mounted right over the back seat area. I also had a chair mounted beside it for easy access. Now as far as the 1080 goes it has a different mounting system then I had, so I'm not sure if it would be compatible. But your back seat area is a good place to mount a custom formed aluminum or Stainless mount. The closer to the stern the less chance of prop problems as the line should plane back and away but it's always a tricky operation at the best of times. The suggestion of a prop guard is a good one as you can get sideways in a hurry. Good Luck Duff.eman

 

[lure-washer]

Yes Duffman, if you keep the downriggers at differant depths it would help, but even at the differant depths, with a fairly narrow boat, the lines are quite close together, and especially so during turns, and you can`t always turn the same way.
The length of the rigger boom makes a whole lot of differance, but you are limited in length, by the mount, and the longer the boom, there is a possible problem in pulling the side of the boat desperately close to the water line if you get snagged on the bottom.
The depth of the water makes a huge differance also.
The downriggers I had had a short boom, and only extended past the gunnel about 12 inches.
Lure-washer

 

[Duffman]

Guys, that's good stuff. Thanks a bunch.

I think I'm gonna try the gunnel mount DR, mounted near the rear bench, with a boom of at least 24". Also gonna go with the prop guard; the last thing I want is to get the DR line wrapped around the prop while staring down a freighter.

Thanks again.
Duff

 

[Highliner]

Don't mean to sidetrack the thread, but Pippen, do you like the HX851? I was recently thinking of getting the same one.

 

[profisher]

I bought my first outboard powered boat at the age of 13 and ran similar 12 foot either ply/fiberglass Gordon Beach specials or Thorens aluminum until I was about 25 years old. The best piece of advice your going to get is this....if your going to be mostly fishing alone..do not sit in the aft most seat and run the boat from back there. Get your self a tiller extension pole so you can it in the middle seat and control steering and the throttle from there with the pole. Mount your downrigger(s) within easy reach from that seating position. You will be facing to the rear and looking over your shoulder forward. The boat will ride 100% better at both trolling speed and on the plane. It will remain level going into seas, be easier to keep on coarse, more comfortable and you will be able to handle larger seas more safely. At one time in Sooke all the guys who fished Otter Point were set up in this manner...if you fish Juan De Fuca Strait during the afternoon winds and flood currents you would know why. There is only one guy left who still fishes from the smaller beach launched boat in the same manner today. Just think about a single guy in an ocean going Kayak...where in the boat are they located? Mid ships!!!!

 

[Dogbreath]

One of my friends has the same boat.

In the Harbour (including West Van waterfront & the QA marker) Yes Bowen maybe a couple times a year it's further than it looks and there's a lot of water moving around out there it can get lumpy in a real hurry.

If it's a nice day try running a planer off the other side with a spoon or Apex or even plain Anchovy-you won't get down much more than 40' but there are times when it works well ditto a sliding weight.

 

[Pippen]

Don't mean to sidetrack the thread, but Pippen, do you like the HX851? I was recently thinking of getting the same one.

Great unit.

 

[Little Hawk]

Good advice Rolly!

Next good advice: DON'T BUY A SCOTTY MANUAL DOWNRIGGER!

BUY A CANNON WITH A SHORT BOOM; FAR SUPERIOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN. I'd mount one on each side to balance things out. 10/lb balls should be fine for Howe Sound fishing.

Don't worry about 'electrics' with this boat. You have an excellent boat for what it's designed to do, but inevitably you are going to buy a bigger boat one day, if there's still fish around for you to catch. Then you might consider electrics with the bigger platform. Go to a retail metal-shop and have them cut you off 6" or so of 5" or 6" aluminum angle-iron. Should only cost a few bucks. It drills easily. Get stainless 1/4" or 5/16" fastners (with lock washers for all) and wing-nuts for the actual downrigger bolts so you can take them off easily. Stronger and should save you money. Also give serious consideration to a good rest/holder for your lead. Your balls will kick the **** out of your boat while running if you don't have a secure place for them.

Stay home on ****** days!

This is what you get for asking for advice/suggestions on a fishing forum. Ha-ha!

 

[Duffman]

That's all good stuff. Thanks fellas. I really like the idea of the planer out the other side. I've used that a bunch of times in the Skeena.

Took the boat out for the first run of the year on Sunday. Went up Indian Arm from Rocky Point to Croker Island. There were some big tides on Sunday, and watched the resulting carnage at the boat launch. Got caught in a rip tide out front of Deep Cove. Jeez, waves coming from every direction! Very exciting in a 14 footer.

Went crabbing for the first time as well. Only dropped one trap, and after about a 3 hour soak came back and there 8 dungeness in there, with at least six of them keepers. Idiot me left my license in the truck, so just to be safe and avoid any crap from DFO, I let all the crabs go. At least I know where they are now. As Arnold says, "I'll be back."

Will look at the downriggers this week and figure out which one, and mounting system, will be best for my boat. Thanks again for the recommendations

And can anyone recommend where I can pick up a prop guard in the lower mainland?

Thanks,
Duff

 

[Seafever]

On that boat I would mount the downriggers closest to the widest part of the boat which is amidships, using the middle seat as a hold down bracket for rigger mounting hardware.

if i can post a few pics here i will show you what i did with a 14ft8inch aluminum boat.

I cut a square out of the middle seat (but leaving some wood on either edge so the cross strength is still there) , cut some floatation out, put in a box, added a locking lid, the battery (spiral gel cell 12volt nautilus) goes in there. battery is connected to charger on main but I run a kicker too.

I run two electric scotty's

You don't want everything at the back end on a boat like that.

I also put steering in mine. The steering wheel is closer to amidships. It has remote throttle for main up by the steering wheel.

It all works great for what it is.

Most of the stuff I did myself. The downrigger support plates are made of galvanized steel. One edge bolts to the seat...the other edge to the gunnel. I've never had any metal fatigue issues or stress buckle. I am always down about 180ft on both sides.
I run one d/ball slightly higher than the other.

Been on there 11 years now. Still not rusting (but I'm religious about cleaning the boat after trips)

I don't use a prop guard on either engine. Don't need it.

Because the balls are pretty close together on a boat like that.......when you fish down deep you are subject to tangle ups more especially when you are bucking chop and currents.


I really need to post pics........too hard to describe everything.....

If you are fishing over 50ft deep you need electric d/r's.....you will get sick of manuals instantly if you are going deep.

Planers don't work worth a crap IMO......for anything over 20ft deep.......

Too much drag on the rods......so you end using a rod that is too heavy and way overkill just to support the planer drag.

The upside of a boat like this is:- they cost peanuts to run...I can fish all day for 8 dollars worth of gas or less. They tow easy.
You can launch at places in almost any low tide.
BUT....you have to pick your days to go.....I can't over-emphasize that.

Because these boats are very light:- you will find if you fish only downrigger off one side that you will get "sidepull" to some extent.

if i am only fishing one line ( say 180ft)....I drop the other side ball by itself unrigged down to about 8ft in the water to counteract the pull from the other side.


On these boats when you are fishing by yourself they don't "track" well at all.
So it can be an absolute bee-otch to get two lines out (especially deep) and running while you are trying to steer the boat with a tiller.

Adding wheel steering helps abit........you don't have to go the back of the boat every time for a correction.....

Small aluminums have their good points....but they can also test your patience severely when downrigger fishing.....

 

[Seafever]

Duffman.....I managed to get some pics up in my last post.....cheers...

 

[Duffman]

Seafever, thanks for the photos. I can see what you were talking about. Cool looking set up, and that's a busy looking boat man!

Lot to consider here with all the great input. Am gonna try the portable rail mount for the DR for the first few times to see how she works out, and then go from there. I've picked up some gear this week and am ready to go. If you see a red 14' Lund out by West Van between the Cap and pink apartment building on Saturday morning (weather permitting) who looks like he doesn't know what he's doing, that'll be me. Gotta start somewhere.

Thanks to all for their input and suggestions. Full report to follow.

Duff

 

[Finished Business]

Seafever, thanks for the photos. I can see what you were talking about. Cool looking set up, and that's a busy looking boat man!

Lot to consider here with all the great input. Am gonna try the portable rail mount for the DR for the first few times to see how she works out, and then go from there. I've picked up some gear this week and am ready to go. If you see a red 14' Lund out by West Van between the Cap and pink apartment building on Saturday morning (weather permitting) who looks like he doesn't know what he's doing, that'll be me. Gotta start somewhere.

Thanks to all for their input and suggestions. Full report to follow.

Duff

Duff, we may be out in those waters on Saturday, if so, will keep a vigilant eye on your progress! Good luck, be safe...the forecast as of now looks like friday through sunday should be good weather and calm waters....as of now..