Gimbal mounts....

Duckwheat · 03-21-2006, 05:40 AM

I have my Sotty Downriggers mounted to a set of gimbal mounts that fit well into the pole holders. My question is, do you think I could bounce one out and into the great blue abyss?

Pondering in Idaho.

DW

Metal Manipulator · 03-21-2006, 06:01 AM

Iv'e never tried it but any thing is possible. I would make sure that you have a backing plate under the gimble mount so the pressure from the downrigger does not pull it out. Find some place to do a test drive on some rougher water to see how the react as the boat bounces through the waves. I have some extensions with Scotty rod holders mounted on top and I'm pretty sure that they will stay untill some one gets excited and pulls it out along with their pole. They will accualy be tied down to prevent that from happening. Good luck on your test run.

Noyb72 · 03-21-2006, 06:41 AM

Concur with tieing down. Friction fit does not qualify as "rigged for sea." One trip where angles and dangles is done on a submarine will reveal that. Not many sportfishers will be out in water that will cause those kinds of angles, but rough seas+big fish+excited fisherman will undoubtedly be enough to simulate. I would back the mount under the gunnel with the thickest, largest surface area plate I could fit, and attach the lanyard to the plate, thread it through the holder, and attach it to the gimbal. No good investing in downriggers and rod holders and a boat hull and then not go the last couple of inches in order to build a quality installation. :grin: Hope you have fun.

FTC(SS) Ronald Jones

bajadan2000 · 03-21-2006, 07:05 AM

Not sure this idea will help you since I do not know what kind of rod holders you are using. I used this idea on my flush mounted rod holders to hold the downrigger gimbals in place.

I drilled the correct size hole through both the gimbal and rod holder with the gimbal set in the operating position, then inserted a pin in the hole. Many types of pins will work, however, I went with the ball-lok quick-release pin.

On the difficulty scale, sadly, this project only rates one beer.

Noyb72 · 03-21-2006, 08:06 AM

Rigid mounting with a cross pin sounds like a MUCH better idea than a lanyard.
Ron

Duckwheat · 03-21-2006, 06:28 PM

The pin solution sounds like a winner. I will get that done. I must have too much time on my hands. I usually see the problem about the time the New Scotty would be airborne just above the deep blue sea.

Thanks for the toughts guys.

Duckwheat

Onokai · 03-21-2006, 07:00 PM

I have the same gimbals with power cannon downriggers and have had no woes. They fit all the way down and are very solid as they fit the pins in the rod holders. When the boat flips they will fall out. OH well I'll have other issues then as well. Mark

5 Salt · 03-23-2006, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Not sure this idea will help you since I do not know what kind of rod holders you are using. I used this idea on my flush mounted rod holders to hold the downrigger gimbals in place.

I drilled the correct size hole through both the gimbal and rod holder with the gimbal set in the operating position, then inserted a pin in the hole. Many types of pins will work, however, I went with the ball-lok quick-release pin.

On the difficulty scale, sadly, this project only rates one beer.