Planer mast advice
- Thread starter CourtLund
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mainlymallard
Well-Known Member
Get it as high as possible. Get it as far forward as possible. Take ALL play out of it.
jrr
Well-Known Member
Are you looking to have them sit in a seat mount or you ok with bolting on? If price isn't an issue, Big Jon will forever be my go to as 27 yr old down riggers are going strong. Hard to find now... I think. Too expensive. But they do pop up as used. There seems to be a new company that welds aluminum boat stuff and makes a brand every year. Whatever you look it, watch how it mounts to your boat. The rest is just the same parts from China.
I am looking at getting them to make custom mounts for the pully and reel and use my hard top as a mast.
With the CDN dollar going up vs the USD, the price might not be so crazy: https://www.bigjon.com/planer-riggers/
I am looking at getting them to make custom mounts for the pully and reel and use my hard top as a mast.
With the CDN dollar going up vs the USD, the price might not be so crazy: https://www.bigjon.com/planer-riggers/
reeldrag
Well-Known Member
I ran my mast out of the front seat base worked good but I found it not far enough forward so I mounted a extra seat base at the front of the bow ( so when not using the mast the floor was flat )
Ratchet strapped the top of mast to front cleats for stability
Had a adapter machined to fit the mast to base
Ratchet strapped the top of mast to front cleats for stability
Had a adapter machined to fit the mast to base
Take me fishing
New Member
headedtowater
Well-Known Member
I am curious on how far is to far forward if that is a thing.
I setup my 24’ pontoon last year with masts.
Individual mast and reel in each front corner
when using my rope to pull planer line in to attach the clips we have maybe 8 ft before we can clip on the line at the back of the boat.
Discussing it with one of the guys I fish with we talked about moving them back a couple of feet so the clips slide easier for the first 15-20 ft and it’s not as hard as a pull to get the line in.
does this sounds like a good idea?
I setup my 24’ pontoon last year with masts.
Individual mast and reel in each front corner
when using my rope to pull planer line in to attach the clips we have maybe 8 ft before we can clip on the line at the back of the boat.
Discussing it with one of the guys I fish with we talked about moving them back a couple of feet so the clips slide easier for the first 15-20 ft and it’s not as hard as a pull to get the line in.
does this sounds like a good idea?
noclass
Well-Known Member
A few items to consider.
Height of your pulleys on the top of your mast
- the higher the line height, the better the clips will slide out
-you will need some form of retrieval line likely to pull the line in and down when attaching a new clip to the spread
The Boards
- the harder your boards pull the straighter your line will stay and the less they will lag behind the back corner of the boat and the more lines you can pull without problems.
- I use Amish Outfitter boards and they pull very very hard (I had to upgrade the line to 500# Braid the 200# braid the spools came with snapped instantly)
Mast Support
-the mast must be very well supported. Some use guy wires for additional support. I have a Lund and drilled a hole through the front bow platform beside my electric Triolling motor and machined a hole in an aluminum plate the same OD as my mast.
The post/mount in under the front bow platform bolted to the plywood. Simply pull the pin and lift the mast out when not needed. I have used that set up since I got the boat (5 years now) without issue.
Riviera makes a nice auto retrieve system but the hand crank reels work well too. I have HD electric reels on boats in the past and they are the Cadillacs but they are pricey.
I will try to post some pictures of the system I use later today.
Height of your pulleys on the top of your mast
- the higher the line height, the better the clips will slide out
-you will need some form of retrieval line likely to pull the line in and down when attaching a new clip to the spread
The Boards
- the harder your boards pull the straighter your line will stay and the less they will lag behind the back corner of the boat and the more lines you can pull without problems.
- I use Amish Outfitter boards and they pull very very hard (I had to upgrade the line to 500# Braid the 200# braid the spools came with snapped instantly)
Mast Support
-the mast must be very well supported. Some use guy wires for additional support. I have a Lund and drilled a hole through the front bow platform beside my electric Triolling motor and machined a hole in an aluminum plate the same OD as my mast.
The post/mount in under the front bow platform bolted to the plywood. Simply pull the pin and lift the mast out when not needed. I have used that set up since I got the boat (5 years now) without issue.
Riviera makes a nice auto retrieve system but the hand crank reels work well too. I have HD electric reels on boats in the past and they are the Cadillacs but they are pricey.
I will try to post some pictures of the system I use later today.
hvyhaul
Well-Known Member
I don't think there is a too far forward for the mast.
Not sure if this is what you are meaning. My clip on tethers for adding new clips are midway back on my boat.
No where near the back
The rod holders are further back towards the stern
.
If I am off base, just ignore my input.
Not sure if this is what you are meaning. My clip on tethers for adding new clips are midway back on my boat.
No where near the back
The rod holders are further back towards the stern
.
 |  |
If I am off base, just ignore my input.
Leaky
Well-Known Member
Scrimmy, when you ran the Otter boats did you have the second keel added, and do you think they are required for Erie walleye fishing?
RyTek Marine
Well-Known Member
You definitely want to have the mast as far forward on the bow as possible like mentioned above. I personally pull a Big Jon mast and works great BUT my RyTek Marine boards pull so hard I have broke the spool/handles twice now. I am in the midst of making aluminum spools that will never break again.
As far as how I mounted my mast...I have attached pictures. It working amazingly well and if anyone is interested in something similar defiantly touch base with me! Basically I can throw in the mast in seconds...no playing with straps and its 110% solid! I also have a removable mount then for my graph that I move to the bow when I am casting and move to the stern while trolling.
Ryan
As far as how I mounted my mast...I have attached pictures. It working amazingly well and if anyone is interested in something similar defiantly touch base with me! Basically I can throw in the mast in seconds...no playing with straps and its 110% solid! I also have a removable mount then for my graph that I move to the bow when I am casting and move to the stern while trolling.
Ryan
Attachments
Only used the one keel and it ran fine with 4 leadcore lines attached
smokey1
Well-Known Member
You are spot on there , first thing I changed on the big john clamp on's.
Sold the new reels to someone in need and replaced with something bullet proof.