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Author Topic: Mounting a downrigger to a jon boat  (Read 2525 times)

essyoo

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Mounting a downrigger to a jon boat
« on: April 26, 2021, 10:54:24 AM »

Wondering what solutions any of you have used to mount a downrigger to your jon boat. I've got a G3 1442 and it has the big round gunnels that make side-mounting rod holders and riggers a bit of a pain without some kind of spacer or custom built thing.

Would love to see how you've set this up on yours. 
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CohoJake

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Re: Mounting a downrigger to a jon boat
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2021, 11:34:47 AM »

Do you already have downriggers you want to mount on it?  If not, I suggest the Brocraft Mini Manual downriggers. They just clamp on the gunwales.  I use them on my pontoon as well as my 9ft fiberglass. As long as you are just trolling in lakes with relatively light downrigger balls, that should be all you need.

Bear in mind that the longer the arms on the downriggers, and the heavier the balls, the more torque you will be subjecting the boat to.
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essyoo

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Re: Mounting a downrigger to a jon boat
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2021, 01:31:50 PM »

currently just have one of the old blue scotty manual downriggers. There is a scotty clamp on mount that seems like it would do the job but it's also twice the price I paid for the downrigger! ::)

It's just for lakes and nothing more than probably 5lbs on the end of it.
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psd1179

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Re: Mounting a downrigger to a jon boat
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2021, 02:42:15 PM »

you can install a 2x10 across the round gunnels and install the downrigger on the 2x10. The boat seat can be install on the 2x10 as well. like a raised seat.
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CohoJake

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Re: Mounting a downrigger to a jon boat
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2021, 03:44:11 PM »

you can install a 2x10 across the round gunnels and install the downrigger on the 2x10. The boat seat can be install on the 2x10 as well. like a raised seat.
We did this on our jet sled, since we rarely use it to troll, but beware you need something to clamp the 2x10 down to keep it from tipping forward or backward from the torque on the downrigger. My dad had to sit on one trip just to keep it from flopping over - a design fail on our part.
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