pictures of home made down rigger setup's

All, I'm in the process of building a down rigger setup for my boat. The plan calls for a down rigger on each side with a pole holder for each. I plan to use the seat post hole at the rear of the boat to put my setup in. I'm starting with a 2"x8" board. I'm a little concerned about how sturdy it will be out at the ends where the down riggers will be and the real pull will be from the lines.

Please list suggestions and some pictures to show different "home made" setups.

Thanks, FD

DD- that looks SWEET! Talk about puttin a guy in the mood to get on the big pond!

Here's the set up for my 18' Mirrocraft. I've also got my flood lights mounted on the stern side of the board. I wired in an electrical connector for easy disconnection of the board. The board is mounted on stainless steel tubes that bolt to the 3/8" aluminum plates on the gunnel.

Here's what I have on my Lund. There is no seat post for me to use back there. Basically I used stainless cleats with stainless hardware that went through aluminum supports to backing plates. I opened a eyebolt and used that through the board and hooked it onto the cleat. I used fender washers to help tighten it all down. In addition, I placed 2x2's on the inside edge to keep it square and tight.

I used a 2x12, green treated and put enough varnish on it that it could withstand a nuclear blast! I cut a notch out of the back so I could trim the motor up all the way. In addition, whats not pictured is a support brace in the middle, where a seat post should be.

She is tight and firm. I have no problem kneeling and leaning on it. It makes for a good leverage point for the net. Kinda gives a little support when fighting a fish in a chop too. It's lower as it sits on the gunwale, so it really is not in the way. The motor sits higher than this does. I would have to get on all 4's to get to the motor, regardless of whether the board is there or not.

I set my riggers on swivel bases off the sides. They were set such that they could go straight off the side, 45 degrees abaft, or straight off the back. Sometimes when running off the sides, because of the shorter arms a current would push the cable into the boat. I could swivel them to the back, and out to the side if needed to open the back up.

That's my setup. I have no idea what kind of boat you are setting up. I used this because my gunwale was too narrow to accept a track. If I were in your shoes, and my boats gunwale was big enough, I'd throw a track on there (I have Bert's on the charter boat), and mount my riggers on that. Very secure, keeps the back open, and easily and quickly removed for other fishing.

If you can't fit a track on there, IMO your 2x8 seems small to me. I'd beef it up, to at least 2x10, prefer 2x12. In addition, I think your concerns for the sides are valid if you have no plans to secure the sides to your gunwales. You're going to want that. I wouldn't even think of running it with just the center secure in a seat post. Come up with a way to secure both ends. My cleats work solid. When I remove everything, they are the only things left on the boat, and they are off to the side and out of the way. Put your riggers on swivel bases, and set it all up so they can spin from side to back and still be fishing.

Each boat is different. If you give the boat type, there may be someone on here who has done it. I'd really suggest the tracks if they fit. It's the quickest, cleanest, and safest..IMO.

I work on charters so i dont have to worry about making space for riggers but i do see plenty of homemade setups. The thing i notice is guys building themselves in. I see these huge beams stretched across people's boats with riggers and rod holders galore and though they are impressive to look at i have to say they look rather impractical. All that stuff has to get in your way when you net fish and if you ever need to get to your motor make sure you dont have to to bypass your rigger platform. Those setups just dont look very fishable. I like a big wide back end with lots of net space, rods out to the side. I'm guessing this boat is about 20ft or less. I would say go for two small rigger platforms (if you could rig something that would swivel that would really be the ticket) and run your riggers sticking out the side. Your dipsys should stay outside of them (if they dont your rigger arms are way too long). Try to avoid that big, elevated plank limiting what you can do. That way you dont have a big beam to reach over to net fish and you dont have to thread fiesty fish between narrow cables. It sounds like a lot of precaution but it makes a huge difference. Keep the back as open as you can. My dad fishes out of a 20 footer and he has always run his riggers out the sides. Its great for fighting fish, it naturally keeps everything out of the way.