Northwest Fishing Reports

So, there are tons of questions and nothing on google on how to mount downriggers to small aluminum boats. This is what I did today. I am sharing to hopefully help anyone else looking to do the same! Seems pretty solid. I will find out this week haha Here ya go. First I measured and marked the seat while it was still on the boat. Then :

I took off the bench seat. Pretty apprehensive about that. Never done that and it really was not a big deal.


I drilled holes in aluminum backing and put it on the bottom and and 2 strips of aluminum on the top under the mount. I used a nylon washer, large stainless washer, lock washer and a stainless nut. Then some locktight.
Under the seat -



Top -

Looks nice. I have a Duroboat, so I just ordered the Duroboat downrigger mounts. For temporary use, I mounted the Downrigger mount to a 2x6,then used a couple eye bolts, and a moving strap and strapped the whole thing down to the seat. Solid as I needed it to be

I saw the duraboat mounts. I just cringe though at the thought of drilling through the hull. If you snag bottom or the weight from my pot puller would add tremendous stress to that. I have googled for a while different mounts and how to's but there really isnt any explanation of anything other than mounts like the duraboat mount or what is made through companies like all the different scotty mount. Nothing explained or showed any pics of actually mounting the base.

Sometimes being bold (drilling holes) is the way to go. I have a Duroboat, so I think it is straightforward, the holes in the hull may actually already be there (they hold the seats in) so It may just involve a couple holes on the Gunnel. I am getting my mounts today, so I can let you know. my temporary mount strapped to the seat worked quite well though.

I have a mirrocraft and I used a 2x6 like ncwflunderer did till I spent the money and got the duroboat mounts. Put them where I wanted and never looked back. They are stable enought there was some worrie about sides holding up but after getting a ball stuck at Amercian lake and gooseing the 15HP to try and pull it looses with no luck and fear of braking the cannon 10 mag base I gave up and cut the wire. Never once did the side of the boat get stressed. I did drill the four holes and figured this its above the water line. You are using the washers provied by Duroboat that uses the same washers all over there boats for water tight applications and never had issues. So I say drill the holes mount them up and fish!! Good luck with what ever choice you make but as far as little boats go there not a ton of choice to be had.

Oh: Thoses scotty mounts look great!!! Nice job.

It held up great this morning! Beautiful morning out at American!

Not sure why it cut the picture off. In the original it shows the whole rod. Kind of a cool shot.

if you "click" on the picture, it take you to photobucket and you can see the whole picture

Did you catch any fish?? Nice picture looks very quite....nice.

Lots of nice trout. Only 1 keeper koke and 1 4 inch koke.

LOL, I caught a little fella myself yesterday about the same size he laid in my hand as I got the hook out. Its funny how these little guys are starting to show up. I have caught many females with eggs not sure if they reproduce in the lake or not but glad to see our future fish are growing and bitting what we offer up. Glad your new DR mount is working great nice job!

Hey ResQ, just a thought since I saw the seat top off. That foam they call closed cell that's poured into the cavity. Not really so much closed cell at all. I've cleaned an awful lot of water logged foam out of boats in my years. a buddy ripped out 1200+ pounds from his Alumaweld. As you've just had the top off you might want think about sealing the stuff with some rubber bed liner stuff or something like that, just to make sure the water runs off and not in. Looks like the bolts on the back side probably cut into the foam a bit. Water + Foam = Bad Juju.
Nice job on the mounts by the way!