Downriiger mounting on 1850 re

[Mleupp]

Looking for info on mounting downriver on a 2015 ranger reatta.
Not much room past rai and and curved gunnel.
Thoughts, pics??
Tx

 

[KDM]

Saw a ranger boat with a downrigger in one of the seat mounts. It locked into the well just like a seat and could be removed when done. It was obviously custom made, but it might be something you could look into. Good Luck!!

 

[Wirehair]

Had a similar issue with my 386 Stratos. Installed 12" Bert's Track system to mount downriggers. Likely a lot of other options out there but this works well for me.

 

[Slappy]

https://www.walleye.com/boats-for-sale/

Like this but further back. Thru bolt with backer plate. No screws. Countersink the gel coat and don't undersize the bolt holes.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

If you’re fine with the ghetto look, you could always mount a board across the beam and secure it to the rail. I see that on a regular basis

 

[Retired-Guy]

If you’re fine with the ghetto look, you could always mount a board across the beam and secure it to the rail. I see that on a regular basis

I've thought about doing that on my Skeeter but wonder if the rails could handle the torque, especially if you snag the ball. Anyone with experience?

 

[NDwalleyes]

While I did not do this on a Ranger, it was a Lund. Since I may use my boat for walleye fishing the same day I salmon fish, I wasn't interested in installing a rear beam. I took the rear decking off and engineered an anchor point with 3/4 inch plywood and metal plates. I had the metal plates cut wider than the mounting base for my downriggers. You'll have to take a look at what is under your rear decking and see if it is possible. Obviously the screws that hold your decking down aren't enough.

I just have the Cannon mounting plates (see photos) that sit on rear deck if I'm not salmon fishing. They sit down in the carpet pretty good. Then I mount the pedestal to those. It only takes 10 minutes to install the downriggers. If you do pedestals, just make sure your overall height is enough to clear your gunwale if you want your downrigger to swing out the side of the boat. I put the pivot base on top of the pedestal so I can rotate the riggers out to the side when fishing and then to the back for transport.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

I've thought about doing that on my Skeeter but wonder if the rails could handle the torque, especially if you snag the ball. Anyone with experience?

I haven’t Sherlock Holmed any of these rigs, but it appears that the boards are mounted toward the rear of the rails for a couple of obvious reasons. 1: to get them as far back as possible & 2: the downward torque would pull from the rear but most importantly, bury that energy into the end of the rail anchored into the glass gunwale of the boat where the rail crashes into. Again, just an observation………