MyFishFinder Forum
MyFishFinder Tips and Techniques => Fishing Equipment => Boats, Canoes, Kayaks, Float tubes => Topic started by: ericbres on Mar 20, 2019, 11:42 AM
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Just purchased a new 22' pontoon boat to replace our old center console to be a more "family friendly" boat and was looking for some advise/input as I try to get it set up before fishing season begins here in the Northeast. It's a 22' tri-toon with a 150hp … I'd like to move my 2 dual-rod manual Cannon downriggers onto the back of it (there is a short "swim platform" on the back I can use) but I've got some questions.
1. Am I in for grief trying to get a proper trolling speed with the 150hp Merc? With such an investment already (and new wakeboarding gear for the kids on the horizon) I don't see a kicker motor on my budget. Should I be considering a drift-sock or something? Or should I be ok? I can't imagine an electric would move something so big, but I do have one that I use for the crawdad.
2. I was under the impression from a conversation w a guy at the marina someone made/sold a stand that I could put the riggers on, much like bass fishing seats, that sits in bases on the back of the boat. So I could easily put them in and remove them when not fishing. But haven't found anything anywhere. Is there such an item? If so, where?
3. Anything else I should consider/that will be different/I will need to "get used to", again being a guy whos been fishing out of a 20' center console for the past 6 years or so?
Thanks in advance. I know there's some info on here - and I found some already, but much seemed dated.
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If it’s a newer 150 4 stroke, we can get ours down to around 1.7 with trolling/drift socks. That’s is on a deep v 19’ boat however. Not sure if your boat will draft more or less.
For the riggers I’d consider a trolling board to mount the riggers on if possible. I do also have cannon electric riggers, and they mount to a swivel base you can get from cannon.
Also if your going the route of adding a motor to get down I’d consider going with an I pilot control and a trolling motor. With enough batteries you can go for quite a while at those very slow trolling speeds around mph.
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It is (newer 4 stroke) - only 2 years old (thankfully, our old Merc gave us nothing but grief) - so that's good news. I'll look into drift socks. Have never used one but have a basic understanding of their function thanks to my time in the CG. And I'm sure there are plenty of Youtube videos out there.
Hadn't considered a trolling board? The boat has a tow bar that sticks up the back for the skiers that may get in the way, but, now that youve got me thinking about a board, it may make the whole process much easier for me to put in/remove when not fishing?
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Yep a trolling board would be the way to go. Make it so you can easily remove or install it. I have one on my regular boat that uses pins (bolts) that fit into the oar locks. I would think a 2 by 6 would be plenty and maybe even a 2 by 4.
I think a Pontoon boat would be a great way to troll. A nice flat platform to move around on and easy access to the down riggers.
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i use a trolling restrickter plate on my 90 horse on my 18 foot tracker , can get way down in speed under 1mph but still running on enough rpm:s not to load up cause its a 2 stroke my buddy has newer tracker with 150 four stroke and he put same plate on his and can troll slow also
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Not my boat, But I like this for mounting down riggers...
(https://i.postimg.cc/Cz1tk1cM/pontoon-downrigger.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Cz1tk1cM)