Pontoon Downriggers Set-up

[Jackin_Jaws]

Hey guys, just wondering if anybody has some ideas or where they have their downriggers mounted on their pontoons.. my dad purchased some last year and not really anywhere to mount them.. we tried just going off the square tubing around the boat, but that weight would bounce and that square tubing looked-like it was about to bend.. any suggestions, ideas, pics would be helpful.. thanks guys..
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[RockyRaab]

Why not just a weight on a handline? You won't need that much weight either since you won't exactly be throwing a roostertail in a pontoon.

My downrigger ideas for my kayak involve a 50' length of heavy braid, a one-pound weight, and a release clip. I haven't used it yet, but at the typical 0.5 to 1.5 mph speeds used for kokanee and walleye dredging, that light a weight may be plenty.
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[WaveWolf]

You could google the snap weights system from Cabelas to see what they are all about?
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[Quicky]

Are we talking about an inflatable pontoon boat or an aluminum big boy? (14-20+ft)?

If you are talking about the aluminum pontoon boat then I would suggest getting some pedestal seat mounts and having someone fabricate a mount out of those. That way the seat mount can be bolted to the floor and the downrigger can be bolted to the mount on top of the seat pedestal tube.

Or someone with tig welding experience can fabricate some mounts out of aluminum that bolt to the floor and to the rail if there is room.

Ideally post a picture of where you would like them to mount and suggestions can be more tailored to that application.
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[irambleon]

Cannon has a pedestal mount that I mounted to the flat front deck. It sits high enough to get over the railing.
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[fish_hntr]

[quote Jackin_Jaws]Hey guys, just wondering if anybody has some ideas or where they have their downriggers mounted on their pontoons.. my dad purchased some last year and not really anywhere to mount them.. we tried just going off the square tubing around the boat, but that weight would bounce and that square tubing looked-like it was about to bend.. any suggestions, ideas, pics would be helpful.. thanks guys..[/quote]

The OP indicated via the square tubing that this would be on a pontoon boat. Google images has some cool ideas here [url "https://www.google.com/search?q=pontoon+boat+downrigger+mount&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwib3eHH9L3TAhWBwiYKHeabCqUQ_AUIBygC&biw=1440&bih=709#spf=1"]https://www.google.com/search?q=pontoon+boat+downrigger+mount&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwib3eHH9L3TAhWBwiYKHeabCqUQ_AUIBygC&biw=1440&bih=709#spf=1[/url]
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[SkunkedAgain]

I agree with Rocky on using lighter weights on the riggers... I put a metal side deck with a fish measuring board and such and I mounted my rigger off of it, but the 5lb weight was too much for it, so I down scaled to lighter weights and it works for what I use it for... Good luck... J
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[RockyRaab]

Jeff, I think you and I are thinking "pontoon" as a kick boat for one - like TDs ride. But it may be that the OP means a party boat.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Oh maybe so, I know I was in line with your thoughts. Later J
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[Jiggy81]

[quote Jackin_Jaws]Hey guys, just wondering if anybody has some ideas or where they have their downriggers mounted on their pontoons.. my dad purchased some last year and not really anywhere to mount them.. we tried just going off the square tubing around the boat, but that weight would bounce and that square tubing looked-like it was about to bend.. any suggestions, ideas, pics would be helpful.. thanks guys..[/quote]

If your afraid if the weight bouncing get yourself a snubbed. It takes the pressure off the downrigger.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001M4HSH...ref=plSrch

I don't have a pontoon but I do have an inflatable raft I installed downriggers on. I just attached 2x6 across my boat and it works as a downrigger mount and bench sitting..
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[wilki]

I put an 8' cannon aluminum mounting track across the back of mine, they don't make the 8' anymore but they do make them in 3' so you could put them across the back. I mounted them to the square tubing with angle brackets, I run four downriggers and use 6# and 4# weights. I've been running this setup for about 8 years and it works perfect. The picture shows the track rail in the background hope this helps.
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[fish_hntr]

This is the type of pontoon boat the OP is talking about [url "http://www.tahoepontoons.com/"]http://www.tahoepontoons.com/[/url]
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[Jackin_Jaws]

Thanks for the help fellers.. will take them all and see what may work the best.. Tha k again!!
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