Built what I call my "fishin' rack"

[sapperfitz]

I was inspired by another member (don't remember who) who had made an aluminum rack for an AR 230 he used for fishing in Alaska. I thought it was an awesome idea but would be pretty heavy and I wanted to be able to quickly convert back to a wakesports type boat. The rack weighs 28 lbs without the downrigger on it. Carbon fiber tubes and the aluminum is handrail hardware.
I've used it before without the downrigger but I just installed that today.

 

[4x15mph]

Incredible work; I have to guess that you are an engineer? Real nice

 

[sapperfitz]

Thanks. Not an engineer, just played with Legos a lot when I was a kid.

 

[Weeb]

Nice job looks great

 

[EdAR230]

That's pretty sick. You must post a How To when you get time. That's very cool.

 

[Wisefam22]

Thanks. Not an engineer, just played with Legos a lot when I was a kid.

Thought you might have slept at a holiday in last night!

 

[Wisefam22]

I need to get back to Seattle. Grew up in Washington and love salmon fishing.

 

[Mike & Lilly]

I was inspired by another member (don't remember who) who had made an aluminum rack for an AR 230 he used for fishing in Alaska. I thought it was an awesome idea but would be pretty heavy and I wanted to be able to quickly convert back to a wakesports type boat. The rack weighs 28 lbs without the downrigger on it. Carbon fiber tubes and the aluminum is handrail hardware.
I've used it before without the downrigger but I just installed that today.

Awesome idea thumps way up

 

[JeffVans]

@sapperfitz Could you post a couple more close-ups of the bimini top rod holders? I've been thinking about doing something like this and looking for some more ideas. TIA!

 

[jcyamaharider]

I think you have a fish on that one rod already.....

Nice job!


side note:

You could use an adjustable angle wye and an open tee and make a gate in the center so you could still use the swim deck to enter and exit if you needed to.

 

[Bennie]

@sapperfitz does that also easily disassemble?

If so, I'd buy one! Hell I'd buy the instructions and parts list.

 

[sapperfitz]

@sapperfitz Could you post a couple more close-ups of the bimini top rod holders? I've been thinking about doing something like this and looking for some more ideas. TIA!

I used these https://www.etrailer.com/Boat-Accessories/BoatBuckle/IMF15435.html but the foam is too soft and the rods will fall out of the foam part and end up just being supported by the strap. I'm going to find something better.

 

[sapperfitz]

I think you have a fish on that one rod already.....

Nice job!


side note:

You could use an adjustable angle wye and an open tee and make a gate in the center so you could still use the swim deck to enter and exit if you needed to.

That is a good idea. It's actually pretty easy to climb in between the two horizontal rails, but flipping up the top rail would make it even easier. If we want to transition to wakeboarding we flip the entire rack up and strap it to the tower in the "up" position. I'd go install it a take a pic like that but I'm currently in a sling for a broken clavicle my dirt bike gave me.

 

[sapperfitz]

@sapperfitz does that also easily disassemble?

If so, I'd buy one! Hell I'd buy the instructions and parts list.

I made it so it could be broken down into three parts by removing four bolts but have found it is easier to store assembled.

 

[sapperfitz]

Thanks for all of the responses and compliments. It makes early morning fishing trips more tolerable for my wife and kids, knowing when it gets hot and the bite dies down, we can pull off the downrigger, flip the rack up and go wakeboarding and tubing. I"ll try to put together a parts list and a how-to sort of post sometime this week.

 

[sapperfitz]

@Kodey Alright, so I know I said I'd put together a parts list 8 months ago........ I've attached the invoices from the big parts I ordered online. I ordered from Rock West Composites Rock West Composites - Engineered Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass & Kevlar and Buy Railings BuyRailings - Handrails, Foot Rails, Bar Rails, Brass Railings and Tubing .

I ordered the carbon fiber tubes in that size because they were significantly discounted at the time. I did have to build up the outside diameter in order to fit the aluminum pieces. I started out using fiberglass but found something much easier, Fiberfix. FiberFix This stuff is available at home improvement stores and is easy to work with. I built it up slightly larger than needed and sanded it down with a bench belt sander to a snug fit inside the aluminum. Anywhere I placed an aluminum piece on the carbon fiber tubes, I inserted a piece of perfectly sized poplar dowel inside the tube to add crush resistance. I made the dowel piece 3 inches longer than the aluminum fitting on each side. I had to take a piece of the carbon fiber tube with me when searching for dowels to find the perfect size.

I cut the carbon fiber using a band saw and used masking tape at each cut to prevent fraying. Make sure you wear a mask.

I replaced the allen head tension bolts that come with the aluminum handrail components with stainless bolts that protrude into the carbon fiber tube and poplar dowel 3/4 of the way into the total diameter. I predrilled holes for those in the tube and wood. Used Blue threadlocker on everything.

 

[Kodey]

Thanks so much!!

 

[sapperfitz]

Thanks so much!!

No problem. Good luck. Let me know if you need more details.

 

[Wisefam22]

@sapperfitz kind of related. Are you alternating motors when trolling or just both in forward and using bucket to slow down?

 

[sapperfitz]

@sapperfitz kind of related. Are you alternating motors when trolling or just both in forward and using bucket to slow down?

I can get down to about 1.8 MPH using just 1 engine. With the E-Series buckets, you can't just drag a bucket with the engine off because when the engine is turned off, the bucket automatically comes back up. If I need to get slower, I tie a 24 inch(ish) drift sock to the bow eye. I run an engine for about .5 hours, then switch to the other.