Canon downrigger mounting locations 255 FSH

[bunrockter]

I got into a 255 FSH in October last year. I'm now taking the gear off of my old boat and putting it on to the new one.

I've read about people mounting their downriggers by using gimbal pole mounts and placing them in the pole holders. While that's okay, I was trying to find a more permanent way to mount them and get them out of the way. I'm also uncertain of how formidable the pole holders are.

Has anybody ever mounted cannon downriggers onto the swim platform? I saw one gentleman who used a table mount that isn't available on my boat and ran his downrigger off of that.

But I'm specifically wondering on the 255 FSH if anybody found a place for a permanent mount point.

I circled two locations on the attached photo. I'm wondering if I could put a backer plate underneath the step and mount them at the circled locations.

I would have to go in through the cup holder, or possibly figure out how to remove the table mount.

Any input is welcome.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

While I do not have the 255 FSH I do have a 210 FSH and have been running my Canon Unitrol 10 down riggers use the OEM rod holders with the Canon gimbal mount in the rod holders. Have yet to have an issue with them holding the down riggers. I run mine pretty close to mid ships and run up to 12# weights depending on speed…

I usually run two amid ships, but occasionally I’ll run a third one off of the furthest aft rod holder and swing the boom around to the center line of the boat to keep maximum separation between the rigs, which means I have to sit on the swim step when I’m deploying the set up. That’s not nearly as comfortable as doing it from amid ships…

Where are you fishing and what for?

 

[bunrockter]

While I do not have the 255 FSH I do have a 210 FSH and have been running my Canon Unitrol 10 down riggers use the OEM rod holders with the Canon gimbal mount in the rod holders. Have yet to have an issue with them holding the down riggers. I run mine pretty close to mid ships and run up to 12# weights depending on speed…

I usually run two amid ships, but occasionally I’ll run a third one off of the furthest aft rod holder and swing the boom around to the center line of the boat to keep maximum separation between the rigs, which means I have to sit on the swim step when I’m deploying the set up. That’s not nearly as comfortable as doing it from amid ships…

Where are you fishing and what for?

Thanks for the info. That's good to hear you haven't had any issues with the stock rod holders.

I'm currently fishing for trout, lake trout, and Kokanee.

Someday I might take it out to the West Coast and do some rock fishing and maybe some halibut. But I don't know if I would use the downrigger for that.

 

[TeenGee]

There is what looks like a reinforced area on the sides of the T-top that might be intended for out-riggers. Could you use those?

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Thanks for the info. That's good to hear you haven't had any issues with the stock rod holders.

I'm currently fishing for trout, lake trout, and Kokanee.

Someday I might take it out to the West Coast and do some rock fishing and maybe some halibut. But I don't know if I would use the downrigger for that.

I’m fishing for the same species…. The glass is pretty thick on the cap rails and there three screws so there’s a fair amount of meat for them to gain purchase on.

Last year when I was fishing at Lake Mohave I was hooked up on a decent striper and I didn’t notice the bottom come up and one weight got hung up in the rocks, it sheared the cross pin off in the rod holder and did lift the rod holder slightly… I’m still surprised something didn’t fail. I made temp repairs with one through bolt and a washer.

When I got home I ordered a gemlux rod holder and backing plate. That rod holder now has three bolts and a backing plate. All that to say, you can probably get a backing plate and replace the screws with through bolts and washers. Or just don’t let your gear get caught in the bottom lol!

 

[bunrockter]

Bummer on the snag. Good info. Thank you!

 

[bunrockter]

There is what looks like a reinforced area on the sides of the T-top that might be intended for out-riggers. Could you use those?

I'll give it a look.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

There is what looks like a reinforced area on the sides of the T-top that might be intended for out-riggers. Could you use those?

Outriggers are quite a bit different than down riggers… Outriggers get your lines out away from the boat, and are used with either top running baits or can be used with diving baits.

Downriggers use a heavy lead ball with a line release to get your baits down to where the fish are hanging out. For salmon and lake trout that can be 60-100’ down.

 

[TeenGee]

The aft cup/rod holder combos are installed with through bolts with nuts & washers on the inside. Should be plenty sturdy.
The stern of my 2024 255FSH looks very different than yours. The most obvious are my helm chair is bolted to the deck not the engine hatch and there are 4 seats behind the helm.

 

[bunrockter]

The aft cup/rod holder combos are installed with through bolts with nuts & washers on the inside. Should be plenty sturdy.
The stern of my 2024 255FSH looks very different than yours. The most obvious are my helm chair is bolted to the deck not the engine hatch and there are 4 seats behind the helm.

When you say aft rod holders, are you referring to the ones on the swim platform or the one's just in board of the swim platform that are next to the hatches?

That picture isn't actually my boat, I typed in 255 FSH swim platform and grab the first picture that came up. Good catch I didn't notice that it didn't look correct.

 

[TeenGee]

The pair that are on either side of the clean-out plug hatch.
They have a larger metal ring than the cup holders.
The pair on either side of the anchor locker are also cup/rod holder combos.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

The aft cup/rod holder combos are installed with through bolts with nuts & washers on the inside. Should be plenty sturdy.
The stern of my 2024 255FSH looks very different than yours. The most obvious are my helm chair is bolted to the deck not the engine hatch and there are 4 seats behind the helm.

Very nice boat dock!

 

[TeenGee]

Thanks. One of the advantages of Florida.