Found pretty good deal on a pair of downriggers. Need some input!

[GregL]

Thanks all!! Great info!

A fish hawk will probably come next year, If I do it this year the finance department will kill me HAHAHA!

[GregL]

Here is my plan to re-enforce the gunnels for the down riggers. I didn't want to have anything on top of the decks because we often stand on them to cast and net fish.

I plan on trimming the aluminum to match the profile of the Traxtech bracket and paint it black. This has reduced the flex probably at least by 50%. I think it might good now
because at least all the force is not all on the gunnels now but I have a few ideas to make it stronger. 

If your curious the holes close to the bottom bend were because even though I had 2 - 2 X 10 pieces bolted to hold the part flat while bending the first piece was sliding as it bent
and was twisting. So I lag bolted the aluminum down to a piece of a 4x4 I had lying around LOL! This let me bend it without getting that twist as it bent.

As a fun test I'm going to try re-hardening the aluminum bracket today. If that doesn't work a friend will weld a second piece to the inside that should stiff it up enough to prevent
any flexing.


It sucks not having a TIG welder. I could have done the entire job in an hour if I was just welding and not bending this 1/4 inch aluminum!