Need some ideas for a Transom Mounted Trolling BAR!

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I have a 17.2' Smokercraft and I want to build a Nice Trolling bar for the back of the boat.  I would like to use the existing 'Tow Hook' holes for the supports.  I was thinking about going with some Aluminum 1.25" or 2" Tube.  I was also considering 45 degree elbows or segmented cut pieces to join the top and sides (similar to a Truck Headache Rack).  It will need to clear the O.B. motor and made so that the rods can easily be reached.  I figure that the structure should being about 3.5' to 4' high.  Any advice is very much Welcomed !Cheers,/J...Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....
Reply:Just make one of thesehttp://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_017511_imageset_01?$main-Large$
Reply:Originally Posted by pxtysonJust make one of thesehttp://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_017511_imageset_01?$main-Large$
Reply:Is that your boat?City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverIs that your boat?
Reply:Is that what you'ld call a R.I.B.? What do you troll for? Sorry for all the questions, I've never been to or fished Canada, eh. City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Hey Jman, sorry to take this OT, but how did you save that sketchup file as a jpeg or picture file. I'm just starting to use sketchup and that's one thing I haven't figured out and the help menu isn't any help Fire!, Fire! Oh wait, that's my torch...Lincoln PT-225 TIGLincoln 175 MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by VipernutHey Jman, sorry to take this OT, but how did you save that sketchup file as a jpeg or picture file. I'm just starting to use sketchup and that's one thing I haven't figured out and the help menu isn't any help
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverIs that what you'ld call a R.I.B.? What do you troll for? Sorry for all the questions, I've never been to or fished Canada, eh.
Reply:On my friend's boat, we installed a trolling bar that was mounted off the deck.  The tow hooks I wouldn't think would be anchored well enough for what you are planning.  We installed something similar to a ski pylon like this....We also had to put rod holders on the deck so when mr. fish or mr stump grabbed the hook we didn't loose a rod.  don't ask us how we figured that one out.Last edited by Scott Young; 05-15-2010 at 11:41 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverIs that what you'ld call a R.I.B.?
Reply:VipernutI use SketchUP Pro (7.1.6860 version) and I'm not sure if this is the same version you're using?Position the view of your model where you want it- zoom in and out and get the rotation where you'd like it the best.Under the File menu pick File>Export> then drop down to 2D Graphic :  File>Export>2D Grahpic.When the Windows dialog box "Export 2D Graphic" pops up- go down to the lower level drop down of 'File Type' drop down arrow. Then set that value to "JPEG Image (*.jpg)" which is the forth choice down the list on my screen.  This will say the screen image as a "name.jpg" file.The file is usually a little large for internet use an often has lots of white spaces around the edges, I usually load the image files into Photoshop then crop the contents, re-size to 800x600 max size and when I save the file I save as a medium sized file so most images are only 50 to 100 k in size.Cheers,Kevin Morin
Reply:jman,here are some SketchUP sketches of a bent pipe bar for the stern of a skiff.Here the tube/pipe is 2" diameter with 6" radius bends I used the Follow Me tool in Sketchup to follow a centerline pattern of the shape.I don't know what you'd do to bolt it to the transom, I'm not familiar with the skiff- so the image just shows the pipe hanging in air behind the stern. and a screen shot of what tools I used to get *.jpg files from the model into image files.With longer legs the pipe could be bolted down the transom farther -these long legs would make the bar more rigid if bolted all the way through -top of transom and end of pipe.Then I put a kink in the pipe to make it vertical because my skiff stern has rake or lean aft.another view of the kinked bar with longer legs- again.And finally, if you don't bolt onto the stern plane of the hull -what about something that stands on plates on the gunwale? Since I don't know how the skiff is built, all these details are just ideas- hope they help your design process?Cheers,Kevin Morin
Reply:jman,I forgot to add an image- some one had done an outboard, [Google SketchUP 3D Warehouse] so I downloaded that and left a copy in this set of images.cheers,Kevin Morin
Reply:kevin those pictures look good.
Reply:Originally Posted by Scott YoungOn my friend's boat, we installed a trolling bar that was mounted off the deck.  The tow hooks I wouldn't think would be anchored well enough for what you are planning.  We installed something similar to a ski pylon like this....We also had to put rod holders on the deck so when mr. fish or mr stump grabbed the hook we didn't loose a rod.  don't ask us how we figured that one out.
Reply:Originally Posted by AquafireYes- a "RHIB" (often bastardized as RIB) is a Rigid Hulled Inflatible Boat.  The larger RHIBs like the one shown are more common for utilitarian purposes (SCUBA diving, search & rescue, police, military) than for fishing.  I have a couple friends that use them to fish and I can't figure out why- IMO they are a poor choice for a fishing machine.  Of course, the OP, being a good Albertan, knows what a good little lake fishing machine is, as he has one!
Reply:KEVIN MORIN!!  Those are FREAKING AWESOME and RIGHT on the MONEY!!  That is EXACTLY what I was looking for!!   (The Sketch-Up Tips should HELP too.., heh, heh..)  The ONE you made with the 'KinK' in the Pipe, is precisely what I imagined for my Boat.  As a matter of fact, even TWO kinks (one near the the top, would bring it right up to the rear casting deck...Also, I made a MISTAKE when I said that I wanted to use the 'Existing Tow Hook Holes' for mounting.  They holes in question are ACTUALLY the TOW PYLON stablilizer MOUNTS in the Transom!  I don't plan on Using the Tow Hook Holes unless I have to but if I can RIG something up so that the Rod Holder / Trolling BAR can tow my KIDS in a 'Fair Sized Tube' then ya.... No need for the Hooks then!I've attached some photos here to give you an idea of how WELL your design would actually Work for my Fish and Ski boat...Cheers Dude,/Joe...Last edited by jman; 05-17-2010 at 10:44 PM.Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....