How to Install Power Downrigger

Downriggers are used to troll baits at the particular depth where the fisherman believes the fish are most likely to be found. Downriggers include a cable, usually made from steel, wound around a spool with a weight on the end. The downrigger includes a counter allowing you to see how much cable you have let out and a crank of some kind for releasing and recovering the line. A line from a fishing rod is attached to a downrigger line and when the fish strikes the fishing line comes loose. Downrigger cables often descend to depths below 50 feet and electrically powered downriggers make their recovery easier.

Things You'll Need

  • Electric drill
  • 1 1/8 inch keyhole saw
  • Two 20-foot lengths of insulated, 10 gauge wire
  • Wire stripper
  • 12 volt battery
  • Electric receptacle
  • 30 amp fuse
  • Fuse holder
  • 6-inch length of insulated, 10 gauge wire
  • Two woodscrews
  • Screwdriver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drill a 1 1/8 inch hole in a vertical surface in the interior of your boat near where you intend to mount your electric downrigger using an electric drill and a 1 1/8 inch keyhole saw.

    • 2

      Strip 1/4 inch of insulation from both ends of two 20-foot lengths of insulated, 10 gauge wire using a wire stripper. Attach one end of one wire to the positive terminal of a 12 volt battery. Fasten one end of the other wire to the negative terminal of the same battery.

    • 3

      Route both wires to the interior of the hole you drilled. Attach the wire from the negative battery terminal to the terminal marked 1 on the receptacle included with your downrigger.

    • 4

      Attach a 30 amp fuse and fuse holder to the end of the wire connected to the positive battery terminal.

    • 5

      Strip 1/4 inch of insulation from both ends of a 6-inch length of insulated, 10 gauge wire using a wire stripper. Attach one end of the 6-inch long wire to the open end of the fuse holder and fuse. Attach the other end of this wire to the terminal marked 2 on the receptacle.

    • 6

      Push the receptacle and all loose wires into the 1 1/8 inch hole. Secure the receptacle to the hull using the two screw holes predrilled in the face of the receptacle, two woodscrews and a screwdriver.

    • 7

      Bolt the tilt up mounting bracket supplied with this downrigger to the gunwale of your boat where you intend to mount your downrigger. Use the bolts supplied with the downrigger following the instructions that came with it. The instructions should include details on how close to mount the bracket to the edge of the gunwale so the downrigger brake handle has clearance for tilting.

    • 8

      Drill any necessary mounting holes in your gunwale using an electric drill.

    • 9

      Slide the downrigger onto the mounting bracket and secure the downrigger to the bracket according to the instructions. Plug the power cord and plug on the side of your downrigger into the power receptacle you installed in your gunwale.