downrigger ball cradle?

[luckydude]

I have 2 or 3 12 pound balls and 2 15 pound balls that I use for salmon fishing. They currently live in the cuddy, aft of the porta potty. I spread a towel there and put them on top of that so there is less of a chance they will beat up the boat.

That's better than nothing, but I feel like I can, and should, do better. The mental image of those balls getting airborne and coming down on the hull makes me cringe.

What do you do with your balls? (smirk, jk, with your downrigger balls)?

 

[glacierbaze]

Get one of those plastic soda crates, made for 2 liter bottles, that are about 5 inches high. put that on the towel, or put silicone bumpers on the bottom.

 

[luckydude]

I hate to be the guy that can't google, but I searched for "plastic 2 liter soda crates" and couldn't find them.
I like the idea, any suggestion on where you get these?

Thanks!

 

[glacierbaze]

Keep an eye out for delivery trucks, and ask the driver. Any soda distributor will have a pile of cracked, or otherwise unusable crates.
I think I googled the same thing, but then I click on images, and you can sort of zoom in on what you’re looking for, and weed out the rest.

Open this search, look in the top right corner, and sort for distance, “nearest to me”.
Link does not copy on my phone. Just search eBay for plastic 2 liter soda crates, And then sort for distance.

 

[luckydude]

Keep an eye out for delivery trucks, and ask the driver. Any soda distributor will have a pile of cracked, or otherwise unusable crates.
I think I googled the same thing, but then I click on images, and you can sort of zoom in on what you’re looking for, and weed out the rest.

Open this search, look in the top right corner, and sort for distance, “nearest to me”.
Link does not copy on my phone. Just search eBay for plastic 2 liter soda crates, And then sort for distance.

Yeah, found some on ebay. Thanks.

 

[Ryhlick]

https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Max-3005-5011-Weight-Downrigger/dp/B074D4MCZK/ref=asc_df_B074D4MCZK/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312061076067&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14241292566807716952&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032850&hvtargid=pla-570060982283&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61856009493&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312061076067&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14241292566807716952&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032850&hvtargid=pla-570060982283

These work great...

 

[luckydude]

These work great...

Yeah, that's the ticket, I think stick those in a milk crate, towel under it, and I'm good to go. Thanks!

 

[Halfhitch]

L.D. If you use those that Ryhlick recommends, you won't need to put them in a crate. I have used those for many, many miles through some water conditions that was not fun to say the least and the balls never got displaced. KIS.

 

[luckydude]

L.D. If you use those that Ryhlick recommends, you won't need to put them in a crate. I have used those for many, many miles through some water conditions that was not fun to say the least and the balls never got displaced. KIS.

Aft or forward? I was planning on putting them aft of the porta potty but that is forward from the helm and gets bounced around a bunch.
Thanks for the info, I have 6 coming.

 

[Halfhitch]

Oh, OK, I didnt realize you had plans to mount them that far forward. I had mine back near the stern. You may want bungees over each one.

 

[luckydude]

Oh, OK, I didnt realize you had plans to mount them that far forward. I had mine back near the stern. You may want bungees over each one.

OK, good to know I'm not crazy. I might just go back to the milk crate on a towel idea. I'll play around, anything is better than the mental image of a 15 pound ball up in the air and crashing on my hull.

Bit by bit, I'm getting my boat sorted, thanks.

 

[wrxhoon]

I put mine in a custom made ( plastic) container in the port side under the jump seat but I use 8 lb. On the starboard side I keep several 4.5 lb custom made, long lead sinkers. I use them for deep dropping up to 1500'. Again in a custom made plastic container. If I had to keep them in the cabin I would put them in a plastic container and the container in a milk crate .

 

[glacierbaze]

Those Rhylick linked can be used for storage, but they were meant to be screwed to the top of the gunnel, next to the downrigger, and the ball was placed there between drops, to keep it from banging the side of the boat. Back in the day, most release clips were attached to the ball, before the advent of sliding clips on the downrigger cable, so the downrigger ball was on and off the boat many times a day.

 

[luckydude]

Those Rhylick linked can be used for storage, but they were meant to be screwed to the top of the gunnel, next to the downrigger, and the ball was placed there between drops, to keep it from banging the side of the boat. Back in the day, most release clips were attached to the ball, before the advent of sliding clips on the downrigger cable, so the downrigger ball was on and off the boat many times a day.

I started with the Scotty clips that go on the ball but once I learned how to stack, I only use the clips that go on the line. Ball stays in the water, so much easier.

I think the ball holders should work in a milk crate. If they don't, I'll bolt a board to the crate and screw them down to the board, that should fix 'em.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

You'd think the downrigger ball holders like the ones linked above would have some sort of strap or cord to keep them secured at all times. I'm sure that screwing them down probably works pretty well but you could probably attach a strap or cord on them, insert through the eye of the downrigger ball and then know that they won't go flying or anything.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

looks as though I answered my own question or idea. Something like this would be a great idea and I'm sure very cheap/easy to do.

Storing your downrigger balls

Storing your downrigger balls

www.paybanks.ga

 

[glacierbaze]

If 12 and 15 pound down rigger balls are jumping out of a milk crate, I’m going back to the dock!