Operating a downrigger with canvas canopy extended

[River Bank]

Hello
I've just acquired two Scotty downriggers and plan on trying them out in the next week or so.
Do I need to retract the canvas canopy over the cockpit or would I be able to operate the downriggers efficiently with the canopy deployed on a 2010 R25?
Bob

 

[Zundels]

We have a very similar 2009 R-25 with canopy and used two Scotty down riggers daily in Kodiak, AK. When mounting them we had to adjust so that they fit between the canopy stainless bars. Our down riggers had about a one foot rod and that provided enough extension to fish easily. The Scotty comes with a swivel so when near the dock you can flip them up so you don't damage them hitting a dock. As you fit them inside of the canopy rails you may not get the option to flip up.

On the return trip we would unscrew the long bolt and remove the down rigger from the base mount to remove any chance of damage when docking.

We always fished with the canopy installed and up because of our weather to protect the fisherman. If you had sunny weather and pulled the pins from canopy poles you would have a very open cockpit for fishing though. We just found it much easier to leave the canopy for protection on the wet and damp fishing trips or in the rare occasion to provide shade on a sunny day.

Don

 

[River Bank]

Thanks Don:

I just wanted that reassurance as I didn't want to go out on the water only to discover the downriggers needed more room to operate effectively. Hope the "Polar Vortex" missed you up there in Alaska!

Cheers, Bob

 

[mspaugy]

My scotty downriggers have five foot booms and are mounted on swivel bases. I swivel them inboard when docking.