Help with trolling mast...

[saljeter]

Hey Guys! I bought a big john trolling mast over the winter from a member on the this site. I do not have any instruction or diagrams on how to get everything set up. I have the mounting bracket set up with no issues. My problem has been getting the string run through the pulleys correctly which should only be common sence but be nice. I am completely new at this trolling mast stuff! Also, I have tried a set of walker boards and home made planers. They seem to want to run sideways. Now I know the otter boats work the best but I have spoken to a few proffessionals on the water and they believe that dual planer boards give you a more action to the baits. So, if anyone has some input to my problems and pics of their set ups. I would really be thankful for the help. God bless and keep em tight boys!! Sal

[turf]

Post a pic of your setup and there's a lot of guys on here that will spot what may be wrong real fast

[Knotlost]

Boards dont aways work pretty. But if its always sideways move your connection forward a little bit at a time. Dual boards work better because they are more forgiving, (read harder for dumb fishermen to screw up)  single boards need to be made spot on or they dont pull right in good conditions. No board works best, in my opinion, there function is mundane, if they go out and stay out they do there job.   There are great directions on this site for a set of dual boards but be warned they are not much cheaper than buying a set when all the cost's are figured in.

 

Some times some boards do work when other don't as good, but they all have down sides. Good boards will have there moments when they dont work like you wished they did.

 

What your looking for is for them to get out away from the boat, no matter how ugly they do it.  Depending on the, wind, current, speed of your boat, waves, direction your going, width of your boat, how high your pulleys are, weight of your boards, where your connected to the boards, if you have any shock absorbing and how ugly your first mate is will make a difference on how the boards pull.

 

You can spend a lot of time worrying about it, but don't, just go out and do it for a couple of years with what you have, you will learn what i'm talking about. Any time someone tells you "something" works better than "something" else its normally dependant on a dozen other things as well. 

 

If your board can get out away from the boat about 30 to 50 feet you have a starting point. Then you will "discover" that one board doesn't work as good as the other because of the the things listed above, and nothing will fix that. But magically you turn around and head the other way, and the other one doesn't work as good and the one that wasn't working is working great.

[ray koziatek]

when i made homemade boards i "tuned" them over at the  river in the current .....had a small eye screw and tried different locations till i got a good angle......kinda think of it as a bridle on a kite if your string is outa that "happy" spot the kite flies like crap,,,well same with the boards you can tune em on the water" lake" this way just the river is 1/4 mile away from the house and 20 to the lake...also keep in mind top to bottom pull as yer mast will be higher if ya tune it from the bank of a creek. once you get the good spot then you can install the good threaded eye bolt ,and seal all the holes...as for the pully and string ,yer kinda scaring me if ya cant figure that out and yer driving a car or boat,or walking............................well at least mine only have 1 pully and 1 string so even I figured that out on my own..

[Xxx]

I'm with you on that one Ray!!!! Over the top and out, 10-4

[saljeter]

Haha! No reason to be scared about the pulleys! Just pretty frustrated and needed some good laughs. Seriously though, I knew there are tricks to tuning the boards. This is the best way to get help. I gotta say have a little fun with it. Thanks so much for your help and anymore tips please do share!