Fishing from a Sundancer?

[ArtWallach]

Does anybody fish from a 310DA or similar Sundancer? I have been seriously considering doing some fishing on GaleFORCE.
I currently have no carpeting in the cockpit. I would remove the aft bench & cushion from the transom and the SB bench & cushion and stow them below for the day. I have only 2 rod holders and I would use a cooler for the catch. I was considering making a "Leaning Post" by utilizing the pole from the table, a sheet of starboard and 4 rodholders. (see Pic for example)
How do you guys fish? Any ideas?
http://www.leetackle.com/images/rl1542w-drawer.png
http://www.arrigonidesign.com/RTL-1.jpg​

 

[Bucit]

That's a great idea. Perfect spot for it. I've fished off my 280 beofre. You just have to be careful of a hook getting stuk in the cushions. Other than that no problems.

 

[tdappleman]

I fish off my 270 - the aft bench makes a nice spot to watch the lines. I added 4 rod holders and also use a cooler for the fish. My only additional plan was to add tie downs to the swim platform for the extra cooler to free up some additional room in the cockpit. As Bucit says the seats need a little extra care but the floor rinses easily. The boat trolls nicely on one engine at about 3.5 knots.

 

[boltman]

I had my 2006 320 rigged completely for salmon fishing... and it was awesome... twin 350 o/d and the wife drove the boat while I fished...you'll be fine..

 

[Hampton]

Caught several fish on a '97 250 for 10 years. Biggest was a 6' sail fish - held it down on the back seat for a photo - stained the seat forever - just be careful.

 

[Gunn]

My only additional plan was to add tie downs to the swim platform for the extra cooler to free up some additional room in the cockpit.

I'd like to find some nice way of storing a cooler on the swim platform at all times to free up some cockpit space; if you find a good idea, please post!

I purchased three rod holders for my 280DA, but have yet to install them. Any weekend now....as the fishing season here is in high gear and I better hurry up!

Tom

 

[ch435]

I fish from my 280da once in a while. Usually off the back bench, or even on the swim platform.
Either spot works well for me.

 

[trit21]

If you use the existing table holder in the floor make sure it is secured well to the floor so you don't rip out the screws when leaning on it during some heavier seas and fighting a fish. Mine has a backing plate under the platform but then again it is made for a fighting chair and not just a table.

 

[ArtWallach]

Trit21 ... Thanks for the heads up about leaning on it. My plan is only for additional rod storage while running to the fishing grounds and perhaps if we have more than 2 people fishing a place to deadstick the rod. It would be nice to have the extra room for a cutting board too.

 

[mistercomputerman]

I'd like to find some nice way of storing a cooler on the swim platform at all times to free up some cockpit space; if you find a good idea, please post!

I purchased three rod holders for my 280DA, but have yet to install them. Any weekend now....as the fishing season here is in high gear and I better hurry up!

Tom

http://www.iboats.com/Igloo-Cooler-Tie-Down-Kit/dm/view_id.259655

http://store.coolcoolerparts.com/9797.html

 

[Bob & Sue]

We salmon fish and crab both on a 270 with 2 flush mounted 30 deg rod hod holders with penn downriggers penn makes a 30 deg mount that you can remove when when your done. I just use the back cleats to secure a large chest on the platform and remove it when were done makes it easy to get them home to clean and there's no need to bring the fish aboard.

 

[larrytbull]

go fishing all the time with my 330 I added 4 rod holders at transom above locker, usually I will take aft seat off the boat for more room to walk around, everything rinses off pretty good

 

[Creekwood]

Here is a pic my downrigger set up. They are manual ("armstrong":wink Scotty's on portable Walker mounts that slide into the 30degree rod holders. When I am done, it all gets put away The cooler sometimes gets tied onto the swim platform if we have a few extra people on board and need some more space.

Trolling speed is a bit of an issue. I have to run on one engine as well to get down to the 2.5 to 3.0 mph that is good for Kings up here. Single engine control with vDrives at idle speed on a 33+ ft boat is not great in a breeze.

 

[tdappleman]

I'd like to find some nice way of storing a cooler on the swim platform at all times to free up some cockpit space; if you find a good idea, please post!

I purchased three rod holders for my 280DA, but have yet to install them. Any weekend now....as the fishing season here is in high gear and I better hurry up!

Tom

I use this in my cockpit for my normal cooler. I plan to add an additional set to the swim platform for the fish cooler. Works great - honestly haven't found any negatives yet.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10119&subdeptNum=11415&classNum=11420

 

[Bo10LI]

Good timing for this question as fishing picks up here now. Anyone run any kind of spreader lights for fishing in the dark?
Nice fish guys.

 

[Gunn]

http://www.iboats.com/Igloo-Cooler-Tie-Down-Kit/dm/view_id.259655

http://store.coolcoolerparts.com/9797.html

I use this in my cockpit for my normal cooler. I plan to add an additional set to the swim platform for the fish cooler. Works great - honestly haven't found any negatives yet.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10119&subdeptNum=11415&classNum=11420

Thanks for the suggestions. The first set of brackets look like too many screws to drill into the swim platform...the last link looks smaller and nicer but would still leave a permanent bracket on the platform. I guess there is no perfect "removable" setup.

Tom

 

[Bucit]

Thanks for the suggestions. The first set of brackets look like too many screws to drill into the swim platform...the last link looks smaller and nicer but would still leave a permanent bracket on the platform. I guess there is no perfect "removable" setup.Tom

It looks like the second set of brackets retract and are flush when not in use. Kind of like cleats on go fast boats I assume?

 

[HUMPH]

WM carries an ice chest hold down kit that uses stainless turnbuckles. The only thing on your platform would be two very small stainless plates with a 1/4" threaded hole. I had them on my 320 and will most likely install them on the 410. They work well enough that I often ran on plane with the ice chest on the SP.

 

[Gunn]

It looks like the second set of brackets retract and are flush when not in use. Kind of like cleats on go fast boats I assume?

WM carries an ice chest hold down kit that uses stainless turnbuckles. The only thing on your platform would be two very small stainless plates with a 1/4" threaded hole. I had them on my 320 and will most likely install them on the 410. They work well enough that I often ran on plane with the ice chest on the SP.

Ahhhh so maybe the lower "eye" in the turnbuckle slides out and is removable when not in use? That would be great. I'll have to see If our west marine store has it in stock to check them out better.

 

[Hampton]

My big cooler had lines with wooden handles on each end. I lashed them to the back seat's seat back (pallindromemordnillap?) with a dock line to secure the cooler to the boat while it rested on the swim platform. It worked great for the big fishing days and was easily removed for beach days.