This clever alternative to outriggers enables you to slow-troll live or rigged baits to port and starboard off any boat. Materials are for two, but instructions are for one; build a mirror image for a pair.
Materials
- Four 14-inch sections of two-by-four lumber
- Two 12-inch-by-14-inch pieces of sheet aluminum (smooth finish)
- Four 3-inch stainless-steel wood screws
- Two 1⁄4-inch-by-8-inch stainless eye bolts
- Two 1⁄4-inch stainless-steel locknuts (same thread as eye bolts)
- Four No. 10 3⁄4-inch stainless-steel machine screws
- Four No. 10 stainless-steel locknuts (same thread as machine screws)
- Two 6-ounce cigar sinkers
- Two flat-line release clips
1. Cut an angle on two 14-inch sections of two-by-four, 2 1⁄2 inches from one end.
2. Cut two 12-inch-by-14-inch pieces of sheet aluminum and sandwich each between an angled and uncut section of two-by-four.
3. With one angled two-by-four facing right (for starboard planer) and the other left (for port), line up top edges and drill pilot holes for screws midway and rear (through one board and sheet aluminum), then secure both sets with wood screws.
4. Drill through each assembly and secure eye bolt (facing same side as angled board) with locknuts.
5. Clip snap swivels to ends of two 6-ounce cigar sinkers, align with bottom edges of aluminum, then drill pilot holes to affix swivels with machine screws and locknuts.
6. Drill hole on bottom rear corner of aluminum sheets to attach flat-line release clips.
Note: You will need two 20- to 30-foot lengths of paracord or similar small-diameter rope fastened to the eye bolts on the planer boards to tie off gunwale cleats when deployed.
