Setting My Boat Up, Opinions Wanted....

So I was going to buy a new boat, BUT this one's paid off Sooo I'm setting to up to use. This will be my ongoing journal of boat upgrades. I started off with a 2010 Tracker Pro Guide V16SC. It had 5 hours on it. It has a 50hp 2 stroke mercury.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...5318542435.jpg
I used it all summer dipping trees and zipping around with the family. This year I want to fish more and compete in a lot of CDC tournament's. If got all kinds of stuff on the burner but this weekends project is Spider Riggin. I picked up a bird 571 for 149.00. I plan to mount it to the trolling motor. I also found a good deal on a T-250-H. I'm curious if this picture looks good? Is there a reason not to do it this way? I've tested and there's enough room for everything to function...opinions?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...ae066a19c0.jpg

Can you deploy the TM? Hard to tell in the pic.

Yessir, just barley but it goes!

you want your holders close enough to you so that you dont have to lean forward all the time to pick them up for one thing

:hesaid Good advice IMO :twocents

That wont be a problem. I'm changing the seating around a but. It's got the 2-3/8 seat bases so there's no good way to add two seats upfront. Not sure what I'll do yet, maybe just lawn chairs.

put that rack down on the floor close to your seat now, if you leave it up there you will be reaching up all the time, and I dont think you wull get two seats upthere because of boat getting narrow at the bow

Get it down, you want the holders just about level with your knees and close enough you can just reach forward and lift them out of holders. Reaching out and up or bending over all day gets mighty tiresome. Buy or build you a mount to get your finder up enough you can see it with out binding over and squinting.

Alright fellas I'm taking your advice and moving It down. I'm not sure how much I will spider rig compared to pullin cranks. But I wanted the option.

I have mine set 6" in front of me at hand level. you do no want to be makng a bunch of movement all day and you will miss hits

10-4, I bought the wrong mount yesterday for my trolling motor. Sooooooo back to cabelas today!

Nice boat! Can you tell me where you found the 571 on clearance?

Well after another trip to cabela's I have the right mount in my hands. Hopefully I can button this part of the project up.

fishnb -- bass pro in independence had it. It was their last one, but she said there was 16 left in the system. So maybe they could order one.

You can order an adaptor from BPS that will go in the seat pedestal of your boat and convert it to the 3/4" pin. Then you can use a double seat setup from about anywhere. In fact I seen Olesilverside's has one of Gene's double seat bases for sale on the new MO Off Topic classified sticky. The other guys are right about moving the rod rack down and closer to where your seats will sit. Lots of the pros on the tournament trail use folding chairs. They are just hard to transport around with you in the boat. The best crappie fisherman on Truman lake uses old school chairs for rigging. So no need for a high dollar setup. For now you can put your current seat in the boat and sit down. Then put the 250 holder in front of you and put your foot on the base to hold it up. Then rest your palms on your knees. You will want the holder just out of your fingers reach. That way when the rods are in there you have room to keep your knee's from hitting them but will still be able to touch the rods. I like to rest my fingers on the end of the rods when it is a light bite. You can feel the bite before you ever see it.

Well after some measuring up front and looking at some pictures on line it appears I can fit two people just fine. I am now thinking I should go with two 3 rod holder and maybe use them as double duty for pulling cranks! What do you think of this style of rod holder fo pulling cranks?

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...IMG_571411.jpg

I'm thinking these because I can mount them off set on the front a little. That seams to be the prefered way.

Go down through this thread and check out these Spider Locks. These are some fine, sturdy holders that are very easy to adjust.

I would rather have holders that are open on rear lower side for easy
removal and hook set on rigging set up.

Hi tek rod holders are about the best you can buy. You have to use a 1/2 inch wrench to adjust them, but it's actually easier to use them as they don't slip as much as some other brands and they come out of the rod holders very easy. I've used both and like the hi tek much better. Those with plastic handles are hard to adjust and keep adjusted right.

X2 on the Hi teks!

I just set our boat up. I bought two sets of Spider Locks from Gene Johnson down by Jackson Ms. They are very nice and easy to adjust. Gene goes by E-Z poleholder on here. Great guy, and fair priced. I looked at a lot of rod holders before I decided on the Spider Locks. Just my opinion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crappie 1

I just set our boat up. I bought two sets of Spider Locks from Gene Johnson down by Jackson Ms. They are very nice and easy to adjust. Gene goes by E-Z poleholder on here. Great guy, and fair priced. I looked at a lot of rod holders before I decided on the Spider Locks. Just my opinion.

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Do you have any pictures? Can you pull cranks out the back?

Well after a little more thought I called Cumberland Crappie. I'd like to say how nice and helpful of a fella he is. Answered every question I had, steered me in the right direction, gave me a little break took the order and we are set. I did end up with the pro series. It is a bigger rod holder but I wanted something big enough to wrangle a big ol kitty kat fish!!! I got six mounts so I can spider rig, troll crank baits/drift fish those kitty kats, and fish off the back in current. He was confident enough that it sold me! Will update when they get here...
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...fa8df1f09f.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...e9c38ae098.jpg

The pro's are the larger, might be over kill on Riggin but did I mention those kats? Another huge plus for me made in the Good Ol USA.