My new TOW boat.....Suggestions??????????

This is my surface TOW. I built the TOW so to determine the actual running depth of my lures at different speeds, line weights, and line out when pulling out the back of my Pondtoon.

I am doing this because there exists little information that is relevant to what is in my tackle box.

Many here may recognize the TOW platform.

I am still waiting on a cheap winch. When it arrives, I will make a removable mount or kludge for my Pondtoon, whichever comes first.

I have inline cigar weights from size 1/2 oz to 2 oz. I will be checking all weights, lures, speed, etc. by my chart.

I have covered the basics. I am always open to suggestions. There is always something overlooked in the best made plans.

The "how it works" should be evident from the pictures..

Awesome. Is your rudder adjustable to compensate for the extra drag of the transducer?

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Originally Posted by Bowhunter2

Awesome. Is your rudder adjustable to compensate for the extra drag of the transducer?

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Yes.

How about line type, & pound test/diameter on your chart, or are you only using one specific size of line on all rods being tested ??

Is 30ft of line out your max normal length, or is the chart just a "sample" showing of what you're testing ?? I ask because when we push cranks, using 2oz weights & Bandit 300's @ 1.8mph, 40-60ft of line out is "normal" when fishing the 12-18ft depths.

I figured out that it is towed behind the boat and has a transducer so you know the depth under it but cant see how it tells the depth of the lure unless the DF/FF is sensitive enough to "see" the lure on the head unit in the boat.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

How about line type, & pound test/diameter on your chart, or are you only using one specific size of line on all rods being tested ??

Is 30ft of line out your max normal length, or is the chart just a "sample" showing of what you're testing ?? I ask because when we push cranks, using 2oz weights & Bandit 300's @ 1.8mph, 40-60ft of line out is "normal" when fishing the 12-18ft depths.

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All I use is 10 pound mono. Anybody wants something different they can come ride with me and bring what they want.

30 foot is as far as I can safely extend. I rarely go over 1.5 mph. If I need deeper, I have some 3 oz and 4 oz weights to try.

My intension is to shorten up line out lengths. Cranking 100 ft line in sucks. I am trying to establish best and max line out vs weight.

The average depth @ Ky Lake (Paris Tn) is 12 foot. Good input CP.

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Originally Posted by Clint

I figured out that it is towed behind the boat and has a transducer so you know the depth under it but cant see how it tells the depth of the lure unless the DF/FF is sensitive enough to "see" the lure on the head unit in the boat.

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All lures will be tied with 3 foot 6# leader. I should see a blur across the screen (wide line). This would be the line, weight, and lure. I have seen this before when pushing. The bait would be the deepest part of the blur. I can jockey the TOW back and forth to locate the deepest point of the blur. I control line out, and, I can see where the line enters the water. This is why I ordered a spur gear winch. I can use my Dewalt drill to adjust line in/out. Of course, this is a work in progress.


Also line with lure will be close to right tube (looking aft) where the x ducer is mounted. I can see the hi viz line.

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

All I use is 10 pound mono. Anybody wants something different they can come ride with me and bring what they want.

30 foot is as far as I can safely extend. I rarely go over 1.5 mph. If I need deeper, I have some 3 oz and 4 oz weights to try.

My intension is to shorten up line out lengths. Cranking 100 ft line in sucks. I am trying to establish best and max line out vs weight.

The average depth @ Ky Lake (Paris Tn) is 12 foot. Good input CP.

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What brand/diameter mono are you using, Tom ?? Might give those, whom can't make the trip, a shot at ciphering their line size against your chart results.

I also meant to ask if your tow "line" was only 30ft in length .... (just by the looks of the picture) .... and that was your max usable length. Now knowing that you're looking at shallower avg water depths & lower speeds than what we fish, and that you're looking to fish with the least amount of line out & still get appropriate depth with the weight, I understand your reasoning.

You don't have to tell me about cranking in 100ft of line "sucking" ... at 20" of line retrieval per handle turn, that's 60 full turns of the handle :Doh: - even your 30ft length @ 20"/handle turn will take 18 turns - & that's bad enough :eek:

I use Vicious 10# mono on most all pulling poles. I use Suffix 6# for leader. Mainly because I got a good deal on the line stuff from Grizzly Jigs. I also have 2 poles with Wally Marshall Hi Viz Yellow 10#. I have the Okuma Mag 15s. You wind forever before a fish is in the boat.

My transducer cable is 40 feet max. That is the system limitation per Lowrance for 2d. I have a strain relief wire tied to the 2d cable to relieve the strain and also retrieve if something goes south. I have flotation points on the cable to prevent cable sinking. Hopefully will be able to hold the cable out of the water using the strain cable.

I will find out more when I hit the water. You can only speculate so much. Theoretically, I am on target.

My tow cable is @ 50 foot.

I will be recording most stuff on Lawrence. I will mount a unit on back rail just for this trial.

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Originally Posted by Bowhunter2

Awesome. Is your rudder adjustable to compensate for the extra drag of the transducer?

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If I can't trim the TOW out manually with a single setting over the 30 foot range, I can add a R/C remote controlled servo and steer the TOW.
Steering is always an iffy point.

Would mounting the xducer where the rudder is allow the drag of the xducer act as the rudder itself (to eliviate xducer drag on the port "toon") ...??

Rickie

I thought about that. The water displacement is about 1/2 tube (per toon) @ 20#. A mounting block of some type would be required and would drag thru the water which might create some turbulence at higher speeds. I am not sure of this.

The transducer is behind the starboard tube, but not below it. I mounted it here because of the toon displacement. The transducer should not have much influence on the direction. I am not sure of this either.

This is an open ended item. I have plenty of room for mods. I will post a picture of the ducer mount.

Transducer mount. I can move it to center fairly easily if need be.

This look familiar?

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...t/IMG_0414.jpg

click me....

Cane pole you are beyond amazing. When u finish u should be able to sell this as I bet hundreds of fisherman would pay dearly to know where their bait is. I know u are not building it to sell but boy that would really be a cool thing to have.

I'm guessing you did a trial, but I was wondering if the leading ends of the toons being "blunt" cause a "waddle" at higher speeds?

Love the concept Tom! Wouldn't expect any less from you.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by yankee doodler

I'm guessing you did a trial, but I was wondering if the leading ends of the toons being "blunt" cause a "waddle" at higher speeds?

Love the concept Tom! Wouldn't expect any less from you.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

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I haven't tested the TOW by pulling it, but it worked fairly good as an R/C boat.

Click here....
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z.../th_PT107B.mp4

Patent before all the lure makers