Remote Controlled Downrigger

  Thats real cool!  Now all you need to do is change out the reel for one with a built in line counter so you'll know exactly how deep (Or how much line is actually out)   Where did you find the PM PCBA?

Wow.  Just...wow.   

thats just awesome!  wishing my fab skills were like that!

Very Rube Goldberg of you Dr. Q
 Looks good Doug I have been thinking that's the only way I would put a wire on my Yak I guess that puppy won't be seeing any Salt action or do you have more plans for it?

Very creative. You've got great engineering skillz. You know, you could have made it much simpler if you just got a Hobie...  

amazing, if I ever have any ideas to develop I know who I'm gonna call   Are you an inventor by profession?

for sure I have to go with some sort of downrigger when salmon fishing resumes Dropping all that lead on the ocean floor is a terrible thing

How long did the entire project take and what was the final cost?

Not really sure.  I started it two years ago after my Moss Landing experience.  But when the salmon season got canceled, and I was having trouble working the electronic/relay system, I didn't finish it off.  Again, with the salmon season canceled, I didn't renew my interest until around February when I got thinking about Almanor.  Had to change the gearmotor and that meant I had to totally rework the design.  In selecting reel, need one with flat rim or faceplate that you can replace with a rim that you can attach your motor bracket to.  Biggest technical problem to overcome was interface between reel and motor shaft, bcz inner threads were nonstandard I couldn't just make a threaded adaptor and the space between the star drag and end of reel shaft is very short on most reels, leaving little room to put a retaining pin in, even if you could thread an adaptor. 

Time spent?  Hard to say.  I'd have to add up the hours I spend in bed mulling over possible technical solutions.

Cost:  The reel was about $60 off Ebay.  Remote transmitter/receiver runs about $24.  Pulse Width modulator about $30 (probably not needed).  Bracket, etc. the cost of some ABS and oak.  Could make a lot simpler/cheaper if settle for wired control, e.g. coiled telephone wire could snap onto a membrane switch pad on the paddle.  Less elegant solution but much easier to do.  I also had a Scotty Lake Troller and used the base, but that would add cost too.

Now all you need to do is change out the reel for one with a built in line counter so you'll know exactly how deep

I could use a line counter reel or add a separate counter to the Scotty  Lake Troller arm.  But that's not very convenient if the unit is mounted behind you or forward of your paddle stroke since it would be hard to see the readout.  Instead I rely on seeing the downrigger weight showing up on the FF to let me know it's at the same depth as the fish markings.

Where did you find the PM PCBA?

 

Not sure what this refers to, is it the pulse width modulator motor control?  Can find them on Ebay.

I guess that puppy won't be seeing any Salt action or do you have more plans for it?

 
I actually aimed to use this for salmon trolling but wonder if I'll ever get the opportunity to use it.  The harsher environment certainly can cause some issues.  Motor casing is really not stainless steel or water proof; dunking it in salt would probably kill it.  I encased the remote board in silicon to water proof it.  But the battery contacts needed to be free, and were covered with dielectric grease.  But even the fresh water exposure has cause corrosion.  I'll have to rework the remote holder so the battery compartment is water-tight.

You know, you could have made it much simpler if you just got a Hobie...

Where's the creative fun in that?

Are you an inventor by profession?

I wish...

             

Doug, this is still one of the coolest solutions/inventions ever! I think we should test it on the Moss salmon soon.

Very Cool

KUDOS to you Doug. You are one creative innovative engineer and a kayak angler TOO! Very impressive piece of work there.  Where did you get the tx/rx pcba with the just right size transmitter to mount to your paddle?

Damn, that is very creative piece of work!! Doug, you are "Q" and I mean it in the utmost respectful way

PK, thanks for bumping this thread up for those who haven't seen this fabulous work