Downrigger install - port or starboard?

I'm ready to make the addition of a downrigger on my Revo 16. I do all my fish landing on the port side so my fish finder is mounted on the right side and I keep the port side clear of junk. Normally I'd just mount the downrigger on the port side to support my landings on that side, but that would then mean both sides of the kayak are gear encumbered in the need of a self rescue. I'm sure this must have been discussed before, but I can't find it. Thoughts?

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Which downrigger are you installing? When I finished from a Revo/Adventure I installed a little Scotty lake troller inside the mesh pocket on the port side, and that worked well as a minimalist setup.

i did the same as KPD. I'm right handed but have it on the port and my FF is also on the port side. I fish off the port side for salmon too. maybe i shouldn't have set myself up that way though. seems fine

Yes, scotty laketroller probably what I'll get to start with.

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Check this post out from pmmpete
https://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=12575.0

I’d throw your boat into some yoga mats, get on, and pantomime the motions of cranking the DR. I was going to use the cup holder as my location until I tried moving it back closer to my hip, which I found to be a better spot ergonomically. Since I’m in an Outback, im not sure the ideal mounts would be in the same places, but I think feeling it out first would give you an idea of your own preferences. 

Here’s a few shots of my four Scotty mounts, my freshwater setup and my saltwater setup. The backing plates make a huge difference as far as reducing flex and giving me confidence there is a super secure mount that isn’t doing any damage to the hull of the boat. I have plates acting as the bread, with the kayak hull being the meaty part of the “sandwich”.

Like you mentioned, I like having the DR on the fish landing side of the boat.

When I had my Adventure I installed Scotty Flush mounts at the front of the cockpit. The port side was for the DR, Starboard for  the FF. Gave me plenty of room on either side to get back in if needed.

Left side on two mighty mounts so two points of contact on gear tracks.  Just about even with seat so ever so slightly behind me, doesn't affect self rescue if needed.

I'm ready to make the addition of a downrigger on my Revo 16. I do all my fish landing on the port side so my fish finder is mounted on the right side and I keep the port side clear of junk. Normally I'd just mount the downrigger on the port side to support my landings on that side, but that would then mean both sides of the kayak are gear encumbered in the need of a self rescue. I'm sure this must have been discussed before, but I can't find it. Thoughts?

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I would say you get this right, land the fish on your dominant side and keep one side clear (at least that's what I do).

I had to put my manual DR on my AI on the starboard, bc on port it was totally awkward to wind up the ball

Thanks for all the info guys, really appreciate it. I'm going for starboard side install. Really want to keep one side clear for reentry...because I need that!  Lol.

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Here’s how I did mine on my Revo 13:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=71837.msg815632#msg815632

Here’s how I did mine on my Revo 13:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=71837.msg815632#msg815632

Great info there.

I suspect that if you use the DR much, you'll soon upgrade to the Scotty Depthmaster, rather than the Laketroller, so you might want to consider going with the Depthmaster to start with.

The great thing about getting older (and retired) is that you have an abundance of free time and tons of accumulated junk for projects. So from original question to completion in one day!

Found a nice set of older Scotty downriggers for cheap on CL and bought those last night. Visited TAP plastics to get some scrap 3/4" starboard material for a whopping $3.58, which turned out to be the only other thing I needed to buy because 30 years of power & sail boat ownership has left me with a LARGE inventory of SS hardware that I'm still working on depleting, hoping to complete that before I kack.

Thank you to everyone that contributed ideas and materials and made this possible. Very thankful!



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That was quick. It looks like a winner!