Crestliner 1850 Sportfish gunnel

[strongboat_]

my dad has always wanted to own a boat, and recently got a sweet deal on a 2003 Crestliner 1850 Sportfish, and he's super stoked about it. It's got a 115 Yamaha and a matching kicker, and it's a beauty.
The one thing he needs to get it set up for fishing is some downriggers, but the gunnels on this thing are just too narrow for the swivel bases.

We were looking at track systems, but the gunnels have this 3/4" thick flotation spray on the underside that's getting in the way, those tracks are pretty pricey.
We're trying to figure out what other good solutions people have come up with for this kind of setup.

He's open to removing some of that flotation spray if he has to, but we're hoping there's a better way. Any ideas or tips would be awesome

 

[metall1ca19]

My uncle had the same problem with his Crestliner. He used backing plates under the gunnel with a shorter track system , only had to trim a little bit of the flotation spray to make it fit. Its been solid for a few seasons and way cheaper than a full track setup.

 

[Winterpolice]

my dad has always wanted to own a boat, and recently got a sweet deal on a 2003 Crestliner 1850 Sportfish, and he's super stoked about it. It's got a 115 Yamaha and a matching kicker, and it's a beauty.
The one thing he needs to get it set up for fishing is some downriggers, but the gunnels on this thing are just too narrow for the swivel bases.

We were looking at track systems, but the gunnels have this 3/4" thick flotation spray on the underside that's getting in the way, those tracks are pretty pricey.
We're trying to figure out what other good solutions people have come up with for this kind of setup.

He's open to removing some of that flotation spray if he has to, but we're hoping there's a better way. Any ideas or tips would be awesome

What about clamp-on downrigger mounts made for narrow gunnels, or adjustable track systems that fit around the flotation spray without needing to remove it?

 

[HungerGames]

That's a sweet setup your dad scored, that 115 Yamaha with a kicker is perfect. For the downriggers, tracks can work, but yeah, pricey and tricky with that foam