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+--- Thread: pontoon pimpin II (/showthread.php?tid=646217)
pontoon pimpin II - albinotrout - 02-16-2011
Well this last fall I scored a great deal on a Leigh Striker II to go with my striker I that I already had. So starting in January I began the arduous journey of preparing it for some fishin time this spring. At first I was thinking of just using it for parts until I got a real good looksy at the condition it was in. Not bad for 12 years old! I had to replace the velcro that held the bladders in place, have a foot rest built to replace the one that was lost in Pelican (that was the story I was told anyway), and a few necessary adjustments. Started then to make rod holders and a place for the fish finder and the transducer which is attached to right oar lock arm. Since I liked how I had them on my striker I, I decided to copy the design with a couple of tweaks. The holders I found needed a stronger hold for I lost two last year at Starvation Reservoir so I used threaded PVC which helps to hold it in place and still give me the needed range of movement. I modified the arm that held the FF up where I can see it. I angled it out more from the handle than before. I angled the net holder out from me for I found that when I had it straight up not only did I get wet but the netting got caught on the attachment to the frame. This will angle it out for a better fit. I found I needed to build a new motor mount for my old one was falling apart. So I made a hard choice of removing two rod holders from right behind the seat.
Found that they were in the way anyway. So I needed to come up with a plan to carry a couple more rods. I ended up making a 4 rod holder off of one side of the railing. I also raised the railing up a bit. By the time I get done playing around I will probably lower it down a bit. I changed some of the building materials. I went to Schedule 80 PVC for the cross braces instead of the schedule 40 that I had used before. Still 1 inch though. For the railing I incresed the size from 1/2" to 3/4" using schedule 80 again for strength. On the Striker I I had a metal bracket attached for a navigation light behind the left side of the seat. I replaced that by attaching it to the railing of the motor mount/rack. I think it will help with the weight and increase the visual aspect for the light. I added a sushi board this time using some elastic band stuff that TD gave me this last year. Using my leatherwork skills I usied rivets and snaps to attach it to the current snaps in place for the stripping apron. Still have a little to do to make it fishing ready but won't take long now...
On the stiker I I revisited it by attaching foot rests to it that I made last year and couldn't get to fit right using the conduit brackets that I had used previously. I came up with a better idea using pipe clamps. 4 #20's and 4 #12's. I used the Striker II as a model and attached the pipe clamps to where the main frame attached to the pontoon holders. Worked very well and I believe will hold better. Without a motor mount/rack for the Striker 1 I needed to find something to use. Since the Stiker II came with a rack I am going to use it. All I need to do is add a little PVC for attachment to the toon and it will work. It came with two straps through the tubes and I still can't figure out how it was suppose to attach so I will make it work with a little change.[
] Also I have a rod holder that attaches to the outside D rings on the toon that holds a total of four rods.[signature]
Re: [albinotrout] pontoon pimpin II - cpierce - 02-16-2011
Nice engineering!
How large of a motor are you using?
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Re: [cpierce] pontoon pimpin II - albinotrout - 02-16-2011
Minn Kota 34. I might try riggin the stiker I with the 30 in power float and see how it handles with that!
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Re: [albinotrout] pontoon pimpin II - MatchT - 02-16-2011
Very nice albino trout! really cool setup!
are your rod holder's compatible with fly rods? I also want to know what tool you use to cut the notches in the pvc for the rods.
..i am interested in being able to have a fly rod in a holder as I troll in my pontoon( similar to yours)...i have an 8' fish cat pontoon with an oem rod holder that only allows the rod to be stored in upright position...
thanks
Match
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Re: [MatchT] pontoon pimpin II - albinotrout - 02-16-2011
My answer is YES!!! I usually take a fly rod out with me on many trips so yes my holders do use a fly rod. I used a dremel tool with a cut off disk and sanding barrel to cut the pvc notches. If you don't have a dremel tool Harbor Freight sells one for a decent price. I also did one once following a caddis rod holder for fly rods too.
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Re: [albinotrout] pontoon pimpin II - albinotrout - 04-03-2013
I know this thread is a little dated but I thought I would give an update to how the mods worked. All I can say is woohoo! I found I can place a small cooler (can hold a six pack of soda) on the back with the battery to hold bait and lunch. I do need a new sushi board though. The one I built was a little flimsy. I guess it's time to go shopping at the housewares department at the local department store.
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Re: [albinotrout] pontoon pimpin II - flygoddess - 04-03-2013
Nice job. Functional and clean. How many rods you taking out?
Have you hit Bountiful lately?
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Re: [flygoddess] pontoon pimpin II - albinotrout - 04-03-2013
I usually take any where from 4-6 rods at a time. Last time I went to bountiful pond was bank tangling with the minnows last month.
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