DIY electric downrigger

Having a paddle kayak, I hated trying to use a manual downrigger, so devised this one....I've taken it out twice now and it works great.  Could use some refinement, but overall it's an amazing upgrade from the hand crank that I was using. 

Having a paddle kayak, I hated trying to use a manual downrigger, so devised this one....I've taken it out twice now and it works great.  Could use some refinement, but overall it's an amazing upgrade from the hand crank that I was using. 

Genius. Whats the FPS on the retrieval?

Genius. Whats the FPS on the retrieval?

Thanks!  That's a good question.  I'm not sure.  The spool is about 12" in diameter, so about one foot per turn.  I will say I was afraid to engage the switch to full throttle as the retrieve was too fast for my comfort.  I hope to get it out for more beta testing soon and will try to get some video of it in action. 

That’s freakin slick man, Nice work..........now if I only fished where I need a down rigger.

That's way cheaper than the used electric fishing reel that I bought!

What size battery are you using?

Slick!

That's way cheaper than the used electric fishing reel that I bought!

What size battery are you using?

Slick!

Thanks.  I'm just using a 7 to 8 amp hour lead acid universal battery. Like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Max-Battery-ML8-12-BATTERY/dp/B00K8V2ZJA/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=8ah+battery&qid=1598069781&sr=8-3

Great idea!  At one time I was going to do something similar using a stepper motor and an Arduino board with a motor driver.  Then I was going to have a lcd screen with a touch pad so I could send commands for it to drop to the exact depth I wanted. But since I have not fished for Kokanee for about 8 years I abandoned the project.  Your idea is much simpler and works.  If you put a normally closed microswitch at the top in series, you could just flip the switch to retrieve and it would automatically shut off when it hits the switch. But then, you would have to manually release it a bit to close the switch again before deploying.

I really like how you are driving the downrigger with this. Now you have me thinking again...

I wonder if one of these would provide enough torque. I hate to destroy my Dewalt power tools. https://www.banggood.com/GW4058-31ZY-Double-Shaft-DC-Motor-12V24V-110rpm220rpm-Reduction-Motor-Worm-Gear-Gear-Box-Motor-p-1357185.html?rmmds=category&ID=520831&cur_warehouse=CN 
At 220 rpms and one foot per rotation, this would probably be fast enough for me.

Great idea!  At one time I was going to do something similar using a stepper motor and an Arduino board with a motor driver.  Then I was going to have a lcd screen with a touch pad so I could send commands for it to drop to the exact depth I wanted. But since I have not fished for Kokanee for about 8 years I abandoned the project.  Your idea is much simpler and works.  If you put a normally closed microswitch at the top in series, you could just flip the switch to retrieve and it would automatically shut off when it hits the switch. But then, you would have to manually release it a bit to close the switch again before deploying.

I really like how you are driving the downrigger with this. Now you have me thinking again...

I wonder if one of these would provide enough torque. I hate to destroy my Dewalt power tools. https://www.banggood.com/GW4058-31ZY-Double-Shaft-DC-Motor-12V24V-110rpm220rpm-Reduction-Motor-Worm-Gear-Gear-Box-Motor-p-1357185.html?rmmds=category&ID=520831&cur_warehouse=CN 
At 220 rpms and one foot per rotation, this would probably be fast enough for me.

I'm sure that would work, but might be overkill...unless you're wanting to use 12# balls maybe.  I got the drills I'm using for free via local classifieds.  Lots of people will give them away because the batteries are dead and it's cheaper to buy a new drill vs replace the battery.  I just picked up a Ryobi 18v that seems like it might be even better suited than the DeWalt for what I want it for.  The newer drills have LOTS of torque, so for the 4lb ball I'm using it's a piece of cake. I've also seen on the web where people have used automotive windshield wiper motors...also plenty of torque.  I think you can get those for about $10 on Amazon. 

I did want an automatic retrieve with a limit/kill switch, but I find that sometimes weeds will get caught on the line and think it might prematurely shut the retrieve off. 

I wonder if one of these would provide enough torque. I hate to destroy my Dewalt power tools. https://www.banggood.com/GW4058-31ZY-Double-Shaft-DC-Motor-12V24V-110rpm220rpm-Reduction-Motor-Worm-Gear-Gear-Box-Motor-p-1357185.html?rmmds=category&ID=520831&cur_warehouse=CN 
At 220 rpms and one foot per rotation, this would probably be fast enough for me.

The motor out of a scotty downrigger is $60.

https://johnssportinggoods.com/product/downriggers/scotty-parts/scotty-12v-motor/

Great Job!  What a fun project.  That would be great to have DR control with a mounted trigger switch!!  Excellent.

FWIW - I just found out the line spool I'm using is a spindle pulley out of a lawn tractor.  The circumference of where the line lays is about 12", so a foot per turn.  Works out well for measurements, but I'm using my sonar to set the ball depth, so a non-issue at the moment. 

https://www.amazon.com/Spindle-Pulley-Replaces-Husqvarna-532195945/dp/B071GDYLF1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=195945&qid=1598202797&sr=8-1

I added a DIY depth counter to this contraption.

I added a DIY depth counter to this contraption.

Man, that's creative as all get out. Thanks for presenting this as an option. Might have to soup up my manual DR this winter...

That is brilliant!

Thanks All.  Like all things DIY, I'm sure this could be improved upon in many ways.  If anyone does a similar build I'd love to see what you did. 

Also, when I eventually upgrade my kayak to a pedal drive version (possibly Old Town Sportsman PDL) I will need to make some changes to the layout/build.  So, I'd be really curious to see anyone's setup that combines a pedal drive with this type of build.  FWIW.