DeadK, Valco boats were very common around the California central valley where I grew up. Very easy to spot due to the unique shape. I spent a lot of time in those boats out on the lakes. Seeing yours sure brings back some good memories. Needless to say, I was never in one that was outfitted like yours! Enjoy.

Finished up the console, turned out fairly well, leftover spray paint and a nice coat of poly. Sealed the base with 5200, needs a bit of touch up paint, but should help keep the water out. I did not seal in the top panel (just 4 screws) for easy access to any electrical issues/additions in the future. All connections are soldered to the switch panel bus bar and breakers. I doubled up reinforcement for the trolling motor plugs and it is much more stable than before, when it was just going through the bench plywood. Used a cheap plastic bucket as an insulator around the electrical connections. (Tractor) aux battery is on a single quick disconnect that comes out of the console to under the back bench. Added a power connection in each bench for lights. I ordered 8 led light strips for $10 off eBay. Got 2 installed so far, will likely add at least 4 more under bench edges and inside compartments, and maybe one wired with a quick disconnect in the middle of the Bimini top. Makes early morning tackle setup much easier than the tried and true flashlight in the mouth technique. Took it all out for a spin yesterday for around 5 hrs, every thing worked great! Well, except for the size of the trout. Went 4 for 5 trolling but none over 5". Quite a dinky day, always fun though

So nice to have easy controls for all the gadgets.

Looks awesome! Can you post a couple of pics of the downrigger mount? Still trying to decide if and or where to mount mine... I'm on the coast so (not too far out) ocean fishing, downrigger mount freaks me out a bit, bigger balls (you smirked at that, I KNOW YOU DID) than lake trolling....

How heavy are your rigger balls? Are you happy with the mount? Any issues to the boat mounting it there like that?

Hey Scouter! Sorry took me a bit to get back, been outta town. So this was my make shift cheapest easiest way I could bang out a decent functioning mount since my valco flares out so much at the to, the angles are kinda rough. I've used it off and on over the last couple years. The biggest thing I don't like is that since it's all metal connected to the hull, when I go 40+ feet deep I tend to get an evil whine echoing throughout the boat. Still catches fish though overall not too bad. I think when I spring for a second rigger, I may fashion boxes out of wood which should mute the whine, and snag me some Kokanee on both sides of the boat down deep. Also my balls are 6lbs

Take a look at my Sept 2 post under Member Karma. Your call. Questions, let me know.

The whine is from the DR cable. The mount will not eliminate cable hum, though I suppose it could be less intrusive if the mount is isolated so nothing transmits through he hull. I found it is reduced quite a bit by using a 8# ball. To completely eliminate, use braid instead of cable.

Have fun.

Much appreciate the info and pics! 6lb balls.... hmmmm LOL I haven't used a downrigger in the area I'm in, bigger boats use big balls, but with only a 12' and not going too far out into the salt, I'll have to experiment. 20-60 feet would be probably the area I'd be in, I'd think nothing more that 80ish. When the tides run against me though, there can be a pretty significant current lifting lines.... the noise issue is interesting, something I hadn't thought of before (have you tried braid? may solve the issue without more construction I'm thinking - I've heard it reduces/stops line singing which is what I'm guessing is transferring to your mount/hull).

If I'm going over 16' deep I move from a 6 to an 8 lb ball. Going deep with a 6 lb results in a significant amount of blow back. While these smaller down riggers might not be able to handle 15 pound balls, just adding a couple of pounds makes a big difference.

Cool deal, I will switch over to braid and 8 lb and the new mounts


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Question though, I always wondered, how big a deal is it with blowback if I'm using my fish finder to verify depth. Technically even if my rigger counter is showing 25 ft, but I can see the ball sitting at 20ft where I want it, doesn't that basically make it a moot point? Or are there other negative effects going on ? Is it affecting the load up on the rod, or maybe the sensitivity, the presentation action?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Take a look at the pros & cons of SS cable vs braid. Braid doesn’t require terminal tackle – just tie a knot. Braid doesn’t get kinks, has less blowback, and no irritating hum (who knows, maybe fish like the hum – we have vibrating lures for a reason yes?). On the downside, braid is subject to break without warning if nicked (goodby expensive weight & terminal tackle). Also, it cannot discharge all of those positive ions, if that is important to you. Braid costs a lot more. Based on everything I’ve seen and heard, I think a big reason to keep SS cable is you at least have some warning because you will see or feel a fray or kink and have time to make a repair before it breaks. In the past year, I’ve probably shortened mine by 10’ to 15’.

Bottom line -- some swear by the braid and some stick with SS cable. I’m staying with the cable. My reasoning, which is the same I use for sticking with mono, isn’t really all that sound. I am used to it and I don’t want to change. (This is where my daughter tells me I’m acting like an “old dude”. )

Blow back cannot be avoided. If you put the line down and move the boat forward, there is going to be some blowback. From any practical standpoint, it is impossible to troll a downrigger line vertical. With a 20 deg blowback, you only lose about 6’ out of 100’ of depth. So at 40’ or 50’ of cable we are only talking about a few feet. I agree that using your FF to locate your depth kind of eliminates this as a real issue. Also, I want my lures above the targeted depth because fish look and feed up, not down, right. So losing a few feet doesn’t bother me. However, remember that the more blowback there is the farther behind the boat the DR ball will be. So, if your blowback angle is 45 deg's, then to get a 40' depth your DR weight would be 40' behind the boat. I don't know what real harm this might cause, I just know I wouldn't like it.

One other point that was mentioned by a friend for Braid vs. SS - on smaller boats (mine is a 12'), IF you get your ball hung up, there is a very real possibility of swamping (especially when side mounted).... THAT being said, keeping cutters for SS at hand is a safety issue for sure - IMHO, easier to cut braid with a knife in the event of an "OH SH**" moment!

Good point on swamping and a good reason to maybe not use real long booms on small light boats. That is a lot of leverage on the gunnel if you get hung up. Always a good idea to make sure the drag is working correctly and set to just a few pounds more than the weight.

I was thinking of mounting mine on a riser off the seat - a little less leverage in case (or when) that happens!

Another update: so the "tinker with your boat" bug has bit me this year. Hard. Fever is still going strong.
- added rod holders
- found a sweet deal on clist for a 80lb thrust gen 1 terrova ( holy freakin ipilot ! )
- picked up a half price brand new helix 5 si on ebay to replace my 398ci si
- added wire to my electrical system to add a 24v loop to my system , leaving the 12v loops in place on the deep cells for easy charging.
- removed and totally re-doing my front casting deck to ensure the terrova doesn't go for a swim
-finally got a new to me , actually running, 1997 9.9 mercury outboard
- oh and received today, yet to be installed, downrigger mounts from ldubs

Tested it all out today! Came home ready to load up the smoker.

It's been a busy week.

Welp as soon as I finished, the wife and kids really started to love coming with me out on the water.... which, for a 12' boat is a bit too much weight, especially when you factor in the 2 extra batteries, bow mount trolling motor, etc... and so begins the '72 16' mirrocraft project. New thread coming soon. Thanks to everyone in this forum that helped make my valco a superior fishing machine.

Also if you know anyone in Oregon/Washington who might be interested in buying it, I'll give 'em a tinboats discount price.