Our Newest product, the Charter Captain Extreme
gives the angler tons of rod storage with 22 rod holders and room
for a lot more. As with all of our rod racks the support
brackets are included. With the extreme model we've taken
advantage of the room and added vertical rod holders on the support
brackets. Also we added 2 more rod holders to the rocket
launcher stack. The dual light set has adjustable brackets and
12 volt, 85 watt halogen lights. The complete planer system includes
our nearly indestrucable all aluminum
reels pre spooled with 150' of 200 lb dacron tow line.
The Charter Captain Deluxe
planer and rod holder
system is our most popular product. It combines the big board
planer system with a rocket launcher stack and vertical stack (bird
tree) rod holders allowing the angler to vertically and horizontally
stack and separate the rods being fished off the boards. The
net holders allow for "out of the way storage " of the nets while
providing quick and easy access when needed to land the fish.
The net holders may also be used as a 4th vertical rod holder on the
masts. The net holders and vertical rod holders rotate 360
degrees around the masts and adjust vertically for ideal rod
positioning. The rocket launcher tubes are individually
adjustable or they can be adjusted as a whole stack for the perfect
angle. As with all of our arch type systems the Charter
Captain deluxe was designed for boats with biminis or canvas cabin
tops but the hardtop owner will also find advantages over other
hardtop rocket launcher systems. The horizontal bar may be
positioned at any height on the masts for cabin top clearance and
easy access to rods. For customers that want to position the pulleys
above or below the 90 degree brackets, a separate pulley bracket is
available. The Charter Captain Deluxe comes with two 6' masts,
and 8' horizontal support bar, 6 rocket launcher tubes, 90 degree
brackets, 2 net holders, 6 vertical rod holders, Aluminum pulleys,
bases, backer plates and rugged all-aluminum planer reels,
pre-spooled with 150' of 200 lb dacron tow line. In most
cases a 107" horizontal bar is long enough to outfit boats with a
10' beam width. Special Freight charges apply when ordering
horizontal bars over 107". All of our systems are shown with
a 6' horizontal support bar. Brackets are now included with
our arches. We do not recommend mounting the arches without
these brackets. Also a solid mounting surface is necessary to
prevent movement and racking which can cause stress at the mounting
surface. The brackets on all of our arches are designed to
attach anywhere on the upper half of each mast and can run to the
gunwales forward of the masts or to the side of the cabin.
These brackets will adjust vertically or horizontally to allow for
any mounting angle or cabin slope. The cabin or gunwale
bracket comes with a quick disconnect pin so the modularity of the
system is still maintained. For quickly removing the entire
system the bases are loosened and the quick disconnect pins are
removed. Our standard bracket lengths are is 5'. Light sets are
available with all of our rod racks.
The Charter Captain Special is a combination planer system and
rocket launcher stack designed for the angler that has a canvas/bimini
and needs the rod storage advantage of the rocket launcher stack.
The system comes with 2 Great Lakes Planers all aluminum reels pulleys, two 6' vertical masts, an 8' horizontal support bar, 6
rocket launcher tubes, 90 degree brackets, bases and under rail
support plates. Larger horizontal bars are available.
See the description on the charter captain deluxe for bracket info.
The all-aluminum planer reels are pre-spooled with 150' of 200 lb dacron tow line.
Our Rocket Launcher Plus
is designed for the angler that needs the extra rod storage
capability but doesn't need the planer system. Our second most
popular product, the rocket launcher plus comes with two 6' masts,
an 8' horizontal support bar, 6 rocket launcher tubes, 6 vertical
rod holders, 2 net holders, (can be used as rod holders) two 90
degree brackets, base mounts, and under rail support plates. Just
like all of our arch type systems the horizontal support bar can be
adjusted to any height up to nearly 6'. The angler chooses his
own angle on the rocket launcher stack. Each tube
is individually adjustable and the whole stack can be adjusted as a
rack. Larger bars and masts are available. There is also
plenty of room for extra rod holders. Also a solid mounting
surface is very important to help prevent movement and racking which
can cause stress in the mounting surface. See the description on our
charter captain deluxe for Bracket info. As with all rod
racks, the Rocket launcher plus can be ordered with mast or bar
mounted light sets.
.
The Basic Rocket Launcher
is the ideal solution for the angler that needs the overhead rod
storage for their canvas top but may not need a planer system or the
bird tree type rod holders. The basic rocket launcher is also
the most economical way to start building or designing the system
the way it works best for the individual angler. You can add
rod holders, net holders planer reels, outrigger brackets, extra
rocket launcher tubes, light brackets or any accessory at any time.
Brackets are now included with all of our arches. We do not
recommend mounting our systems without these brackets. Also a
solid mounting surface is necessary to prevent movement and racking
which can cause stress at the mounting surface. See the
description on our charter captain deluxe for support bracket info.
info
Rocket Launcher with offset bracket.
On some boats the ideal mounting position does not always
line up with the best rocket launcher position. The offset
brackets can provide up to 18" of position adjustment to help line
up the rocket launcher stack in the best location for access and
reach. In most cases the rocket launchers are positioned just
aft and over the rear part of the canvas top. When there is no
mounting point directly abeam the rear part of the cabin the offset
brackets may help. These brackets are an accessory available
for all of our mast mounted rocket launcher systems. Brackets
are now included with all of our arches. We do not recommend
mounting our systems without these brackets. Also a solid
mounting surface is necessary to prevent movement and racking which
can cause undo stress at the mounting surface.
The Dual Reel Planer comes with
rugged Great Lakes Planers all aluminum reels and pulleys that are 100% adjustable on a 6' mast.
The reels are pre-spooled with 150' of 200 lb dacron tow line. The
mast may be cut down to any size the angler prefers. Once the
bases are bolted into place the mast can be attached or removed in
seconds. The base plates are 5" X 5" square. Under-surface support plates are included for
additional support on the mounting deck. With the adjustable
components the angler can position the reels to any height for ideal
control for retrieving the boards. The dual planer may be
ordered with Keystone or Springfield bases to fit the seat pedestal
bases on Lund boats (shown below). Need to stack the active
rods? We've added our vertical rod holders for running the active
planer lines-also shown below.
The Dual Planer Plus has the same features as our
Dual reel planer but includes our vertical stack rod holders.
The rods being trolled off the boards can be positioned in any
direction to easily avoid the tow lines. This system has the
added advantage of eliminating the need for gunwale rod holder
systems especially on boats with limited mounting solutions.
All of the components stacked on the planer mast are adjustable
vertically and rotate around the mast 360 degrees. All of our
dual planer masts come with our all aluminum reels pre-spooled with 150'
of 200 lb tow line..
Our Dual planer can be ordeered with
Keystone,Springfield
or swivel ease
bases. The Springfeild base shown above fits Lund seat pedestal bases on 2006
and earlier Lund boats. The Keystone base is 2" ID and has the 1/4"
channel that locks it into the pedestal base.
Dual Planer with Keystone/Swivelease base. This base is 2" ID and has the plastic spring clip for locking into the
pedestal base. All other features are identical to the dual
planer. Larger pictures of our special pedestal options are
shown below.
We have a variety of plug in, or spring lock pedestal bases for
mounting our systems into seat bases. Most of our planers and
rod holder systems can be welded to the aluminum pedestal post
designed for a number of different boats like Lund, Sportcraft
etc.Customers need to verify their post requirements and give us an
idea of height and clearances required.
Our 6' Single reel planer is built with a
super strong mast that is 2" OD and 6' high. It comes with
fully adjustable aluminum reels and pulleys. The aluminum
reels are pre-spooled with 150' of 200 lb dacron tow line. With an
adjustable pulley the angler can set the tow line height to meet
individual reach requirements. Both the pulley and the reel is
adjustable 360 degrees around the mast for ideal positioning.
The base is 5" X 5" and comes with an under rail support plate.
The mast can be cut down to any height or custom size masts may be
ordered at no extra charge. Don't forget that our accessories
like the net holders, vertical rod holders and lights may be added
at any time. Once mounted the mast is removable in seconds for
storage and security. Picture not available.
Our Single planer plus is also a very
popular system and the only one on the market like it. The
single planer plus comes in 4', 5' and 6' masts. All 3 sizes
have 3 vertical rod holders and the 6' version includes a net holder
that can also be used as a 4th rod holder. The
single planer plus combines our all aluminum reels and pulleys with
our vertical rod holder system. The vertical rod holders
replace the need for additional "bird tree" type rod holders and
reduces the number of holes that need to be drilled. The
vertical and horizontal adjustability of the rod holders allow the
angler to position the actively trolled rods away from the tow line
and provides significantly more rod tip separation than most bird
trees and horizontally mounted rod holders. As with all
of our systems the reels are pre-spooled with 150' of 200 lb dacron florescent
green tow line.
The Mini Mast Planer is identical to
the single planer system with the exception of the mast height.
The mini mast planer comes with a 38" mast and features our all
aluminum reels and pulleys The reels are pre-spooled with 150' of
200 lb dacron tow line. As with all of our planer
systems the mini mast planer components are adjustable vertically
and 360 degrees around the mast. With a rod holder end cap at
the top of the mast the system can also double as a net holder.
Our Mini Planer Plus has the added
bonus of our vertical rod holders. The system comes with 2
vertical rod holders that are adjustable vertically and rotate 360
degrees around the mast. All of our planers come with under
rail support plates and 5" X 5" bases. The mini mast planer
also accepts a net in the top of the mast. Our rugged all
aluminum reels are pre-spooled with 150' of 200 lb dacron tow line.
The Dipsey dual rod holder is designed for the dipsey angler in
mind. This rod holder system has 3 positive locking positions
for the angler that needs to get that dipsey rod tip closer to the
water. The tubes lock in position at 90 degrees or vertical,
25 degrees and 0 degrees (horizontal). The zero degree tube angle
that allows positioning
the rod tip parallel to the water surface for an even better
track on the dipsey. Of course the lower the rod tip the
better the dipsey will dive and plane in the water. This also
helps the dipsey track better in turns and high wind conditions.
Keeping the bait "in the zone" longer increases the odds.
The Dual action low profile dipsey dual has many of the same features as the our regular dispsey
dual with the exception of the special base mount that positions the
rods closer to the gunwale. The rod holder tubes positively lock in
at 0, 45, and 90 degrees. The base
also locks the "T" in 3 positions. The low profile dipsey also
provides a "dual action" feature that allows the rod holder tubes to
be positioned side by side (horizontally oriented-as shown above) or
turned 90 degrees stacking the tubes vertically. Stacking the rods
vertically eliminates the need to run different length rods off the
same rod holder when running 2 dipsey rods on each side of the boat.
The rod holder tubes can also be separated at the same angles for
additional rod tip separation. In other words, when the tubes
are positioned vertically, tubes can be at 20 degrees left, straight
out, or 45 degrees to the right. NOTE the additional locking
position at -20 degrees for anglers that run dipsey rods lower than
horizontal.
Our Horizontal quads provide the extra
rod holding advantage for running those multiple planer rods or
stacking downrigger lines. The rod holder rotates 360 degrees
in the base for optimum positioning. The individual rod
holders also have an unlimited positioning capability for setting
them at the perfect angle for separating rod tips and lines.
The quads have all the features of the dipsey duals with the
exception of the locking capability
.
Our Low profile quad provides the
advantage of running the rods closer to the gunwale in height (
approximately 1"). Except for the base mount the low profile
quad is identical to the regular horizontal quad. The quad can
also be mounted on the cabin top an used as rocket launchers. Two
quads mounted side by side on the hardtop would provide rocket
launcher storage for 8 rods.
.
The vertical stack dual (bird tree) is the perfect solution when
running multiple in-line planers or multiple lines off the big
boards. The 24" high mast will rotate 360 degrees in its base.
and each rod holder tube rotates 360 degrees around the mast.
The rod holders are also adjustable vertically which helps maximize
rod separation. With a hollow tube and a rod holder end cap on
the mast top the system also pulls double duty as a net holder or it
can be used as a 3rd rod holder. The base measures 4 1/4" X 5"
and is 5 1/4" high without the mast installed. The mast may be
remove in seconds for storage and security leaving behind the 5"
tall base.
The Vertical Stack Triple rod holder is
our most popular bird tree. This system adds a 3rd rod holder
tube and has a mast height of 32"
The Vertical stack Quad adds a 4th rod
holder tube and has all the same features as our other bird trees.
Our Hardtop Rocket launcher stack is
designed with a patent pending mounting system that will conform to
any hardtop slope. Give us your cabin width and we can ship a
system that can be mounted with no modification required by the
customer. The brackets allow the stack to move for and aft for
perfect positioning and the angler chooses their own tube angle.
This rocket launcher comes with 6 rocket launcher tubes, two bases,
two under-surface support plates, two brackets and up to an 8'
support bar. The system above is shown with a 6' support bar.
Extra rocket launcher tubes are available.
The "Hardtop Special" rocket launcher is designed for the angler
that has a reach issue because of cabin height or hardtop design.
Our hardtop special adjusts down by up to 12" allowing the boat
owner to set the rocket launcher at a height that is perfect for
each individual angler. This model must be shimmed to level or
mounted on a level surface. All of our hardtop rocket
launchers must be "through bolted" to ensure stability. Lights
may be added as an option.
The Drift-Pack
is our newest product.
The drift pack is designed for the angler that uses current to
present live bait and artificials as an effective tactic for
catching fish. The drift pack can be used as a traditional rod
holder or when drift fishing with multiple rods with maximum rod tip
separation. This system maximizes rod storage and minimizes
the number of holes that needs to be drilled. The angled rod holders
can provide up to 20' in outer rod tip separation depending on the
length of rods used. This system can also be ordered in custom
sizes/angles. The specs on the system shown are as follows:
base height-5 1/4", "T" height-14", "T" width-44", rod holder
length-10 1/2" to 11 1/2", tube diameter-2". The "T" locks in
the base to prevent turning and the rod holder set can be removed
from its base in seconds. A backer plate is included with our drift
pack.
Our all aluminum, is by far the strongest planer reel on the
market! With rugged aluminum and stainless steal construction
the Big Water Fish planer reel will outlast and outperform any
reel on the market today. For the Charter Captains and anglers
that fish nearly every day there is no other choice. Unlike
other reels there is no plastic to crack and the nearly in
destructible handle folds out of the way for docking. We also
now offer our reels with handle extensions giving the reels the
strongest leverage on the market.
Our Wingers are designed to be run
between the downrigger cable and the downrigger weight on the
outside riggers. When running 4 downriggers it has always been
a challenge to separate baits between riggers. At the transom
or the downriggers that are run straight back, your spacing is
limited by either boat width and/or downrigger mounting position.
The separation between riggers run off the sides of the boat is
usually limited by boom length. With wingers you can further
separate the side riggers by up to 15-20' depending on rigger
weights and boat speed. Normal spread between the back and
side riggers is 2-5' (boom length). Increasing the separation
will reduce tangled baits and allow more aggressive turns. The
wingers are made of strong 6061 T-6 Aluminum and come with stainless
steel hardware. The water that flows across the angled back fin
causes the nose of the winger to plane away from the boat which
causes the rigger weight and bait to track out.
.
Our lights sets are marine halogen 12V, 55W and come in black. Use
them for running, docking or aim them onto the fishing deck for
night trolling. The brackets mount directly to planer masts or
to the horizontal support bars of our rod rack systems or any of our
planer masts. They
are 100% adjustable for unlimited directional control.
The
Charter Captain Deluxe Model,
Planer and Rocket Launcher system - Product Description
The Charter Captain deluxe model, planer and rocket launcher
system as well as all of our modular rocket launcher systems
is designed to fit a large variety of boat sizes and types.
The patent pending design and bracketing system facilitates
mounting rocket launchers on soft top boats as well as
hardtops without the cost of building a custom system. The
horizontal support bar can easily be modified by the
customer to fit boat with beam widths over 10 feet. The bar
can be shipped via regular FedEx ground up to 107" without
special freight charges. Larger support bars are available
for boats with beam widths greater than 11' through special
order. (special freight charges apply). For our special hard
top rocket launcher stack an 8' horizontal bar will easily
accept 8-10 rod holder tubes and adapts to any boat width
and hardtop slope.
The vertical adjustability allows positioning the rocket
launcher stack at any height for clearance or individual
preference. The modular quality of the bracketing system
also gives the boat owner the ability to custom design his
or her system or to make unlimited changes at any time. Once
mounted the whole system can be removed in seconds by
loosening the base mounts and removing the quick disconnect
pins on the low support bracket assembly.
WILL THE SYSTEM FIT MY BOAT?
The standard system will fit boat widths of up to
approximately 10 feet. Once the base mounts are positioned
and the vertical masts are in place with 90 degree brackets
a measurement is taken from bracket to bracket and the
horizontal support bar is cut to exact dimensions for
individual boat width. Larger horizontal supports bars are
available but freight charges increase substantially. The
system can be mounted on side rails, deck, or any flat
surface that will accept the 5"X 5" base plate with a 3.5" X
3.5" bolt hole pattern. Be sure to check the under rail
clearance to accommodate the support plate. To prevent
racking and movement of the system it absolutely must be
mounted on a solid surface with support brackets also
installed. Our brackets are designed to mount near the top
of the masts and attach to either for or aft of the masts on
the gunwale or to the side of the cabin. Hardtop owners can
run brackets to the top and rear of the cabin top.
We can also provide other custom base mount sizes and
special bolt hole dimensions.
The horizontal support bars vertical adjustability allows
height settings of up to 5' 10" from base mount to clear
most hardtop/softtop height dimensions. Larger vertical
masts are usually not necessary but can be special ordered
Rocket Launchers
The horizontal support bar will easily accept all 6 included
rocket launcher rod holders on boats with rail to rail
widths of 6' and up. Boats that are in the 8' wide range can
handle 10-12 rocket launchers. The boat owner can add or
remove rocket launchers as needed at any time. The rocket
launcher tubes can be adjusted individually or as a stack
altogether giving the boat owner his choice in mounting
angles.
Net Holders
The system comes with 2 net holders that are designed to be
positioned toward the bow of the boat. As with all the rod
holders the net holders are positioned at an angle of 25
degrees. As with most components on the system the net
holders can be mounted in different positions as desired and
also adjust 360 degrees laterally. These net holders are
strong enough to withstand the pressure of wind caused by
drag at high boat speeds with nets stowed. We have in fact
found that some nets are not strong enough to withstand this
level of wind force.
Vertical Rod Holders
The vertical rod holders are designed to be mounted on the
vertical masts and replace single, double or triple rod
holders that are usually mounted at the midpoint or rear
position of the side rails. These rod holders are for
positioning the actively trolled rods/baits running off the
planer boards. Each mast can easily support 4 vertical stack
rod holders for the serious angler running multiple rods off
each board. One advantage of vertical stacked rod holders is
the reduction in line wrap and tow line tangle in high wind
conditions. Also with a 360 degree adjustability the
actively trolled rods can be separated horizontally. Our
vertical stack rod holders (bird trees) also pull double
duty as net holders.
Planer Masts
Our masts are the strongest on the market today. This gives
the capability of running magnum size boards for smoother
towing and less tow line bow in high wind conditions and
better tracking in large waves. Because of the rigid design
we sometimes use board snubbers to reduce line shock giving
smoother towing and tracking.
Reels and Pulleys Our system includes Big Jon reels and
pulleys and Big Water Fish aluminum reels.
Limited 5 YEAR Warranty. The masts, horizontal support bar,
rocket launchers and brackets will be replaced if found to
be defective due to the manufacturing process or fail due to
breaking, cracking or warping. The warranty covers the
system under normal use conditions and does not apply to
system failures to to abuse, misuse negligence. All other
parts of the system are warranted for one year from the
original date of purchase. The warranty applies to the
original purchaser of the system and is not transferable.
Return shipping charges are the responsibility of the
customer. Unlimited technical assistance is available to all
of our customers during business hours.
Great lakes planers provides free and unlimited technical
phone support to all customers during business hours.
Other Great Lakes Planers products include:
Charter Captain Extreme-Features rod storage for 22
rods and includes a complete outrigger system and light set.
Charter Captain Special - Same as the charter
captain deluxe minus the 6 vertical stack rod holders and
net holders.
Rocket Launcher - This is a stack of 6 rocket
launchers with no accessories mounted on the vertical masts.
Rocket launcher Plus - The rocket launcher plus
includes the stack of 6 rocket launcher tubes and comes with
3 vertical rod holders and a net holder on each mast.
Hard Top Rocket Launchers - Our rocket launcher
systems built specifically for hardtop mounting is designed
with a Patent Pending bracket that allows the rocket
launcher stack to conform to any hardtop slope or angle
without modification. The system can be ordered to fit any
hardtop width. The standard system comes with the special
mounting bases and 6 rocket launcher tubes. Additional tubes
may be ordered to meet angler needs. Also included is a
support plate that can be installed on the cabin roof
(inside) for extra support. The rocket launcher stack will
clear the cabin roof by about 1 to 1.5" at the center rear
of the hardtop. The stack may be adjusted for and aft by up
to 8" depending on mounting location.
Transom Stack - Our transom stack rod holder system
incorporates our unique bracketing system that allows the
rail type rod holder rack to be mounted on any hard top or
beam/transom width. This system comes with 6 rod holder
tubes but can hold up to 10 or 12 rod holders (depending on
boat dimensions). This stack can be mounted on the gunwales
or transom. Tubes can be individually adjusted or the stack
can be adjust as a whole unit.
Single Planer Plus - This is a single reel planer
system that comes in a 6' and 5' mast. Both sizes come with
3 vertically stacked rod holders and the 6' system also
comes with 1 net holder. The Big Jon reels are pre-spooled
with 150' of 150 lb dacron tow line. Big Jon pulleys are
also included. Both the reels and pulleys are fully
adjustable in position on the masts. Additional rod holders
are available.
Single Reel Planer - Same as single planer plus
without any rod holders or net holder. The reels and pulleys
can be positioned anywhere on the mast and also will rotate
360 degrees around the mast giving the angler unlimited
positioning options.
Dual Reel Planer-Comes with 2 Big Jon reels and
pulleys that are also fully adjustable in height and rotate
360 degrees around the mast. On our dual planer plus we have
added vertical rod holders.
Mini Mast Planer - Same as single reel planer with a
32" mast. Doubles as a net holder.
Mini Planer Plus-Same as mini mast planer with 2 rod
holders on each mast.
Double or Quad, vertical stack rod holders. These
rod holders are vertically stacked with from 2-4 rod holders
that can be positioned 360 degrees in any direction off the
support bar. Any size mast and rod holder combos may be
requested. Also all of our vertical stack rod holders have a
rod holder cap at the top of the mast that doubles as a net
holder.
Dipsey Dual Rod Holders - The dipsey line of rod holders
are designed specifically for dipsey fishermen. These rod
holders have 3 locking positions for dipsey use. They lock
at the vertical position (90 degrees), 45 degrees, and
horizontal ( 0 degrees). They also can rotate 360 degrees
and can be used at any angle if not being used for dipsey
fishing for Kings salmon. These rod holders will also adjust
continuously in a 360 degree rotation within their base or
positively locks in the base when desired.
Low Profile Dipsey Dual-Same as the dipsey dual with
a lower base. The low profile dipsey dual also rotates to
orient the rod holder tubes vertically allowing the angler
to stack dipsey rods vertically.
Quad Rod Holder - Same as dual with 4 tubes but
don't have any locking positions and are not designed for
fishing king salmon on the dipsey rigs.
Straight Net Holder - Our net holders are built
tough and designed specifically for nets. They will
withstand the wind pressure that results at cruise speeds
with nets stowed in the holders. Our net holders are 12" or
16"tall but can be special ordered in any height.
15 Degree Net Holder - Same as the straight net
holders but angled at 15 degrees. We suggest that the tubes
are oriented toward the bow which helps to keep them very
accessible but out of the way of other equipment. Mount one
on each side of the boat and be ready for that double or
triple hook up. These net holders are also 12" or 16" tall
Board Snubbers - Our board snubbers are produced by
J & M Hooks and Lures. These are the snubbers of choice for
the angler that understands the benefits of reducing tow
line shock in rough conditions. They are guaranteed to
reduce board line shock and smooth out the board track in
heavy seas. No more jerky board action!! The snubbers are
120 lb test and 15" in lenght and stretch to over 30"
Alwive spoons - produced by Screaming Reels Hooks
and Lures. All of our spoons are designed after the Great
Lakes Alwive/mooneye. They are light weight for maximum
flutter and are used for trolling only. They are 4 1/2" long
and come with gold or silver treble hooks. The blanks are
stamped out of brass and plated for quality and durability.
Pedestal seat brackets - We have Keystone and
Springfield bases welded on planer masts for our dual reel
planers. The Springfield base has the 1/4" channel that
locks into the seat pedestal bases on 2006 and earlier Lund
boats. The Keystone base has the plastic spring clip that
was designed for 2007 Lunds. Both bases can be ordered with
any of our planer or rod holder systems with the exception
our rocket launchers/rod racks.
Flush mount plate - The flush mount plate accepts
all of our rocket launchers, planers, and rod holders. Even
though all the systems listed are removable within seconds,
the base mount remains. For those concerned about the look
and potential trip hazards, the flush mount kit is the way
to go. When the system is removed all that is left is a 1/2"
mounting plate.
Clamp on Rod holder - This rod holder will clamp
onto 2" OD tube. For those anglers that can't disconnect
that radar arch/mast or rail tubes this is the answer. The
bracket is 2 piece that clamps on to tubes/rails/arches
using 2 5/16" clamp knobs. the larger 1/2 X 13 threaded knob
locks on to the tube to hold it in place. This rod holder is
also strong enough to be used as a net holder.
Assembly Instructions
NOTE TO INSTALLERS: We recommend leaving the
protective plastic on all masts and bars for fitting and mounting these
systems to prevent damage to the masts and bars
Instructions for mounting the Charter Captain Deluxe, Charter
Captain Special, Rocket Launcher Plus, Rocket Launcher, and Rocket Rigger.
For the most part the instructions cover the Charter Captain
Deluxe. When mounting the Charter Captain Special, Rocket Launcher
Plus, Rocket Launcher and Rocket Rigger please disregard the sections that
cover accessories that are not included in the system that was purchased.
Mounting instructions for our vertical surface mounts and hardtop systems
will be covered separately
NOTE: We do not recommend mounting our systems without these
brackets. Also a strong and solid mounting surface is necessary to
prevent movement and racking which can cause stress and eventually metal
fatigue at the mounting
location. In most cases aluminum gunnels will not provide adequate
support. Also access to the underside of the mounting surface is
necessary for mounting the backer plates.
These systems can be mounted in a variety of locations and positions.
One of the most common mounting location is on the gunwales or side rails
abeam the rear part of the cabin or bimini. This positions the rocket
launchers at the rear edge of the cabin top or bimini for accessibility to
stowed rods. This also allows the best access to the planer reels and
tow line when running the planer systems. Also access to the vertical
rod holders and net holders if included, must be considered when deciding a mounting
location. Offset brackets are available when the bases and masts
can't be mounted directly abeam the desired cross bar location. Warning: safety must be considered when
positioning the pulleys. Reaching and or leaning over the gunwales
when handling the planer tow line can be dangerous. The systems can
also be mounted on step downs, platforms or any deck with a flat surface
that will allow positioning the rocket launcher stack in a desirable
location. If it is not possible to position the mounts directly below
the desired rocket launcher location a special offset bracket is
available that fits over the masts. The bracket allows the positioning
of the rocket launcher stack forward or aft from the vertical masts (up to
18"). The 90 degree brackets would then be mounted on the offset
brackets in a horizontal plane rather than on a vertical plane on the masts.
In this case if the system came with the planer reel and pulley, a special
pulley bracket is available for mounting on the masts rather than the 90
degree brackets. For our Charter Captain Deluxe and Charter Captain
Special our standard package includes pulleys mounted on the 90 degree
brackets. This positions the pulleys at the same height as the
rocket launcher stack. If this height is not the preferred height for
reaching the planer tow line a special pulley bracket is available.
This pulley bracket allows for positioning the pulley and tow line at any
height on the two vertical masts.
Position the base mounts in the desired location on the side rails of the
boat or other suitable location. The mounting location must be of
adequate size to accommodate the 5" X 5" bases. Also ensure the base mount position allows under
rail or undersurface access to install and tighten bolts and enough clearance for mounting
the under rail support plate. Use of the under rail support plate is
required to validate warrantee.
Once the base mounts are positioned in the desired location mark the bolt holes with a marker. Drill through the rails with a sufficient bit size to accommodate the bolts being used to mount the bases. Due to the variation in rail thickness and mounting locations, Great Lakes Planers does not include mounting hardware. It is recommended that
5/16” stainless steel bolts are used for strength and rust resistance. The bolt length will depend on rail thickness and mounting location.
Caution: The use of lag screws will not provide adequate support!
Also the base mounts must be mounted so that they are plumb. If your
mounting surface is not flat or level, shims are necessary to ensure
vertical and plumb masts. Bases that are not vertical or plumb will
cause binding to the 90 degree brackets.
Once the bolt holes are drilled, apply marine grade silicone to the bottom side of the mounting base around the full perimeter of the bottom outer edge of the mount. Position the mounting base on the rail with the tightening knob facing toward the bow or stern of the boat.
Place the under rail support plates in position and attach with 4 bolts using appropriate nuts and lock washers. Apply silicone around all bolt heads. Place both of the 6’ vertical masts in the base mounts on each side and tighten knobs.
At this point it is best to attach the upper "mast bracket" to the 5'
support bar. Do this by placing one end of the support bar into the mast
bracket. The plastic will have to be removed to position the upper
mast brackets. The tube should extend 1/2" to 3/4" beyond the ears of the
mast bracket. This allows the tube to adjust in angle for unlimited
lower mounting solutions. Once the tube is positioned in the mast
bracket mark the tube with a pencil or marker and drill with a 5/16" drill
bit. Attach the tube to the bracket with a stainless steel 5/16" X
3" bolt-leave the bolt loose temporarily. With
the bolt and knob loose, position the tube and lower support bracket to the
determine the desired mounting point. Once the mounting location is determined
adjust the length of the 5' support bar by cutting to length if necessary.
Re-position the tube with the lower bracket temporarily attached to the tube
and re-check the mounting location. Allowing enough slack in the
bracket for angle adjustment, mark the holes onto the tube through the
bracket with a pencil and drill a 5/16" hole through the tube.
Drilling both sides of the tube instead of all the way through on one side
can be more accurate. Attach the lower bracket to the tube with a
stainless steel quick disconnect pin (provided). Reposition the bar
and bracket to the mounting location and mark the bolt holes. Note:
ensure clearance for backer plate. Bolt into place with
5/16" Stainless steel bolts. Remove the bolt from the upper support
bracket remove the bracket from both masts.
Slide net holders on each of the masts with the tube facing toward the bow
then tighten the knob when positioned in the desired height. The net
holder may be used as a 4th rod holder if desired. Next slide reel assemblies over each mast positioning the reels outward toward the port and starboard side of the boat and tighten in the desired height. In most applications the net holder and planer reels can be positioned at the bottom of the masts with the brackets resting upon each other. Next position 3 rod holders on each mast with the rod holder tubes facing the stern and tighten knobs when positioned
as desired. Note: The
order in which the accessories are installed and spaced depends on
individual preference. Re-attach the upper mast brackets to eacjh
mast. The mast brackets can be position above the 3 rod holders or
somewhere between the rod holders depending on support bar length.
Ensuring the masts are plumb and tight take a measurement from the
inside surface of one mast to the inside surface of the other mast and
deduct 1/4" and cut the horizontal support bar to that length. Remember to double check your measurement. If
the horizontal support bar is cut too long it will be impossible to
slide the horizontal support bar over the vertical masts after attaching
the 90 degree brackets.
Once the horizontal bar is cut attach the 90 degree brackets to each end of the horizontal bar,
leaving the tightening knobs loose and install on the vertical bars to check for fit.
Note: The 90 degree bracket must be
positioned so that the pulley is below the vertical mast tightening
knob. Binding on the masts can mean the bar is too long or the bar
is not being lower evenly onto the masts. We recommend thet the
knobs on each base are loose. This allows some play in the masts
for mounting the cross bar. If the fit is ok, remove the bar and one of the 90 degree brackets from the horizontal bar and install
accessories. If a radar mount is included mark and drill radar
dome bolt holes into the flat mounting plate. Install the radar
mount to the center of the bar. The radar mount should be held in place
by tightening the knob onto the support bar. The holes may then be
drill through the tube and through the pre-drill holes in the bracket.
Bolts are then installed and tightened to secure the radar support.
Install the desired number of rocket launchers using a tape measure to space evenly.
The rocket launcher tubes are positioned with the drain holes and Great
Lakes Planers logo aft for proper water drainage. If lights are
included place the lights on the bar in the desired location.
Warning--Light installation and wiring must
be completed by qualified marine electronics personnel. Wiring may be routed along the outside of the horizontal bar and down
one mast or routed through the inside portion of the bar and masts.
When running the wiring on the outside of the bar and masts use plastic
zip ties to secure wire. When routing the wire through the insides
of the tubes a 5/16" hole is drilled on the bottom side of the
horizontal bar next to the light bracket. Install the grommets
(provided) into the drilled holes. Wiring may then be routed
through the tube to exit at each hole/grommet. The wiring should
exit the second grommet adjacent to the second light at the
opposite end of the horizontal bar. Another hole should be drilled
on the mast above the 90 degree bracket. With a grommet installed
route the wiring down through the mast to the selected switch location
and power source. Also wire insulators or wire wrap (not
included) should be used on wiring routed the inside of all tubes, bars
and masts to prevent chaffing from vibrations. Place the completed horizontal bar onto the vertical masts and tighten in the desired height.
The base mount tightening knobs may have to be loosened to gain some
play in the masts when mounting the horizontal support bar. The bar must
be lowered evenly onto the masts to prevent binding when installing.
An alternate way of installing would be to position and tighten the
rocket launcher stack onto the masts before placing into the base. Checking the tightness of all knobs on
a regular basis will prevent any movement of components. Note:
The included stainless steel pins must be used to secure the 90 degree
brackets to the horizontal support bar and both masts.
The rocket launchers may be adjusted individually or as a whole stack
allowing a continuous choice of angles for the rocket launcher tubes or
stack. Also the net holder and vertical stack rod holders may be
adjusted vertically or 360 degrees laterally for individual preference.
When the outrigger bracket is mounted with the complete planer system the
bracket can be adjusted to clear planer board tow lines. String the
planer board clips and tow line through the pulleys.
All other rocket launcher systems are mounted the same way and differ
only in the number of accessories added.
Vertically mounted bases-Place the bases on the desired vertical
surface and mark for bolt holes. Caution:
lag screws will not provide adequate support. Also, ensure there is
access for mounting the support plate on the inside surface of the mounting
location. The bolt holes are drilled for 5/16" bolts. After drilling
apply a quality marine grade silicone to the under surface of the base and
attach with stainless steel bolts. Install the vertical masts into the
bases, ensuring the masts are perfectly plumb and square to each other
temporarily tighten the pivot bolt. Take measurement between the
inside portions of the masts and cut the horizontal support bar to this
length. Install 90 degree brackets to the ends of the bar to check for
fit. The pivot bolts should be loosened to install the bar and
brackets over the masts. Once fit is obtained one of the 90 degree
brackets can be removed to install the rocket launcher tubes. The rocket
launcher stack is then re-installed onto the masts. The design of the mounts
allows adjustment up to 12 degrees to allow for a plumb mount on surfaces
that are not perfectly plumb or vertical. Once it is determined that
the masts are plumb a 11/32" hole needs to be drilled through the upper
portion of the vertical mounts drilling through the cylinder and masts.
After drill the 5/16" stainless steel quick disconnect pin needs to be
installed in the both mounts. If it is not possible to place bases directly below
the desired rocket launcher stack location the bases can be mounted so that
they angle for or aft to position the rocket launchers at the desired
location. In this case the vertical rod holders may have to be rotated
to gain a workable angle (if included). If angling the bases is not
possible an offset bracket is available to position the horizontal bar for
or aft of the vertically positioned masts. These brackets can provide
up to 18" of for and aft offset positioning.
Hardtop rocket launcher stack-For installing the hardtop the first
step is to determine the length of the horizontal support bar. The
horizontal bar width is entirely up to the customer and can span the whole
width of the cabin top if desired. Once the bar is cut to the
preferred size we recommend assembling the whole system. Loosen the
base mounts and the brackets that hold the horizontal bar then place the
stack on top of the cabin in the desired location. The bases will
conform to any slope and the brackets will slide along the bar for
positioning. When the best location is determined mark the bolt holes
and drill through the cabin top. At this point it is easier to remove
the base mounts from the brackets for attaching. Apply a high quality
marine silicone to the underside of the mount then position the undersurface
support plates and secure with stainless steel bolts. Gaskets are also
available as an option for sealing the mounts to the cabin top. Install
individual rocket launcher tubes onto the horizontal bar and place the
brackets on the ends of the bar. Place the stack into the mounted bases and
tighten the knobs. The individual tubes can now be angled and spaced.
The base and cross bar brackets need to be drilled with an 11/32" hole for
installing the quick disconnect pins. The last step is to attached the end caps to the bracket ends and the ends
of the horizontal support bar.
