Mounting Driftmasters on Xtreme

[Hitek]

Can you takle a closer pic of the gunnel where you are looking at mounting?

I love the open floor space in that boat though! Those stick steer boats like that make ultimate night fishing rigs.

[P-nut]

I am away from home right now.. I also have LED light around the inside for the night fishing trips..

[bobgill]

I use the Driftmaster Crappie Slayer's on my War Eagle stick steer. I mounted them with self tapping screws that I got from my boat dealer.

[beeheck]

Purchase List...
1 pc - 1.25" W X .50" H X 36" long aluminum strip
1 pc - .50" X 36" long aluminum rod
? pcs - .50" threaded ends X 6" or 8" which ever works for you, I did 8" turnbuckles with aluminum body

In the order of purchase list...
cut the aluminum strip into 2" long chunks. In the center of the chunk of aluminum drill a 13/32" (I think) hole and tap it out to 1/2" X 13 thread or that's what mine was. drill a 3/16" hole on each end to bolt it to your boat. Size of holes I used fit a 10 - 24 bolt with a nylon lock nut.

1/2" aluminum rod cut into 1.5" lengths and thread one half of the rod with left hand .50" X 13 threads and then thread the other end thread with .50" X 13 right hand threads (normal threads). So when you are done you have an inch and a half X 1/2 aluminum rod threaded on both ends with different threads (right and left)

Turnbuckles, I bought 8" aluminum turnbuckles and one end is right hand threads and the other end is left hand threads.

You now have everything made and ready to assemble.

Bolt aluminum strip to bolt, drill a 5/8" below the 1/2" hole to allow the threaded rod to go in further. Screw a 1/2" X 13 nut onto the threaded rod and screw that right hand threaded end of the 1.5" threaded rod into the hole and tighten down the nut. Screw the left hand end of the turnbuckle onto the left hand threaded 1/2" rod and screw it down as far as it will go and tighten snug. All adjustments to the rod holder direction will be with the nut on the bottom, set it where you want it and tighten down the nut.
screw the driftmaster pro rod holder into the right hand threads of the turnbuckle that you bolted to the threaded rod. fine tune adjustment with the nut that is on the driftmaster rod holder. I got aluminum 1/2" nuts from Fastenall. All my items I used to thread and tap the aluminum were purchased from local stores like Lowe's. I put 8 on my boat and they work great.

[Sovran]

The aluminum is too soft and thin for the drill and tap. You would end up stripping the threads right out. Google "rivet nut" . Be warned the fit has to be tight to begin with before expanding or the entire thing will spin in the hole.

[beeheck]

Darn it Slabmaster, where were you a couple years ago when I did this and I've wasted hundreds of hours using them with no issues. Now I've wasted all that time. lol Joking. But I have used them for a couple years, more like 3 years and no issue on any of them. This is the second boat I've put them on and I've caught a lot of catfish and bass with them and they just keep on going. Maybe the secret is that when I put them on, I put everything in good and snug allowing for no wiggle room to start them stripping out. I also don't use my German torque wrench. I don't know but they do work. Have a good one.

[P-nut]

Got them finally installed. Y'all tell me what y'all think.

[P-nut]

I also got 2 more 0 to 30 pros that mount when u remove the Tbars on the front.. (For catfishing also)

[Sovran]

Great looking set up. 14 total?

[Cray]

Looks like you got it figured out. Good looking set up.