rails or tracks?

Need your input on a decision for my new boat I’m ordering next week. I’m getting Triton 186 Allure which comes stock with rails. I had rails on my last boat which I used to mount rod holders. On my next boat I’m looking hard at going all out with traxstech stuff. Tracks, rod holders, trolling trees, down rigger mounts. I have it all priced out around $2000 for what I want. The main reason I started looking at tracks was to have downrigger mounts that I don’t have to mount directly to the boat and I can slide out when not in use. Now I also see that a some manufacturers make rail mounts for downriggers. Going this route would save a lot of $. So the question is, anyone using downriggers mounted to the rail? How do you like it? Do the rotate around the rail with lots of downward force from the ball? Or should I just go with the tracks and never look back?

Pull one of your rail mounts screws out. Then ask yourself if you want a $700 rigger and set up with rod hanging over the side of your boat by just a couple of those.

Just remember, you don’t have to sell the boat with all the rail mount stuff so that can become a life long investment. Keep you eyes on sites like Great Lakes angler and the various Facebook sites for the Great Lakes to find used gear.

Do it right and do it once.

I have a couple short tracks on each side for my down riggers and use my rails for rod holders. I mounted the short tracks on the back raised up deck over the livewell and use the tall swivel mounts for the riggers. it works well for me.

mark-bruzek wrote:

Pull one of your rail mounts screws out. Then ask yourself if you want a $700 rigger and set up with rod hanging over the side of your boat by just a couple of those.

That’s a great point Mark. I had 2 occasions this year where my downriggers either fell off or was about to. Now this had nothing to do with rail mounts but rather screws and other things loosening up. Luckily the one rigger fell into the boat and not out.

The point being is that stuff will come loose, make sure you have a robust system.

As far as traxstech is concerned, you can’t beat it in my opinion. I’ve got 4 full seasons on my traxstech stuff without the slightest problem. Everything operates as smooth as the day I bought it.