Track rod holder system question.

I’m looking into getting a track system for my gunnel. The boat I’m running is a 620 Ranger and after a close look at my gunnels. I noticed they are not perfectly straight. My question is, if I were to install them. Will the rod holders slide easy up and down the track? Just wondering if anybody has any experience with this and what brand they prefer? Any comments are appreciated! Thanks!

Traxstech is hard to beat. I own two trees, downrigger mounts, single rod holders. They are rock solid. Traxstech also has a ton of accessories and adapters.

They slide easily, I just wouldn’t say smooth.

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feel free to pm me your phone number if you want to know more.

They are a pretty serious investment.

Thanks for the info biggill! I think my next step would be to call the dealer and see if the slight curve to the gunnel, rise curve, and figure out if I need a two piece system. My goal is to cover up the existing holes from my pipe rails. My motivation behind this is to get down riggers and be able to remove the base when not using them. I know very little about down riggers, so bare with me!

Often, shims can be added under neath to compensate for the curve surface. Also, there are several length options to get your holes covered ! Depending on your rails you have now, we have actually done a combination short rail & trax combination to have the best of both worlds. Your dealer can help you or feel free to give us a shout if needed.

Thanks Dean! I’ll swing in!

biggill, how long of a track did you install?
I’m thing of a tree on each side and one net holder. I think that an end cap on the stern end only leaving the bow end open to get accessories in and out?
Would it be wise also to use a thin rubber gasket to break the metal to metal contact?

I’m still on the fence. I hope I can see them at the Sportshow in a couple of weeks. They’re quite the investment!

I just priced out
2 – 2′ traxs
2 – backer plates
2 – 3 rod trees
1 net holder
1 pair of end caps.
850. before shipping or tax

Denny O wrote:

biggill, how long of a track did you install?
I’m thing of a tree on each side and one net holder. I think that an end cap on the stern end only leaving the bow end open to get accessories in and out?
Would it be wise also to use a thin rubber gasket to break the metal to metal contact?

I did 1 18” and 1 12” on each side. The beauty of having multiple track segments is that you can more easily remove a single item without having to remove other items. Also if you price it out, I think 2 12” pieces cost less than 1 24” piece. That kind of blew me away.

I have th cap only on the stern side too. Please beware that rod holders, Downrigger mounts etc, can work loose and actually walk forward. I almost had a Downrigger fall off on Superior.

At first I would say no to the rubber strip partly because I don’t see a verifiable benefit. Although, it MAY help hkeep things from working loose.

I don’t want you to get the idea that things working loose is a common problem. These things happen to me because I drive 5 hours to grand portage and many hours running in 3-4’ waves. Sometimes 6’+. Just gotta check your stuff.

ChasinWalleye wrote:

I’m still on the fence. I hope I can see them at the Sportshow in a couple of weeks. They’re quite the investment!

If you live near east Bethel you a pan always stop by and see my stuff. I’d be glad to show it to you.

Denny O wrote:

I just priced out
2 – 2′ traxs
2 – 3 rod trees
1 net holder
1 pair of end caps.
850. before shipping or tax

B ust
O ut
A nother
T housand

This track system is one of my favorite gadget/systems on my boat. If you like to troll, it’s well worth it.

Thanks for your input! I’m sure I’ll just order all the stuff pretty soon.

Thinking of the thin gasket because my boat it alumium Lund and the surface would be metal to metal. thinking of breaking the possible corrosion.

Denny O wrote:

Thinking of the thin gasket because my boat it alumium Lund and the surface would be metal to metal. thinking of breaking the possible corrosion.

Interesting. I don’t think it’s needed to prevent corrosion as long as your boat is well grounded but again there may be some benefit of preventing screws from working loose. The only corrosion I can see is your boat corroding, not the holders. And now that I think about this more, the screws will always ground your rod holders and tracks to your boat. You can’t get away from that.

Maybe give traxstech a call and see what they say. They should be the experts. I have no experience in dealing with them so I’m not sure about their customer service.

I had Cisco Fishing Systems tracks on my last boat. They were very nice, no sharp edges and they come with stops.

I put a layer of black gaffers tape (thick duct tape), on the bottom of my tracks, so that there is a separation between them and my fiberglass. Not sure if it was really needed, but I felt more comfortable doing it. I also champhered the tops of the holes that I drilled in the fiberglass to eliminate any future gel coat cracking.