Planer Boards

[rkropp]

After trying in-line planers I'm ready to purchase a planer board system. I'm sure there has been other threads on the topic but I would like to get fresh opinions.
What brands can be recommended, pros and cons?
I fish Lake Erie out of Brest Bay Marina, usually alone unless I can persuade the wife to go.
I would use the rail mount reels for the sake of convenience.

Thanks for your opinions in advance.
Rick

[ESOX]

I made a set from Gone Fishings plans in this thread.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67982&page=1&highlight=planer+board+plans

I used clear Douglas Fir instead of mahogany, but they still pull like crazy and I have never had one flip.

[Big Nic]

RK ,

Have had my first experince with Otter Boards this year and really , really liked them. Ran excellent in 2/3 footers , highly visible and seemed to stay much more horizontal from the boat than conventional boards . they are pricey but as the saying goes "you get what you pay for " Just my .02

[rkropp]

Thanks for the replys. I have some pine but I would think that would be to light. I think I' ll give it a shot and see how they work.I did find the Otter boards (2nds) for $65 each.
Thanks again.

[The Whale]

I made a set out of pine (1" x 8") and they work excellently. 28" "legs" and so forth, 1/4" threaded rod for the stand-offs. Copied a set from my Bro-in-law's. Some weed wacker line (.100") for the pull lines. Not been able to come up with a set of reels yet so all I use is a 16" length of 1" x 3" with a long V-notch cut into the ends for winding them in / out. A little bit of a hassle there but once they're out, they're out. Haven't even water proofed them, painted them white is all. They pull very well riding up with the boat, but I will say that they do seem to stall a bit on a tighter turn. Has not been a problem for me yet though out on the Bay where I live (fish). Very low cost for my firest set, hell, probably be my last set. I've ran them for six to seven hours straight without any degradation in performance, no water logging. Pull everything from Pa's / harnesses to deep divers to mini-discs w/spoons. They ROCK for a total cost of about $14.00 !!! ;) :D :D :D

[double trouble]

we used to make and sell wood boards. pine works fine if you spray it with good paint. 28 inch length by 6 is good too . the tri-flash site has a good plan coppied from the old D.N.R. plans. if you can find it use three eights rod like we use in the electrical industry.you can buy bulk lengths at any electrical supply house and cut it to 12 inches.the nuts you can get for 3 bucks at lowes for 3 bucks for a whole box. that weighs the boards down a little and they ride better in heavy waves.I have made many sets with scrap lumber off job sites including poplar interior trim all work fine if you paint well.go to walleyefishinglakeerie.com and ask mike if he would sell you a set.a little secret. my boards cost me less than 5 bucks each set to build. REEL FACT.i also have made folding boards that are the cats jammies , but i would have to show you how i made them.the top and are scrap aluminum angle with half screw half bolt mounted top and bottom.just loosen the bolts and open them up. these were a little larger salmon boards.1by 8 36 inches long for very wavy conditions.but they also work great on erie.later Dan p.s. we snapped an otter board in half when it flipped and sunk fishing for browns off luddington a few years ago.not sure whose fault but it was an expensive lesson.

[rkropp]

That's the way to go at least for the first set. From the plans I've seen they are all basically the same.
Thanks again

[ESOX]

I had a home made set I made from pine a few ywears back, I epoxied a couple lengths of rerod in them for ballast, it worked fine, but not as well as the design I linked to.

[rkropp]

Got em' made. Turned ot pretty good. Does any one know how to add a picture? I couldn't figure it out. Now I'll have to get reels and give them a try.