If their was anyway you could post a picture of the different area's , Their would probably be more people that could help you. Do you have any kind of a rail if so you could look at a rail mount. Just make sure you can get enough support on the bottom of the bolts to hold it on. A couple of big washers or a piece of metal or something so the dont pull out.

I previously had an older bayliner Ciera with two electric downriggers mounted per your option 1, except a block was screwed/inserted into the corner to provide extra mounting surface, so all four bolts where used. I think the swimstep mount would be really a hassle to use.

Pictures of the areas would definitely help.

Where ever its mounted make sure to use all the screw mounting holes and a backing plate. A 30 inch boom will put a lot of load/pressure on the mounting point if you get the ball hung up. If it is not mounted well it could be ripped off your boat.


Damon

Just remeber, there are those that have electric downriggers and those that wish they did! I would also consider making a downrigger mounting board. I have seen these on boats that were obviously set up more for cruising or skiing and part time fishing. It consists of a 2x6 or 2x8 that is attached to the stern of the boat using clamps or by bolting it to the sides. The downrigger mounts are then bolted to the board. It makes it possible remove your downrigger mounts when doing other water activities. Cabelas used to sell a metal downrigger mounting station, you might want to take a look to get some ideas.
As far as telling the wife they are for something other than fishing, procede at your own risk!

Alec, go to Cabelas and look into the Berts' track system. get a long enough lenght to span the width of the stern and get the slide in mounts. If you go to your swim platform, you'll be wishing you didn't!

I purchased a 26 ft cruiser this past spring and had to outfit it for fishing. The gunwhale edges weren't wide enough to mount downriggers and the rails are oval teak, so I had very few options. Plus, the one mount I found that might have worked was very expensive. So, I did the board thing, in as much as a buddy of mine had a boat that had been previously set up similarly.

I took a 2X10 that is approx 9' long, notched the underside where it sits on the rails, and finished the entire thing with a quality marine finish. Under the board, I installed eye bolts and use turnbuckles to secure each end down to the gunwhale cleats closest to the stern. The board sits just inside the stern railing, so it's well back in the boat. My rigger bases were installed directly over the railing for support which places them nicely in the back corners of the cockpit. It's rock solid and I didn't have to drill a single hole in the boat. It can be removed and the boat doesn't even look like it's used for fishing (which made my wife happy).

The other advantages of the board are that it gives you a very solid base to which you attach your downriggers, no need for backer plates. Since both riggers are attached to the same board, they offset each other as far as pressure while being used. (I am running the 60" Scotty electrics with 12# balls.) It also gives you a nice edge to mount additional rod holders (I can run five rods at a time). Plus, I attached a bait cutting board and two small plastic trays for holding pliers, files, clippers, scents, etc.

Just another idea, one that makes for a fun project and allows for a lot of options.

Depending on the age of your Bayliner, mounting options can be scarce. Mine is an 89, which luckily has a nice flat top on the stern. It had a Penn mount, which I took off and replaced with a Cannon, and another on the other side. When they changed to the Euro tail, or molded in swim platform, this option was lost as there really isn't a flat top on the stern anywhere. I would go the plank route as described above, if I were you. Not only would the swim step be too low, but too far back to use comfortably. You don't want to have to lean out over the back of the boat when all hell breaks loose, especially to wind up 280' of cable manually! The nice part on mine is when we go tubing all you see back there is the plastic mounting blocks.

Electrics.......only way to go. Pics would be nice to give better advice.

Hey-
I have a '89 caprice that I mounted two riggers on, if you want a picture, private message me and I'll take a photo or two and describe what you need to know..... It was easy and fairly convenient.
****, just look in the back right corner of my
<--- avatar and you'll see the swivel mount and the rigger.

Jeff Bing.

RBF had some difficulties finding a decent spot on the Amy Lynn.

There are some white enamel looking things that you mount to the inside of the Gunwale. You then mount the downrigger to the top part of an L bracket. The long part of the L then slips into the part mounted to the boat. Great for easy removal, and you could mount something else on the L bracket, like a flower pot or something for your wife!

Get rid of the swim platform idea,you'll hate it back there.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Thanks for all your help guys, and there was me thinking I had no options!

I'll take some pics tomorrow and post them up as suggested.