Ever since I saw footage from one of these things, I wanted one real bad. However, couldn’t justify the cost. Especially when I started looking into it and found what it cost to build one on your own. So after a trip to Home Depot, about $45 dollars later, and about two hours out in the garage, I came up with this. The only thing missing right now is a ballast weight underneath to keep it straight up and down. None of the local stores in Summerville I went to have any tear drop anodes or anything like them. I’ll have to make a trip south to one of our West Marines. I added fins to it because a few of the articles I read suggested doing so giving it great stability in the water. Seemed like a good idea and I had some plexiglass laying around, so I worked some on there. It is a little long, I admit, but I wanted to leave room to attach the weight. I’ll trim it later after the weight is attached. I just couldn’t wait to share this with everyone, so I had to snap a couple of pics and post it. Now, if I can just find a nice weather day . . . . . hopefully soon!
Looks good, can’t wait to see some video
Chris
Greenville
36 Century
Chasin Tail
I love it! I’ve had a half finished version of one on my workbench for 2 months now! I plan to fill a piece of 1" pvc with lead shot and use that as a keel weight. Now you got me all motivated to finish it. Also, if that is the stock gopro lens you will want to replace it with the underwater lens or your video will be real blurry. Good luck!
26’ Glacier Bay
Mistress
Thanks for the tip. I near forgot about the lens!
Nice man!!! Definitely can’t wait to see the footage on that. I only know of one company that is really putting efforts into these. The problem I have is that you can’t control the GoPro with the remote or iPhone app, because the barrier of the water being in the way. So basically , you have to turn it on, place it in the water, and record in hopes of getting some action before the battery dies. Kind of sucks…anyone have any experience with getting around this issue? If so, pelase share.
I just took the rout of mounting a GoPro on a pole, and recording when action is close to the boat. But again, its a learning process!!
“If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, then try standing in front of them”
Yeah, I know this is a long shot (pun TOTALLY intended), but I have always loved the footage when it works. I get most of my fish (when I get out to fish) on my short lines. So I figure that if we are into the fish, I can drop this thing down and put it just in front of the bait. I always carry three spare batteries with me for the camera and a 32 Gig card. So I can afford some time eating up memory. God willing it will pay off. If not, it was fun building the darn thing!! LOL!! I too have a painters pole and a roll bar mount for the camera. I’ve not had the occasion to use it like you yet. However, I’m hoping to change that when we get some nice weather here soon. Note my optimism.
perfect idea! Have you looked into using some old time sash weights that were used in windows ? If your design works and costs can be controled - just saying!
In regards to the stablizing fins, I’m curious to see how that will work. The more I think about it, I wonder if a downward angle fins would be better…forming an angle underwater similar to that of pulling a planer. That way the camera would be more looking up into the spread?? thoughts??? This could be a cool view.
“If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, then try standing in front of them”
I thought the same thing. But when I pictured it in my head, and watched some videos, the housing rides pretty close to the surface, comparatively. Meaning just a few feet from the surface. So to angle the camera to shoot up you might not see all of what’s going on under the spread. Most of the footage I’ve watched shows the fish playing under the spread. The few people I saw who put on fins said it helps with the “wobble.” I’m guessing what I know of aerodynamics it’s the roll (like a plane) that it stabilizes. Like you said, if you change the angle of attack on the fins you could cause it to pitch how you wanted it. I’m gonna try keeping it level for now to see what it looks like.
Yeah…good point…either way, keep us in the loop and looking forward to seeing your results!!
“If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, then try standing in front of them”
If you know a dance, or a song, or some magic words to make the waves lay down, I’d be out there tomorrow trying to get all kinds of footage!!! LOL!!
Do the “Truffle Shuffle” from Goonies…works for me…but I cant fish, stuck in Dubai at the moment!!
“If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, then try standing in front of them”
When I was in Doha, I looked up charters out there in that part of the world. Seems there is some fishing. Maybe not world class, but some.