GoPro Downrigger Ball Mount: Lake Testing Complete

[Smossy]

I just threw this together, This is how its actually assembled. Just in-case anyone needs basic directions.
The rest is self explanatory. But Ill keep designing little blueprints in-case people want to follow this thread.

[h20hunter]

GoPro in hand. I agree with your basics there Smossy. I have two ides for the cam mount....I'll try and get what I have in mind. The one in the link above simply uses the camera tripod mount. That looks fairly secure. I've also got an idea for a safety tether as well.

[Smossy]

GoPro in hand. I agree with your basics there Smossy. I have two ides for the cam mount....I'll try and get what I have in mind. The one in the link above simply uses the camera tripod mount. That looks fairly secure. I've also got an idea for a safety tether as well.

That original design from my research actually has a built in tether on the inside of the torpedo, That goes from the camera mount to the bolt at the back, just in-case the screw in GoPro feature fails. But that doesn't stop you from losing the whole torpedo itself.

[h20hunter]

True. I'll be attaching the 'pedo to the eyebolt on the rigger ball. I'll use a carabiner or something similiar that does not have the ability to come undone. Like I mentioned earlier....no trolling close to the bottom with this set up.

[snocohunter]

My plan when i build one, is to A) Tether go pro to the pod, and B) Tether the pod to a point higher up the DR line with a spring style clip like we would attach when running doubles on a single DR. Even if you lose the ball, or your mount point to the ball, you're still attached to the line.

[Smossy]

My plan when i build one, is to A) Tether go pro to the pod, and B) Tether the pod to a point higher up the DR line with a spring style clip like we would attach when running doubles on a single DR. Even if you lose the ball, or your mount point to the ball, you're still attached to the line.

Not a bad Idea.

[snocohunter]

My plan when i build one, is to A) Tether go pro to the pod, and B) Tether the pod to a point higher up the DR line with a spring style clip like we would attach when running doubles on a single DR. Even if you lose the ball, or your mount point to the ball, you're still attached to the line.

Not a bad Idea.

I have them on rare occasion. Bottom line, is i have to come to grips with the fact that I could lose a gopro. My hero2 can be had for around $150 now but i think the footage will be priceless. I'm also wondering if there is a way to build a "life jacket" around the GP housing, or a buoy attached somehow inside the pod. Then it would in theory be buoyant and come to the top if it detached. Just thinking out loud here.

[Smossy]

My plan when i build one, is to A) Tether go pro to the pod, and B) Tether the pod to a point higher up the DR line with a spring style clip like we would attach when running doubles on a single DR. Even if you lose the ball, or your mount point to the ball, you're still attached to the line.

Not a bad Idea.

I have them on rare occasion. Bottom line, is i have to come to grips with the fact that I could lose a gopro. My hero2 can be had for around $150 now but i think the footage will be priceless. I'm also wondering if there is a way to build a "life jacket" around the GP housing, or a buoy attached somehow inside the pod. Then it would in theory be buoyant and come to the top if it detached. Just thinking out loud here.

Sure there is, Just get a Gopro Floaty backdoor, I have one on my Dive Housing.



It would create buoyancy in the Torpedo though, but not much. Its pretty strong if its mostly just the camera. I've tested it.

[h20hunter]

I'm thinking of an eyebolt at the top of housing with a heavy bungee downrigger shock cord attached to the cable above the ball....If I hang up with my torpedo I'll attach some floats and leave the whole damn downrigger floating (manual crank). I'd just head into Edmonds, show my cert card, and return with full dive gear to get my set up.

Problem with the floaty is there would not be enough lift to bring the whole thing up.

[Smossy]

I'm thinking of an eyebolt at the top of housing with a heavy bungee downrigger shock cord attached to the cable above the ball....If I hang up with my torpedo I'll attach some floats and leave the whole damn downrigger floating (manual crank). I'd just head into Edmonds, show my cert card, and return with full dive gear to get my set up.

Problem with the floaty is there would not be enough lift to bring the whole thing up.

Yeah not the whole torpedo. If the camera failed, and You didnt have a tether on the inside the torpedo. It would have enough float to bring the camera alone to the surface, but good luck finding something that small.

What you said is a great Idea though. Id never have though of that. I dont dive :X

[snocohunter]

Listen to us disaster prepping for losing this whole rig. I've bounced many a lead ball off the bottom up around the racetrack on the edge and never lost a ball, but many times getting a strike :-) So i'm not TOOOO worried about it. Now when it comes to mounting on my rc airplane, well that's a whole different story.

[h20hunter]

Skunk bay...up by foulweather bluff...nice smooth bottom I would be okay with....race track, the bar....nope!

[JohnVH]

Listen to us disaster prepping for losing this whole rig. I've bounced many a lead ball off the bottom up around the racetrack on the edge and never lost a ball, but many times getting a strike :-) So i'm not TOOOO worried about it. Now when it comes to mounting on my rc airplane, well that's a whole different story.

why?

Crashing the profile with the GoPro on it

Cloud surfing with the Zebro52

[snocohunter]

Well i suppose more of an issue with and FVP setup, where a plane can be lost a long ways away. I have had a few "run away" on me but that was years ago with FM transmitters and lesser batteries. I just need to find someone who is good with monokote to recover my bird. Or i could just buy something new but seems like a waste.

[h20hunter]

Ok....GoPro3 has been updated, charged and tested. I'm very impressed with the video quality. Here is the test clip. Nothing fancy....just the boy taking a lap around "the pit" on his bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1HfUZaHt34&feature=youtu.be