Scotty 2116 HP Depthpower Electric Downrigger - Dual Rod Holder

The Scotty 2116 HP Depthpower is Scotty's High Performance electric downrigger - the top-tier downrigger in the Scotty lineup and the standard equipment on charter boats running offshore for tuna, kingfish, wahoo, and other big-game trolling targets, plus Great Lakes salmon / lake trout / steelhead trolling rigs where speed and reliability matter. For owners building a serious trolling rig who need downrigger performance that handles all-day commercial-grade use, the 2116 HP is the right call. It's the right call.

What 'HP' actually means - the speed and power difference. The HP designation is Scotty's High Performance variant - meaningfully different from the standard Scotty downriggers in three ways: (1) Pulling power - lifts 15-pound weights at 295 feet per minute, 20-pound weights at 260 feet per minute. Compare to entry-level downriggers that retrieve at 150-200 ft/min - the HP is roughly 50% faster. The speed matters when you've got a fish on and need to bring the downrigger weight up to clear the area, or when you need to quickly reposition the boat over new structure. (2) Industry-largest clutch brake surface - the brake disk and pad area is the largest in the industry, allowing for the highest retrieval speeds without brake fade or overload. Smaller brakes on cheaper downriggers limit retrieval speed and wear out faster. (3) Heavy-duty Kevlar drive belt - the Optibelt Kevlar belt handles the higher torque loads of the HP motor without slipping or stretching over years of use. Standard downriggers use lighter belts that wear faster under sustained high-load use.

Telescoping boom - 36 to 60 inches. The stainless steel boom telescopes from 36 inches (compact configuration for storage, trailer transit, or small-boat use) up to 60 inches (full extension for big-boat trolling where you want maximum spread between port and starboard downriggers, or where you need to clear engine wash and other obstructions at the stern). The 1.25 inch boom diameter is heavy enough to handle 20-pound weights at trolling speed without flexing or vibrating. Adjust the boom length to your specific boat configuration and the day's fishing plan - shorter for tight maneuvering, longer for spread rod-trolling patterns.

Dual Rocket Launcher rod holders (No. 447). The 2116 includes TWO Rocket Launcher rod holders mounted to the downrigger base, with stainless steel jackets for durability and corrosion resistance. Adjustable angle for the right rod position. The dual rod holders double your rod capacity per downrigger station - run a downrigger rod plus a flat-line surface rod from the same downrigger position, or run two downrigger rods at different depths (with appropriate line release setup). For boats with limited deck space where every rod position matters, the dual holders maximize rod capacity without adding separate rod holder hardware. Rod holder interior diameter: 1.70 inches - fits most standard trolling rod butts.

Illuminated digital depth counter. The depth counter shows downrigger weight depth in real time as you pay out or retrieve cable - critical for trolling at specific depths to target species at known thermocline or structure depths. Features: illuminated display (readable in pre-dawn / night / low-light conditions when much trolling happens), sealed enclosure (no moisture intrusion that destroys cheaper depth counters), silent operation (no clicking gears that scare fish near surface in shallow trolling), and resettable to zero at any time (zero at surface, or zero at the weight depth where you want the chartplotter mark). The depth counter is one of the most-used features on a downrigger - the HP version uses the most refined digital implementation in the Scotty line.

Power Grip Plus line release. The line release is the clip that holds your fishing line to the downrigger cable while trolling - releases when a fish strikes so the rod can fight the fish without the downrigger weight in the equation. The Power Grip Plus is Scotty's premium line release - adjustable tension for different lure / fish combinations, reliable trip on strikes (doesn't release prematurely on small waves or boat motion, but releases reliably on fish strikes), and built to last (some line releases wear out and need replacement after a season - Power Grip Plus typically lasts multiple seasons of regular use).

Industry-largest clutch brake - safety and bottom-hang protection. The clutch brake is the critical safety feature on any downrigger - when the downrigger weight catches on bottom structure (a rock, stump, wreck, or coral head), without a brake the cable would snap. It's an issue you don't want or the downrigger drive train would strip out. With the brake, the cable pays out at controlled tension when the load exceeds a preset threshold - the weight stays attached, you can back off the boat to retrieve, and you don't lose expensive gear. The HP's industry-largest brake surface handles higher loads without slipping, and recovers more reliably from extended bottom-hang situations. For trolling in structure-rich areas (Great Lakes shoals, offshore wrecks, coastal reefs) where bottom strikes are common, the brake quality is the difference between losing gear monthly and rarely.

300 feet of 180-pound test HP stainless steel cable. The HP comes spooled with 300 feet of Scotty's HP stainless steel downrigger cable - 180 pound breaking strength, tough enough for heavy weights and structure trolling, corrosion-resistant for saltwater service. 300 feet of cable is plenty for typical inshore and most offshore trolling (most species are found above 150 feet depth, so 300 feet of cable gives 2x safety margin). For very deep offshore trolling (over 300 feet), additional cable extension kits are available through Scotty dealers.

16-position swivel pedestal mount. The included 1026 swivel pedestal mount allows the entire downrigger to rotate to 16 different positions around its mounting base - turn the boom inboard for line release rigging, outboard for trolling, forward for stowing during runs, or to any intermediate angle. The 16 positions provide fine adjustment without the locked positions of cheaper 4 or 8 position mounts. The pedestal mounts permanently to the boat (track mount, base plate, or transom mount depending on installation).

Tilt-up mounting bracket. The included 1023 tilt-up bracket lets you tilt the entire downrigger up and lock it in the vertical position - useful for clearing the boom out of the way when running at planing speeds (without tilt-up, the boom can vibrate or be damaged by wind / water at high speed), or for storage when the boom isn't needed. Lock and release with a single lever for one-handed operation.

Marinco-style plug and receptacle. The included Marinco-style waterproof plug and receptacle connects the downrigger to the boat's 12V power supply through a quick-disconnect waterproof connector. Lets you remove the downrigger from the boat for cleaning, storage, or transport without disconnecting wires from terminals. Standard plug pattern - other Marinco-compatible accessories use the same receptacle.

Multi-position auto-stop. Use the included 1008 stopper beads on the downrigger cable to set the auto-stop position - the downrigger will automatically stop pay-out at the preset depth. Useful for: consistent depth fishing where you want to set a specific depth and have the downrigger always stop there, safety (prevents over-running cable into the water in the event of an operator distraction), and multi-station fishing where you can preset each downrigger to a different target depth for various species or thermoclines.

Weight storage hook (1148). The included weight storage hook attaches to the downrigger base and gives you a secure place to hang the downrigger weight when not actively trolling - keeps the weight off the deck (no foot-stubbing or deck damage), keeps it secured during boat motion (no swinging weight), and keeps it organized for fast deployment when ready to fish again.

Install. Plan for 2-4 hours for a typical mounting install. Tasks: mount the swivel pedestal to the boat (track mount, base plate, or transom mount per your specific install), wire the 12V power from the boat's electrical system through a dedicated 15A breaker (the HP motor pulls significant amps at full load), connect the Marinco plug and receptacle, and bolt the downrigger to the pedestal. Test all functions before first fishing trip - cable pay-out and retrieval at all speeds, brake engagement, line release clip operation, and depth counter reset / accuracy.