It’s ironic that this thread got posted because I experimented with big boards for the first time last weekend. I wanted to explore this route because I often have difficulty running more than 2 offshore boards per side without getting serious tangles when wanting to check outside lines (and that’s even with implementing basic tangle-avoiding techniques like 1). Releasing tension so board can fall back & then 2). going to opposite corner of boat & reeling in as quickly as possible). Furthermore, I went on a charter several years ago that used the big boards and we were running 4 lines per side without any headaches so my goal was to adopt that strategy.
My first impression is that there is definitely a learning curve involved. They certainly didn’t make my life any easier as compared to using the OR-12 boards. I was using size 10 rubber bands wrapped around the line once and then hooked into an Amish outfitter planer board clip. Getting the tensioner screw just right was nearly impossible. Either the line would break free too easily with no fish on, or it was impossible to get the line to release. I would echo what Itsbob said in that I got way more tangles on the crankbait side than the jet diver side. Finally, hanging out way over the water everytime to grab the tow line so I could connect a clip seemed like a one way ticket to eventually falling over board (I could probably address this by mounting the pulley further back & closer to my rod tree). Next, with the big boards, it’s a lot more equipment to figure out where to store whereas all my OR-12 boards fit nicely into a bin underneath one of my seats. And finally, last but not least, there is a huge price disparity between the two setups. If you go with the big Amish outfitters boards & Cisco fishing systems planer reels & pulleys, you could easily spend $1500 in equipment.

With all that being said, I definitely see potential in using the big boards & am not ready to write them off just yet. Like I said, I have witnessed first hand them being used to run 4 lines per side with great ease. In my opinion, they weren’t hard at all to get out into the water & retrieve. I just need to do more online research in ways to optimize my setup and explore different options for connecting my line to the tow line because that was my biggest headache.

Hope that helps…