Every electric downrigger gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Units are grouped by class: standard, and premium.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | maximum retrieval speed | 20% |
| Weight rating | heaviest weight the maker rates it for | 10% |
| Boom reach | longest boom | 10% |
| Value | price | 30% |
| Features | depth counter, auto stop, stainless boom and wireless networking | 15% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 15% |
Where the numbers come from
Speed, weight rating, boom length, cable, features and warranty come from the maker’s product page where it could be read, or from the Amazon listing copy, which is cited on each product page. Prices are the Amazon price when it was checked. Scotty publishes no retrieval speed for most models, and no maker publishes current draw in a form the listings carry, so neither is compared across brands.
The factors
Value is the current price, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same: $1,300 scores zero and $550 full marks.
Speed is the maker’s maximum retrieval speed, how fast the weight comes back up: 150 ft a minute scores zero and 250 ft a minute full marks.
Weight rating is the heaviest weight the maker rates the unit for: 10 lb scores zero and 20 lb full marks.
Boom reach is the longest boom: 30 in scores zero and 60 in full marks.
Features is 30% for a built-in digital depth counter, 30% for stopping the weight on its own, 20% for a stainless boom and 20% for wireless networking.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks. A lifetime warranty scores full marks.
What isn’t scored
Cable length and strength, weight and voltage are listed but not scored. A speed quoted only for a stated weight, as with some Scotty retailer pages, is not used.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as the shortest warranty on the scale, and is marked estimated. Most Scotty units are scored this way on speed and most Cannon units on warranty, because their listings leave those out.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.