The best planner boards are the ones you make yourself out of wood. Just do a online search for "Planner Board Designs".

You can get away without using a mast if you tie the boards off your bow cleats. A mast system makes things easier & neater.

We have caught a lot of fish with those in line offshore boards using the RO-18 & red clips, they don't break free and have to be removed before netting the fish. I've noticed no difference when they are taken under water verse noty, other than it’s normally a mid-40s fish or better.  Heck, I like it when the board goes down

Also, I don’t troll in line boards into 4’ waves, there will be problems with them diving under waves, they typically start hopping in 3'ers.

I have and use both in-line and mast, but prefer the in-line boards when fishing around weeds. There are +s and -s to each.

Hi George, agree that the mast system rocks for open water trolling without weeds. I like the wider spread and cleaner fight without a board.

But floating weeds is my main problem while using my mast.  I've made longer line releases with weed guards for the inside line baits, and that works okay, but then still had an issue of how to check for a fouled bait on the far outside. 

The reason I lean toward in-line boards around weeds is that we are typically trolling 6 baits and try to keep at least 5 baits working in the water, which is no problem with inline boards unless there's a ton of floaters.  

Additionally, if we plan on casting and trolling it’s obviously a lot easier to switch back and forth with in-line boards because you don't have to break the mast down, stowing a mast and using one with a convertible top up in the late fall has been some of my other considerations.  

That's some pros and cons with both that I've noticed.  I was wondering if you guys have devised any clever way to check those outside baits without bringing everything in on that side. Also, the max waves you troll into with the different style mast systems (I use the cedar boards and reels on the bow now).