Ken,
The planer board mast is used to keep the lines off the water and allows the clips to slide down from the boat to the planer board.
In terms of buying the boards, you don't need too. There is an excellent home made instruction page on this site. I have made them using these instructions and they work awesome. A lot cheaper too.
How made planer boards
Now, with the planer boards and mast, you will also need a hand full of clips. You basically let out some line behind the boat, use a clip to attach you line to the planer board line. This clip will than slide down the planer board line away from the boat. There is an article on how to make thiese as well:
Planer board clips
You can also buy these from
Off Shore Tackle but they are expensive ,16-18 bucks for 4 (get the black
clips).
You can also use an in-line planer board which do not require a mast. How made plans for these:
How Made In-line Boards
The in-line planer boards are also effective but because they are on your line during the fighting of the fish it does limit the fighting action.
If you wish to buy these Le Baron sells the
Off Shore Tackle ones for 35 bucks. Canadian tire also sells another brand (sorry I don't what it is) for I think 25 bucks.
Now, can't say I am an expert on this. I have just done it before. But if you want to read up more on it here is a copy of articles on it:
In-fisherman Article - In-line
In-fisherman
Good luck.
Mike