Rod Riggers

[B-assman]

Anyone ever used these - http://www.reelcolors.com/reelcolors_006.htm

It's an aluminum 2 piece rod rigger for trolling. It breaks down into two pieces for easier storage - which is the feature that I'd find most appealing since I've got limited storage on board. I've got two concerns - 1) would be the strength of that conection point - since there would be a lot of torque at that point. 2) aluminum vs other I've see that are stainless.

Anyone have any experience with these?

Thanks
Dave

[GBOUTDOORS]

Dave they look good but I could not find a price did you? I have been looking for just that type as the others are tough to store on a smaller boat.

[B-assman]

Well - Way at the bottom of the page it says - "$79.00 each!!! Just give us a call and a pair is on the way!!!! " but I can't tell if its 79 each or for the pair. I sent them an email - I'll let you know if they reply

[Fly Rod]

I made my own out of 1-1/2" PVC straight pipe schedule40 with 45o elbows Have had them for the last three years and work fine.
Very cheap.

[MTC]

I know a welding shop in Pembroke MA that made me a set that lock into the pins on the rod holders. I'll ask him how much to make some.

[Moose Nuckle]

The ones I have are one piece. They work great. Mine come with a strap the secures the rod to the rigger so it wont go overboard. Again they work great.

[B-assman]

Just ordered the pair - they're $79 each - A bit steep - but with space aboard at a premium - I just couldn't go with the one piece units. I'll let you know how they work out.

[Fly Rod]

Just came back from boaters world.

Stainless rod holders that you put into existing holders "T" shaped w/slight angle up selling for $50.00 each These are the "T" shaped fixed the T is welded in the middle.
Top of T section is about 14-16" stem that goes into holder is about 16-18" long.

I'm sure that if boaters world has them that Boat us or westmarine will have them.

Check them out!!!!

[beamie]

Give George Doucette a call at capecodfishingschool.com

terminator trolling tubes. Nice rigs.

Beamie

[Hooper]

I have been told that they make for a big advantage when fishing tube and worms.

I grabbed a pair last year and aim to try them out come springtime. Apparently, the tubes seems to fish better with the line closer to the water instead of coming off a high rod tip sitting in a verticle or 30 degree gunwale rod holder...

Dunno if this is the case, but I'm going to try it out and see. Those who do far better tubing than I seem to swear by them!

[Fly Rod]

My home made work fine when fishing for blues with rappalas!!!

[GBOUTDOORS]

Hey Fly Rod thanks for the idea. Think this will work?? Not that I am cheap and don,t want to buy them, but like to do things my self if I can!!

[Fly Rod]

Need to put a slot in the bottom that goes into the rod holder so that it locks on the pin to keep it from rotating. Go back to the picture with the stainless and look at the bottom and you will see the slot.

Mine isn't like a "T" Mine is with a straight pipe about 15-16"long that goes into rod holder with a 1/4" slot at bottom to accept rod holder pin to keep it from turning when fish strikes. Then I glued on a 45 degree elbow and attached a 10" piece of straight pipe.

The 45 elevates the rod a little bit and also helps rod from going over board if rod holder does turn.

Had one of them football tunas hit my line while blue fishing spun the holder towards the stern and with the 45 angle put enough pressure on the rod butt so it wouldn' t come out of the holder. If it was a straight "T" I feel that I would have lost the rod and fish.

Your not being cheap, your being "FRUGAL"!!!!!

Why spend $70. $50. or $20. when five bucks will get the same results??? Thats being a smart shopper!!!

Now you have money left over to buy a couple of lures from #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&!!!

[fishsmith]

I'd make sure you have lanyard on your reel tied to the boat, just in case the pvc cracks or the rod pulls out.

[Fly Rod]

" Excellent Idea"

We do it all the time with the tuna rods!!!!

My pvc sticks up about 2" above the original which makes it pretty rugged. And schedule 40 is 3/16" thick.

[GBOUTDOORS]

Fly rod the slot is in there but turned to the side. My boat is at the yard for tuneup and did not want to glue last pipe till I could put it in the holder and turn to right spot. I have reel safety strapes to keep the rods from going south with the fish.

[Fly Rod]

Your rig is fine.
On the pipe there is a blue line or it could be orange or whatever.
On the elbow, line up the finish line on the elbow with the colored line everything should fall in place.
Your on the right track accordinding to your last post.
You and I are probably the two poorest people on striped bass.com
We can't afford all that exspensive stuff
When it comes together glue it!!!

[Mr. Sandman]

I bought a pair last season off of ebay (about 35 each), mine don't break down and they don't seem to cause a storage problem.

Do they work? Yes I love them...they are like a poor mans outrigger and they work great on outboards where the beam is generally more narrow. You can troll two wire's and even a shallow line or two with mild maneuvers and not tangle.

WARNING! If you put a big rod in there towing something like an umbrella rig or a dasiy chain or anything heavy MAKE SURE you have a saftey clip from the reel or rod TO THE BOAT. These put A LOT of stress (torque) on the pin in your gunnel rod holder and have been known to shear it many times (generally when a fish strikes!). When this happens the rodrigger will instantly rotate and point the rod aft at which point the rod will launch out into the sea like a rocket. Mine came with a lead the goes from the rigger to the reel but I worry about the entire thing breaking so I have it go from the boat to the reel. IMO there is a lot of stress on that weld.

They have held up fine so far, nothing has broken. They work well and are worth the money.

Mine are Alum, next boat I will probably get a pair of stainless. (more $$$)

[Fish On]

Iadded a few rod holders to my boat last year. First, 2 years ago I added clamp on rod holders to the back end of the bow rail which work ok ($15 each). They are about 2 feet forward of the road holders in the first picture but still easily accessible. I also have a hard top so I added two of the very sharp gold, bolt on rod holders to the sides of my hardtop (about $75 each). These are about 3 feet above the gunwhale but can be easily adjusted to point straight out and also hold the rod nicely, just a bit higher. Finally I added 2 additional SS gunwhale rod holders. Bought a set at consumer marine but they didn't come with any of the plates or hardware. Stupid me didn't realize you had to buy them separate. Anyway, before I had a chance to buy them the owner of Fisherman' s Outfitter's in Gloucester sold me another set with all the hardware (about $65 each). Took some work to install but they are nice. Put one on the stern next to the outboard and the other on the port side a mid ships. With the rocket launchers I think I'm pretty much complete for rod holders (though you can never have too many). ;-)

By the way I kept the cutout from the gunwhale to show perspective buyers when I sell the boat. Amazing but it's over an inch thick and about 8 layers. I have to say as I have tinkered with this boat I truly believe I purchased a very high quality boat. Though not available in smaller sizes anymore I will strongly consider buying another Hydra-Sports Vectra Series if I ever decide to step up.