[Miles Offshore]

A skipper- first take a couple of pieces of cardboard larger than your rodholder and make a template so that you have a good representation of the cap thickness and you will be able to determine the angle and the proper location of the bolt holes. Some people make a jig to get that angle when they are drilling and its probably the best way but I dont. I use a hole saw with the od being the exact same as the pipe itself. After i do this I then take a big coarse wood file and file the angles both forward and aft until the rod holder fits snug. Next I drill the bold holes. They will be very close to the main hole when drilling them so you have to be careful to drill straight and not drill into the large hole in the middle. I will actually drill just slightly away from the center to avoid this. After you complete this trial fit everything again. Now this will probably be controversial but just the way I do it. I believe i use 1/4"-20 x 1" countersunk stainless bolts, 1 flat washer 3/8" bolt (oversized slightly to be the main reinforcement underneath and 1/4"-20 nylock bolts. The two aft bolts by the extreme angle are very difficult to get backing washers on as you will see,lol. And there might be one that you can get nothing on except the bolt dependant on your cut out. I coat all the exposed surfaces of the holes with 4200 before installing the holder. Not to difficult a job, just take your time. Those inside and outside angles forward and aft when you cut the main hole are the toughest part of the job. good luck-

Just a suggestion- I have several installed forward of the 7 I have in the rear of the boat and I really prefer to use 90° holders . These make much better for drifting (i drift with eels and other stuff and with the rod straight up and down and the ones in the stern, the 90's allow good seperation and less tangles, crossovers, etc. My boat is a 23 but I drift 4 down one side of the boat or the other with very few problems.