Thanks for the pics and ideas! These are 130lb class rods/reels with 12" bent butts for going after medium and giant bluefins, north of 200lb fish. The tuna Steve caught on spinning gear last weekend on board was a small fellow at around 175-200 estimated
Nothing out of ordinary as to length of rods. Certainly no need to replace them ! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] And not at 400-600 a rod.
The bow swivel location is really about fighting a fish without worry of the line hitting the prop during the fight. You won't be trolling from the bow. If kiting or live-lining or chunking I guess could use the bow swivel location. Adding a swivel up front does make sense so will do so this winter. Good boat handling no reason to not fight out of the current swivels though.
So imo I have no choice but 2 address the gunnel flex issue. The murphy factor still lives that someone on the boat slides the drag lever up when being spooled in current swivels. Before I stop them. Hell it could be me in the tuna fever throes of not wanting to lose a big fish.
These gunnels already have betwen 1.25 near transom, and 2 inches+ of wood/glass layering next to console. Somewhere in the past someone went way over-kill on the gunnels already! The swivels have ss backing plates now of note. They still flex outboard. It was obvious with Steve when we put some simulated outboard weight and drag, that the flex was way more than the comfort zone and in the battle with a big fish needing say more than 25lbs drag that 130's can throw down, would be seriously problematic.
Net is gotta solve the outside flex issue no way around it. Looks like bracing/knees and u clamps are the way to go.
And those pics are not ugly! Its under the gunnels! Someone being the critic on that had better be a good swimmer!
The 23 in chatham looked at had stainless countersinks thru the outside hull,ss bolts with head outside of hull in the countersink, to the u shaped clamps on bottom of swivel holders, and seemed to solve both problems at once (clamping the bottom of swivel and bracing the gunnel). The pretty solution as far as no outside of hull is going to be more work I guess.
-Josh