Gearing up the seacraft for attempts at swordfishing. Only changes I need to make are hooking up the second fuel tank (have used boat for a year without ever burning more than 30 gallons at a time), and to add a larger swivel base rod holder for the big rod. Gunnels will also be reinforced to better take the loads of the big rod.
Here is the large swivel base rod holder, sitting in a piece of AL that will become the backing plate.
We I put the rod in a 15 degree holder, set drag to 30 lbs. and pull on the line, the gunnels flex a little. Nothing is going to break, but I dont like the see the flexing, so Im going to add a little piece to the sides of the hull and the inside of the coaming, basically box it. Will be hidden from view, but it will stiffen up the area around the new rod holder