Installing rod holder in Bow gunnels. help!!!

askipper3 · #1 09-06-2007, 04:37 PM

I have a ss rodholder(s) I would like to put in my 84' 20 foot SF.

They are at a strong angle, not sure what, and I have no idea where a good place to put them is. The 4 in the back I have....but I wanted 1 more on each side for drifting.

Im afraid to make a hole...aand it not fit...or work correctly with the gunnel...and or bow rail in the way of the rods.

Miles Offshore · #2 09-06-2007, 05:25 PM

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.

askipper3 · #3 09-06-2007, 07:03 PM

Thanks so much, thats a great help. One Question, I'm a little lost on the cardboard templates. What exactly are you making, the top piece, or the length of the rod holder?

Miles Offshore · #4 09-06-2007, 07:51 PM

Cutting a hole in the bottom of the cardboard so that the shape of the template ends up basically the same as the hole you are going to cut. You will be able to slide the rod holder into the cardboard template just like you would be sliding it into the hole you drill. I will look around and see if I can find the one I have been using and if i can find it will send it to you.

abl1111 · #5 09-06-2007, 08:49 PM

Got a good idea - I used this to drill holes in my transom and needed to know they were all at the same angle - you only want to drill a big hole once in a critical spot:

There is company named General - they sell inexpensive, eclectic tools. The tool I am referring to allows you make an exact angle hole w/ a drill. It attached to your drill chuck and has an aparatus..

SH*T it's hard to explain - hopefully this picture I copied shows up:

askipper3 · #6 09-06-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Cutting a hole in the bottom of the cardboard so that the shape of the template ends up basically the same as the hole you are going to cut. You will be able to slide the rod holder into the cardboard template just like you would be sliding it into the hole you drill. I will look around and see if I can find the one I have been using and if i can find it will send it to you.

That sounds like a plan, I just didn't want to wing it!

glow · #7 09-07-2007, 11:45 PM

abl1111,

I saw the info. you listed re; the General drill jig. How much did you pay for yours? What is that tool called and where can I get one? I live in Hawaii, so hopefully I can find one on Amazon or elsewhere online. Thanks, Greg

abl1111 · #8 09-08-2007, 12:53 AM

Home Depot < $35.

Worked like a charm w/ a few holes I needed to make in my transom. It guarantees that you drill a perpendicular hole.

When I installed a full transom swim platform, I drilled oversized holes for the bracket bolts. Filled the oversized holes w/ epoxy and then drilled through them for the smaller bolts that would actually hold the platform brackets in place ( replace one transom and you realize how important it is to not let water seep into wood ! )

glow · #9 09-09-2007, 05:49 AM

Thanks for your help. Greg