posted 03-18-2004 09:21 AM ET (US)        

I am getting my sweet little 170 ready for the spring fishing, I bought two stainless steel Ratchet Rod Holders to mount on the side rails pointing aft to allow fo trolling, my question before I mount em, you guys have any probs mounting them down low on the bach of the rail ?

What About inside the rail?

comments?

thanks

posted 03-18-2004 09:23 AM ET (US)            

FOR for FO
And
BACK for BACH

posted 03-18-2004 01:13 PM ET (US)            

Any recommendations as to a good set of stainless steel rod holders with a rail mount would be appreciated.

(I'm not sure if I would rather get plastic ones that rotate 360 degrees.)

posted 03-18-2004 01:44 PM ET (US)            

http://www.cabelas.com/information/FishingSaltwater/C.E.SmithRodHolders.html

posted 03-18-2004 03:05 PM ET (US)            

I bought two from West Marine for 39.99 get one free. They are stainless will try them this season and see what happens

posted 03-18-2004 03:21 PM ET (US)            

Cabela's is out of stock. I just emailed CE Smith to see if I can buy them direct. They have a new adjustable mid mount out.

posted 03-18-2004 05:30 PM ET (US)            

I have the same boat and just went through the same process of trying to decide on which rod holders to buy. You should go over to Sam's on Canal Road in Orange Beach. They sell the "Taco Sportfishing" stainless steel adjustable rod holders for $41.99 each. I just bought two of them, the price is better than any mail order that I could find. They are really beautiful and look just like the Smith holders (may even be the same product, just relabeled?). I plan on getting another pair to mount on the vertical console rails, for holding the boga grip, etc. Let me know if you need directions to Sam's, it really is the best place to shop.

posted 03-18-2004 09:37 PM ET (US)            

The original Rail Mount Rod Holders that Boston Whaler has always used in the past has been Lee's...

For some reason Lee's does not list them on their Web Site... Go figure?
www.leestackle.com/04lee.html

They are available from Lee's and other sources and I have never had any problems with them in over 20 years.... Top Quality products.....

www.basspro-shops.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=8191&hvarTarget=search

posted 03-19-2004 10:34 AM ET (US)            

good idea on the inside rail, I have a custom mooring cover also and I dont want the rod holders to pop up and interfere with the watertight tension.

good gouge thanks fellas,

posted 03-19-2004 06:18 PM ET (US)            

But you're Knot (sorry, couldn't resist ;-)) asking about what kind of rod holder to use since you already have those ratchet-type holders. My 2 cents on where on the rail to mount them is to take into account your knees and shins.

Mounting anything on the inside of the rails will increase the chances of dinging your legs if you operate in rough water or have to scramble around fighting a fish. Been there and done that. While the scabs healed, I finalized mounting my Lee's rod holders on the outside of the rail. They were low enough to be about even with the horizontal rail, and I never had a rod'n'reel ever threaten to jump ship, even in some near 'Perfect Storm' seas. Of course these were 12/0 Penn Senators so their weight helped hold them in, but I also always used a 'safety line on them.

If you decide to mount the rod holders outboard of the rails, just use a safety line from the reel to a fixed point on the boat/rail and you won't have to worry about losing any tackle overboard. Make the line long enough that you can take the rod'n'reel out of the holder and bring it inboard before you unsnap the safety line from the reel.