01-04-2004, 10:08 PM
[cool][size 1]I finished my latest version of a horizontal rod rack, but with a slant. It tilts up several degrees. This helps keep the reels out of the water and reduces the weight and downward torque of a flat rack.[/size]
[size 1]I also was more thrifty in the use of PVC on this one, using only the minimum necessary. Even with the addition of a couple of pieces of flotation foam, the total weight for this edition is only 1.9 pounds.[/size]
[size 1]Instead of cut pieces of PVC for the rod holders, I used clear vinyl tubing...5/8" ID for the rod shaft, and 1 1/4" ID into which to slip the handles. I cut a slit in the narrow tubing, to allow the rods to slip down inside the tube. The larger tube is actually some heavy nylon mesh reinforced tubing. These rings are screwed onto the PVC with 1/2" machine screws. The larger rings could be slit, also, to more easily accept and hold fly rod handles.[/size]
[size 1]My real innovation here was in the mounting method. Instead of rigging straps and snaps, I set it up so that the two short stabilizer posts fit down into two loops of nylon rope, attached to the D rings. By spacing the stabilizer posts so that they were exactly the same distance as the D rings, this made it easy to set up. The adjustments were in making sure the loop is exactly large enough to take the stabilizer bars (and the fittings) and no larger. If the loops are too long, they will allow the rack to tilt forward. [/size]
[size 1]I have yet to take this new design on the water, but I am anticipating it will work well for my kind of fishing. I always take multiple rods. This design allows for a quick "lay down" if you need to set a rod aside for a minute...without having to be careful about fitting it down into a vertical tube. Heck, even though I only have 4 rod holders, that rack could probably hold six or eight rods, stacked on each other.[/size]
[size 1]I had heard of other tubers fixing their rod racks up with flotation...to prevent loss in case the rack became disconnected. On this model, I fitted the two horizontal pieces of PVC with measured lengths of foam flotation. I am sure it will be sufficient to float four rods. I will put that to the test in a couple of weeks.[/size]
[size 1]So, what I ended up with is about half the weight of the wood and PVC model I was previously using. It has more flexibility and can handle additional rods if needed. It is also easy to install and remove, but is stable when mounted and not easy to accidentally knock loose.[/size]
[size 1]Any comments or suggestions on how anyone thinks it might be improved?[/size]
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[size 1]I also was more thrifty in the use of PVC on this one, using only the minimum necessary. Even with the addition of a couple of pieces of flotation foam, the total weight for this edition is only 1.9 pounds.[/size]
[size 1]Instead of cut pieces of PVC for the rod holders, I used clear vinyl tubing...5/8" ID for the rod shaft, and 1 1/4" ID into which to slip the handles. I cut a slit in the narrow tubing, to allow the rods to slip down inside the tube. The larger tube is actually some heavy nylon mesh reinforced tubing. These rings are screwed onto the PVC with 1/2" machine screws. The larger rings could be slit, also, to more easily accept and hold fly rod handles.[/size]
[size 1]My real innovation here was in the mounting method. Instead of rigging straps and snaps, I set it up so that the two short stabilizer posts fit down into two loops of nylon rope, attached to the D rings. By spacing the stabilizer posts so that they were exactly the same distance as the D rings, this made it easy to set up. The adjustments were in making sure the loop is exactly large enough to take the stabilizer bars (and the fittings) and no larger. If the loops are too long, they will allow the rack to tilt forward. [/size]
[size 1]I have yet to take this new design on the water, but I am anticipating it will work well for my kind of fishing. I always take multiple rods. This design allows for a quick "lay down" if you need to set a rod aside for a minute...without having to be careful about fitting it down into a vertical tube. Heck, even though I only have 4 rod holders, that rack could probably hold six or eight rods, stacked on each other.[/size]
[size 1]I had heard of other tubers fixing their rod racks up with flotation...to prevent loss in case the rack became disconnected. On this model, I fitted the two horizontal pieces of PVC with measured lengths of foam flotation. I am sure it will be sufficient to float four rods. I will put that to the test in a couple of weeks.[/size]
[size 1]So, what I ended up with is about half the weight of the wood and PVC model I was previously using. It has more flexibility and can handle additional rods if needed. It is also easy to install and remove, but is stable when mounted and not easy to accidentally knock loose.[/size]
[size 1]Any comments or suggestions on how anyone thinks it might be improved?[/size]
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