mounting rod holders

This year I plan to upgrade my rig with a good set of rod holders for trolling cranks, spinners, and hopefully more lead. My problem is how to mount the rod holders. I plan on having four, six would be too much for my small boat. Options for mounting that I can think of are:

1) clamp on style mounts over the gunwhale
2) installing a sliding track system inside the gunwhale
3) drilling into top of red carpeted side then using a lift extension to get the rod over the gunwhale
4) drilling a side mount directly into the tin of the boat

Any ideas or suggestions? Hope to get it all rigged along with the new terrova before the ice comes off.

Yeah, i have a similar boat but im afraid to drill holes into the side of it. I have been looking around for some clamp rod holders, but havent found too much. Sorry i cant help

are those rod holder you already have inside the gunwale? That’s where I have mine they work well. Drilling holes suck, but use stainless bolts and put a little silicone on the bolts when you install they will seal well and stay looking nice.

Trytofish – those look like the bases for the boat cover latts

Similar to the 18′ lund alaskan that I had. I had set it up for Lake MI, so I put a removeable board across the back for down riggers and pole holders. But I used the Atwood adjustable holders for down the sides. As mentioned, stainless 1/4″-20 with self locking nuts and silicone worked great. I placed the bases just below the trim of the Gunwale and they held up perfectly.

I couldn’t find any old pics of that boat. But here is a link to the bases I used ATWOOD bases A suggestion though, use adjustable rod holders for the angle.

I believe they have Smitty brand at big C and maybe GM, but they should clamp on right to the side. I got the oarlock adapter for my rod holders and they work great. Nice thing once you upgrade boat you can bring them with you and get another style bracket to hold them in new one. Just the brackets alone ain’t cheap though.

What I would do:
Mount a small aluminum block on the inside of your boat. Then mount the rod holders on the blocks.
This would extend the rod holder an inch or two further away from the gunnel of the boat.

I’m going to stop at cabelas and grab one of their clamp on mounts and see how it fits, but by the looks of it I’m not very confident. I may just have to drill into the tin with a side mount which makes me nervous, any clue how much a shop would charge to do the drilling?

If you have a drill it’s easy. If not drag it up here I’ll drill her full of holes for you.

I drilled rite thru the top rail and put side mounts on my rig,bolt thru with stainless hardware.Yeah there will allways be holes there but really what difference does it make,the rod holders will allways be there.I went top set of bolts thru the top rail for strenght and didnt even go with the bottom holes,just left them out.Plenty strong with just the two,and I pull boards and lead with them no problem.

I like option #3 for the back end.

#3

I don’t think you’ll like the clamp on style, drilling the holes is easy, set your mount where you want it and predrill with a small bit then go larger, if you have to use a spacer use your mount and drill your spacer then 1st

these are what I used. they mount 2 ways. on top or on the side.
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Scotty-Power-Lock-Rod-Holder-w/-Side/Deck-Mount&i=753806

I’d be more worried about the holes in the bottom of the boat than along the gunnels

Don’t get clamp on, they are terrible. I don’t even know what style of gunwhale they would fit. Guess I’ll be drilling holes. Wish me luck, I have a tendency to make things harder than they should be.

I did option #4 on my boat, and I was very happy with it. I don’t have the boat anymore, but I’ll see if I can come up with photos.

down-east makes a clamp on rod holder that will hold up to muskie trolling with out a problem. pulling lead, spinners, and cranks is a non issue with them. traxtech.com is a web site that they can be bought at. the salty S-10 clamp on would be the one to look at. also available at bass pro

Just got a similar boat this summer and did #3 with the scotty/cabelas and don’t see any reason to change it. I know for the most part I will most always be fishing myself or 1 other, however, so the two off the back is all I need. I drilled holes right under the gunnels for a travel cover too and it wasn’t bad at all.