1801 Rod Racks

[ParkerFI]

I have new-to-me 2005 1801, and it has just two rod holders port and starboard: I need three. Suggestions for the ideal setup with minimal drilling?

 

[TomS]

Find some like these and re-use the mounting holes of your existing holders.

You can find them in 2, 3 and 4 rod sizes.

The mounting tab can be placed anywhere you need it.

-- Tom

 

[CGeminski]

I also own an 1801 and am taking the standard ring rod holders out as well as the toe rail. I am adding a rack similar to what Tom posted, but with the limited under gunwale room in the 1801's I am only able to put one rod shelf in. I say only one because you have to be below the bottom of the gunwale mounted rod tubes, but you also want the rods high enough so that your feet will go below the rods to avoid breaking them. They will be built out of 3/4 inch "Starboard" purchased from West Marine.
The one shelf will hold either two spinning rods (facing opposite directions) or two flyrods (same direction, rod buts at stern against corner seats) on each side of the boat. This doubles the under gunwale rod storage from 2 rods to 4. I also purchased some stainless steel rod holders from West Marine that clamp to the stainless steel rails on the boat. I placed two on the center console (to the left and right of the windshield at the front of the console) and I placed two on the vertical part of the swing seat (on the Parker live well seat). I am also installing two Bluewater flyrod holders on the starboard console door.
This gives me a TON of rod storage on the 1801... They should be installed within the next 2-3 days, I will post photos when done.

 

[TomS]

Bluewater or I-Fly rod holders also work well mounted vertically on the console rails.

-- Tom

 

[ParkerFI]

Thanks to you both for the ideas- would love to see pics when you get the racks in.
Thanks- Nick

 

[jonas grumby]

I removed the toe boards and used the material to make 6" long brackets that taper down and then there is a "hook" at the end. I screwed these into the thwarts that the toe boards were mounted to. Near the hooked inboard ends are small slots on the bottoms and I drilled holes on the outboard edge. I inserted 1/4 X ~5" bungee cordage into the outboard holes and tied a figure eight knot to each end. I can lay 4 rods on the brackets and pull the bungee from out board then over and into the slot. Very simple and effective method. I wanted to send pics to CGeminski but was held up due to logistics, I returned from TDY and now my confounded camera won't work! Sorry!

 

[jonas grumby]

I forgot to add that the hook faces upward and unless I am underway, I just lay the rods on top of the bracket without stretching the bungee across. As far as flyrod holders for rocket launchers/ washboard rod holders, I use PVC pipe with a long slot on one end and a gimbal notch in the other. I use PVC outriggers as well for slow-trolling speckled trout. I'm kinda tight and have a few Cajun genes in me!

 

[Fly Rod]

A picture is worth 1000 words! Here's what I did for the fly rods. It wasn't cheap, but considering the cost of the rods, keeping them out of the way is important:

I'm still scratching my head about the under-the-gunwale rod storage so any pictures you could post would be very useful to me. I also keep my boat brush and net tucked in there so there's never enough storage. :wink:

-- Fly Rod

 

[ParkerFI]

Love the pics, Fly Rod- thanks for posting. Who makes them?
Do you find they whip around much when you're upderway? Risk of an unstable passenger grabbing them? I have a couple of not-as-nice tubes mounted on the console grab rail higher up, but kinda like your placement and look.

I too can't quite picture the under gunwale rack system you've built, Jonas: a picture would be great. I also have the brush and net storage issue.

By the way, fly rod, how do you like that low bow rail? I have no rail at all on my boat, which I like for fishing (especially fly), but the low bow rail looks nie too and would be nice to tie off fenders and srping lines.

 

[CGeminski]

I have part of my under the gunwale horozontal rod racks installed on the starboard side of my 1801, photos are posted below.
Here is what I did and will be doing...
I removed the toe rails on both sides of the boat and put stainless steel screws with finishing washers in the screw holes. I have installed rod shelves on both starboard bulkheads made of "Starboard" from West Marine. The shelf of each is 8 inches above the deck which allows for your feet to fit below rods and also clears the bottom of the gunwale mounted rod tubes by about 2 inches. The rod shelves have bungees to hold down the rods. The shelf can hold two spinning rods in opposite directions (pictured). While the reel handles do project slightly into the cockpit past the gunwale, the rod shelves do not meaning you wont kick them when walking by.
These same rod shelves on the starboard side will also be able to hold two flyrods with both butts against the rear seat/battery compartment (not done yet, will post photos soon). The butts are mounted this far back to keep the flyrod tips from being too far forward in the bow where the hull starts to curve inwards. I am going to mount a "flyrod butt holder" on the forward facing part of this seat/battery compartment which will allow to flyrod butts to be supported there. It is going to have a "Starboard" base with two PVC pipe connectors (3 inches deep) for the flyrod butts to slide into. The rest of the flyrods will go into the two rod shelves shown with flyrods in them. Flyrods will only be stored horozontally on the starboard side, on the port side there is a 3rd bulkhead which flyrod tips will run into. There will be storage for two spin/conventional rods on the port side.
I will also be adding two Bluewater Flyrod holders on the starboard console door (not done yet). These will be mounted on two strips of wood or starboard to get the rods farther away from the stainless steel rails around the windshield. I didnt want to put the rod holders lower on either side of the forward seat, my worry was if someone was sitting on that seat and they leaned left or right they could break a flyrod, plus you have to bend way down to get the rods. Just my opinion...

 

[CGeminski]

The flyrod holders Flyrod posted pics of are called "iflyrod holders". They use a rotating cap at the top to secure the rods. You can also check out "Bluewater flyrod holders" which are very similar, but use velcro at the top to secure the rod. Do a google search for either and you will find them easily...

 

[Fly Rod]

Hi ParkerFI,

Yes, the fly rod holders are made by a company called iFly. Here's their website:

http://stores.theifly.com/StoreFront.bok

Spinning rods/reels also fit in the iFly holders if you mount them high enough so that the rod butts can hang below. Rods can shift while underway, but I've found that to be more of an exception than the rule. Also, although they are on the side of the console seat, when we're chasing a blitz, I've found that the person in front generally ends up sitting on my Igloo cooler, well in front of the rods. As CGeminski pointed out, it would be handy to have an extra fly rod holder mounted somewhere on the cc grab bar. That way when I'm fishing alone, I could keep the rod close by and ready to deploy.

The front grab rail is very useful for the person up front, particularly when there's chop. However, I think the part I like best up front is the pop-up cleat and bow light -- there's nothing there to grab a fly line!

@ CGeminski, thanks for posting those pictures (and any other images you can eventually share with us).

-- Fly Rod

 

[CGeminski]

Flyrod.... I hope to get the photos of the flyrod butt holder posted by tomorrow, I installed it last night but didn't have my camera with me.... they work great!

 

[CGeminski]

Here are some photos of a flyrod in my starboard side 1801 rod racks... you can see how the rod butt goes into the holder I built and mounted on the starboard stern seat/battery compartment. I used starboard and PVC pipe connectors that are about 3 inches deep. Two flyrods can be carried here side by side.

 

[Keauhou]

Your battery boxes have grab bars that are perfect for mounting 2 clamp on rod holders on each. You'll angle the second holder and have one verticle. They are perfect on the go holders and double as trolling holders on each side of the motor. I have a 1801 and have at least 25 rod holders on my boat. Sounds crazy but they get used a lot for our West Coast fishing style. I probably hold the record for the most rod holders on a 18 foot Parker

 

[CGeminski]

If you are flyfishing, the best idea is to keep the bow & stern cockpit areas as uncluttered as possible so that your flyline will not catch on anything. I keep all my clamp on rod holders on my console for this reason. Eventually, I will even be replacing the factory standard cleats with pop-up models.

 

[ParkerFI]

Thanks to all you guys for the great ideas and pics. Chris G., great looking fly rod solution with the pvc tubing for the butts starboard aft on the battery box. do the fly rods carry from there all the way forward to the second rack? That would keep them from sliding forward, I imagine.

 

[CGeminski]

the flyrods are supported by the butt holder then both rod racks.... l would guess a 9ft flyrod projects another 12 to 18 inches past the forward holder, before the boats starts to curve in towards the bow