Fishing rod safeties

[Megabyte]

After posting my rod holder project...
http://www.classicparker.com/phpBB2/vie ... php?t=8956

Member GW204 commented that I should be cautious about a BIG FISH hitting the outrigger line in the 90 degree rod holder. If the roller troller was set up a little too tight, the fish could take the rod right out of the holder. :shock:
Not a good thing.

It got me to thinking...
Making up some safeties should be easy with some little caribiners and some parachute cord.

So on down to my local hardware store I went. At the counter I found some "60# test" aluminum 'biners being sold as key holders.
Gotta love a town where the hardware stores are stocked with 'boating stuff'.

After melting the end of the parachute cord with a lighter, I tied a simple 'figure-eight on a bight' and attached a caribiner.

One end was clipped to the rod holder 'pin' and the other to the ring on the TLD's, and the proper size was established.

Works in the rocket launcher too, though I don't think they will be needed there.

Done.

Just to be sure, the tag ends got a little zip-tie to finish them off.

Cheap and easy... and they might save some big money from going overboard someday.

 

[pelagic2530]

very neat kevin, here's another idea i saw somewhere for making stretch coil lanyards for when you want length when its needed, but a more compact package. take a 1/2-3/4 wooden dowel and drill a hole widthwise through each end. take heavy mono (outrigger cable, old 300 lb leader, whatever) and pass it through the hole, then wrap it tightly around the dowell, passing the other end through the hole at the opposite end (can be taped in place if necessary). leave about a 6" tag end on either end. then, immerse the whole thing in boiling water for about a minute or so, may take some experimenting depending on the thickness of the mono. the heat will make the mono take the coiled form, and you can crimp whatever connection you want on either end. works well for small lanyards.

 

[IrishAyes]

I made safety lines similar to the ones you made. Instead of a wire tie I put heat shrink on the line before I installed the clips. Insert the running line and bitter end into the heat shrink and let the heat shrink do it's job.