personally, i prefer to have the pin in the bottom of the holders, so that when transporting offshore trolling setups, the gimbal has something to grab so the reels dont twist and knock into each other. i like a few war wounds on my reels as much as the next guy, but i like them to EARN it :lol: however, if you did decide to fabricate your own, it would be as simple as grinding the threads off the middle section of a bolt (so they dont scar up the rod butts) and sinking a perpandicular hole through the bottom of the tube. then, insert the bolt and tack weld the other side.