After countless hours searching for an affordable rod holder for the pontoon boat I did what most people do, and made my own. Field trials to be conducted on Saturday, but I’m overly confident in my design so here is what I did.
This is electrical conduit, 1 1/2 inch, schedule 40. Off the Home Depot shelf this stuff runs you about $5.00 for a 10 foot piece. Deal.
The Raw Material
The female end I used for the back of the tube, or where the reel would sit. The idea is to cut out as you can, while still allowing you the ability to use some cam straps to secure the enclosed ends to your frame.
To try and cut it straight we used duct tape as our jig. Not perfect, but damn close enough.
Laying out the Tape
The jigsaw is your obvious choice here. The blade was a little long so we snipped it off so that it would only penetrate half of the pipe.
The Tool
Rounded Edges
Your finished product should also include an 1 1/2 inch cap to put on the tip end of the tube. Slide the rod in, and it should hold itself upright with the reel against the back end. For $10 and 15 minutes you have a halfway respectable rod tube that you can move between your boats.
Thanks for sharing this. Gonna make one for my IK.
Suggestion: I am about to do the same ting with similar materials.
I discovered that, using the same PVC with the flared end – If I cut it in half first and joined them end to end I would have one that could be transported at into half the length.
Great idea and thank you for sharing. I spent many years rolling my raft and transporting oars and rod holders in my car. This would have saved me some heartburn.
A friend made a rod holder by using the same type of PVC tubing, but cutting it much shorter (around 12″ or so) and mounting it at an angle. I used mini-cell foam to make a wedge to angle it up. I also added a piece of bungee cord with a cord lock to keep the rod in the tube. Works great on both raft and pontoon boat. But it doesn’t protect the whole rod as the full size on will.
So it will hold the rods upright similar to a “Scotty” rod holder? Most of the time I think those are the way to go. Some places you need to protect the whole rod and thus for $20 I suppose having one of each would make you ready for any situation you want to get into. Thanks for the input, if you have a picture send it over. I’d love to see it.