Captain D-
Glad to hear you've found a solution for your rod storage problem. I'm sure rod storage on the C-Dory, or any small boat of this type, is always an issue, and varies from boat to boat depending on the type of fishing involved, the way the boat is stored or trailed, and other space use issues inside the boat and tow vehicle. Others would like to see exactly how you set up your storage tubes, so a picture or two would be greatly appreciated.
Once rods are stored in tubes or cases, they're pretty much bulletproof, except for extreme cases, like getting run over by a forklift by some idiot working for a shipping company, etc. I understand that guys going on fishing trips can get special rates for rods shipped with them on the airlines (the way golfers get to ship their clubs). Do they simply tape a bunch of rod cases together or ???
When I first acquired Sea Wolf, my first instincts were to tear all the rods down and store them (with the reels mounted) in the v-berth, but as you discovered, this is not only inconvenient, but also hazardous to the rods themselves.
The best of all possible worlds would be to leave the rods assembled, with the reels mounted, and even be able to store them with the rigging set up so as to save the re-rigging time as well. Tyboo Mike devised a cover for his rod rack (on Tyboo I) which covers the lower section of the rack so that the reels and lower sections of the rods can be locked in place. This allows six or so rods to be left ready to fish with only the removal of the locking mechanism. I copied the basic design, and it works especially well for me, mostly because my boat is stored in a covered berth where rain and other moisture are not a problem. Kind of helps force you to use them every few days or at least once a week before the spider engineers can "weld" them in place with their webbing!!!
For outside storage, a more complete total box would provide greater shielding against the elements for rods and particularly for reels. Such a box could be fairly easily be made out of plastic, aluminum or stainless, but the real challenge would be make it esthetically fit into the boat's good looks. A snow ski box would be an easy adaptation (mounted vertically behind the starboard bulkhead in the cockpit, but the length available inside for rods would probably be no more than 205 cm ( approx. 80 inches, or 6' 8"). I suppose one could cut holes out of the bottom to allow the rod handles below the reels to protrude out, adding some extra accomodattion. The box alternately could be placed on the cabin roof, but would be a lot less convenient to use. These boxes probably aren't cheap, but might well be worth looking into. Perhaps one could be purchased used and appropriately modified.
Does anyone use horizontal storage under the gunnel boxes? Is it possible to lock this storage up easily or provide weather protection? What are some of the other schemes on rod storage? Joe
