I have a 1989 Charger boat w/ 150 Evinrude. It is more of a fish/ski style boat . I have room for rod storage in one of the front compartments. My problem is I can't find any rod tubes for it. Does anyone know where I can get these or has anyone ever built there own. I'm pretty handy and have thought of making my own out of PCV piping. Any suggestions would be great :-? :-?

Jason

You can buy the rod storage system with the tubes but you might not like them. Some use the tubes that go in golf bags, which seem like a good idea a first glance but will cost you rods unless you has some type of sleeve to slide over the rods. The golf bags tubes are shorter than the rod, letting the tips bunch together in the bow and get hund up. Trying to get a rod out when they get hung is difficult and will break the tips off, been there done that more than once. If you try installing tubes that will protect the full lenght of the rod, there may not be enough room in the bow for more than just a few. If you have to slide sleeves over the rods, just to slide them in the golf bag tubes, why waste the money on the tubes, slide the sleeves over the rods and just put them on the rod locker. The rear supports that come with the rod storage system does keep the reels from banging against each other but also limits you to eight - ten rods.

I saw one one of the guys on this site post a pic of some mesh sleeves he was making and selling that looked pretty good and were not expensive. When I need more, I'm giving him a call. I would stronly recommend you find his post and contact him if you go with a rod storage system that does not fully protect the rod all the way to the end. Even if you make several wraps around the rod with your line, they tips will still get hung.

I took my rod storage systems out that used the golf tubes, I got tired of replacing broken rods plus I usually carry 10 - 15 rods and wanted to use my second rod locker for storage. Have not problem pileing them in one and use sleeves over the rods, I also could care less if my reels get a little banged and worn looking. However, this is not a recommended pratice for your spinning reels, I take them off the rods and properly store them when not using them, bent bails are no fun.