Didn't know exactly where to put this - mods, feel free to move it.

 

Since I've been shore fishing a lot this year, carrying my rods has been awkward...I'd just been grabbing the four in one hand, but the tips went everywhere. So instead of dishing out $70 or more for a rod carrier that had things I didn't need, I built my own.

Using some scrap aluminum left over from the Bass Trek build, I built a basic frame, putting 1/16" plastic 'Polywall' into the box-frame of the rear. Now I can neatly carry 4 rods and the 'box' in the rear carries my net and fish-basket for the keeper crappie and 'gills. Carry handles are just some oak dowels with paracord going to the washers and sheet-metal screws in the frame.

Entire unit pops into the back of the truck with a cargo bar keeping it from sliding forward and possibly damaging the tip-tops.

 

Nice work!

Well done Ken!

Another project in the finished 'pile'

 

Wanted a motor dolly, but didn't want to pay $100 or more - so 1/2 a set of casters that cost $5 and some wood and hardware I had laying about and voila.

Good deal

@MN FisherExcellent work, MN!😎👍

 

As a permanent shore bound angler myself, I’ve built a similar contraption and I dubbed it my rod quiver. 

Has anyone priced out casters at HD or Lowe's lately?  It's cheaper to buy the $11 dolly at Wally World and pull the casters off that and use the dolly for kindling. 
 

that motor mount looks awfully familiar - nice job!

17 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Has anyone priced out casters at HD or Lowe's lately?

Menards is always my first stop - they had a sale 4-pack of 3" rubber swivel casters for $5.49....I got two packs.

That is a deal. 

we don't have any Menards near us. There's a bunch of local independents, but they are really expensive. 

On 9/29/2024 at 7:26 AM, J Francho said:

Has anyone priced out casters at HD or Lowe's lately?  It's cheaper to buy the $11 dolly at Wally World and pull the casters off that and use the dolly for kindling. 
 

that motor mount looks awfully familiar - nice job!

I think Harbor Freight’s may be even cheaper?

Latest project - still in process. What's left to do is build the steering assembly, mount the handle, route controls and electrical and build the coupler ball support...but at least it's recognizable as a dolly now - or what will become one.

Been a bit crazy here, and my ankle has been acting up, so not as much progress as I'd want, but still progress.

What's left is putting the chain on and tensioning it, mounting a battery box and putting a pair of 12v AGMs in it, routing wiring from the control box on the handle to the battery box and motor, and building the 'archway' for the hitch-ball - which is the most time consuming of all those.

 

Things have been a little nuts lately - I'm sure you've read about that....but that doesn't mean the end of the projects. The dolly continues on track - and I finished the electrical this morning, so here it is.

 

Great work Ken!