ROD-HOLDER SNAFU

While not a problem that will cause you to be stranded, sunk, lost, or increase or hinder maintenance, we find this rod-holder installation troubling.

The tube of the gunwale rod holder protrudes downward into the livewell. As with livewells on many saltwater fishing boats today, this one is designed to be pressurized. That will cause water to pour out through the top of the rod holder when the lid of the well is latched and sealed. Small live baits might also swim upward through the tube and become trapped or even escape.

At the very least, the tube can snag cast nets dropped inside the well when unloading bait. The tube also becomes an obstacle that can injure baitfish as they swim around inside.

In addition, the holder is so close to the edge of the well that a large trolling reel will interfere with the opening and closing of the livewell cover. Finally, each time you place a rod in the holder, the lower portion of the handle gets soaked, which in turn gets your hands and clothes wet. Finally, rainwater can get into the well, adversely affecting salinity and killing bait.

One solution would be to use a rod holder with a drain fitting at the bottom connected to a tube and small through-hull fitting. This would prevent water from entering the tube from below, but also drain any water that splashes in from above. A simpler solution is to move the rod holder elsewhere, perhaps farther forward on the gunwale.

—Jim Hendricks