removal of rod storage

[GREGK]

Has anybody removed the gunwale rod storage...do they have any kind of adhesive holding them in.....Gonna start getting my ducks in a row to start my spring projects before she is launched.......Snow f.that stuff spring is around the corner and I SHOT PHIL...Puxatony that is..
Some other things I am gonna try to do this year (Scooter I will try to take pics like I said I would do last year and never did get around to the projects....Like the sink.....)
Sink drains
Rod holders....(4..30 degree OEM)2 in transom and 2 for the outriggers forward(hense remove of rod storage to measure)
Outriggers..(maybe...I have a mission to preform first...)
Flo-scan (gotta talk the admiral into the 0% financing they offer)
and the normal stuff.....to prep for season of Joy...Paint,oil,tune,zincs,wash,wax,going over electrcal connections,checking this,checking that.......Man that sound like a least 2 cold ones.....Then there is the trailer....Need to rebuild the calipers,pack bearings,lube everthing,redo some of the connections for the wiring....So I can drag Amber Leigh to Hamton Virginia....Man how the Hell am I gonna get to fish!!!!
Ahhh Never mind I am just gonna drink beer........

[warfdog]

Our boats are the same year. Pulled mine out last year to install some lighting. No big deal - first pull the trim rings around the rod tubes, then make sure the 5200 in there isn't holding the whole thing in. Then just remove the screws and it should come right out.

[GREGK]

Thanks Warfdog....sounds easy enough

[Hutch]

Greg - while you're in there, might want to put drain lines on the bottom of the rod holders, leading down into the bilge. I'm planning on doing this, if only so that water that gets in drains down low, as opposed to sitting on top of, or along side or underneath, the gas tanks. I heard that some 246's came with these drains, but not mine.

I had a tough time getting the rod holder tubes off, but after that, the whole panel came off no problem - they are kinda heavy though!

[GREGK]

Hutch
was planing on doing somthing with the drain...Crew4 had a post about running tubes and drilling hole in the top of rod strage and running tubes through so they drain on the deck....he is bound and determind to have a dry bilge.

[GREGK]

This is what was posted by Crew4

Everything that has been posted are all problems that when added together account for alot of accumulated rain water and even salt water on a rough day in the bilge. I have tried to correct all of these problems through the years. #1) I believe the worst of the intrusion comes from the deck drains. If you run water into them and stick your head in the back hatch with a flashlight you will be amazed at the amount of leakage you will see. I replaced all the white hoses with a better grade/smoother construction hose. The barbs on the drains on my 2001 246 were much less than the 1 1/2" hose that connects to them and the clamps were not tight. It's a real bitch getting you body into that hatch to reach those fittings. #2) I sliconed the tank inspection hatches. They were leaking also. Those are really only hatches that need to be opened when & if a problem shows up. #3) I pulled all of my rod holders out of my gunnels and they all had threaded holes in the bottom. I went to Home Depot and bought brass fittings with a barb on one end and the thread that fits the holder on the other. Buy as short a fitting as they have and install each rod holder with a fitting. On the forward rod holders, I drilled out a hole in each side where the rod storage compartment is. You can get the placement by putting the rodholder back in with the fitting attached. It will not go all the way in. The barb hits the rod storage compartment and by drilling a 3/8" hole, the barb will extend into the very top of the compartment and the rod holder will seat into the gunnel. Now the rain water drains onto the deck and the fitting can only be seen by laying on the deck and looking up to the top of the compartment. On the rear holders, I attached a hose to the barb and drilled a hole in the lower back corner inside of the storage compartment(the ones with smoke covered plexiglass). Again at Home Depot, I bought plastic through-wall fittings made to put a tv cable through a household wall. They have a large head and are barbed to push through the wall and stay put. I attached the hose from the rod holder to the fittings using a small 2'' long tube that fits inside the fitting and inside the hose coming from the rod holder. This reduces the size of the tube but is still enough to drain. Then I pushed the fitting through the hole and it looks as if the factory did it. The water drains inside the compartment and out onto the deck instead of the bilge. #4) In the anchor locker I started by removing the "clamshell fitting on the hull and elongated the hole downwards just enough that the clamshell still covers it when reinstalled. There was plenty of fiberglass on my boat in that area. I went about 3/4'' down and the compartment still holds some water but it is much less. I don't understand why the drain hole was engineered above the botton af a compartment that will deffinately accumulate water. Each year I strive to have a dry bilge and this year I am at 99%! Good luck, Mike

Thanks Mike for taking the time to write this up...It's on my list this spring

[the watcher]

Howdy Greg,
I'm still looking for a drain that will work for our boats. I'd like you to give me a call and I'll give you lot's of info about your rod lockers and rod holders. You'll still need lots of cool frosty beverages.
Yehaw
Randy

[Capt Crunch]

Originally Posted by GREGK

This is what was posted by Crew4

#3) I pulled all of my rod holders out of my gunnels and they all had threaded holes in the bottom. I went to Home Depot and bought brass fittings with a barb on one end and the thread that fits the holder on the other. Buy as short a fitting as they have and install each rod holder with a fitting. On the forward rod holders, I drilled out a hole in each side where the rod storage compartment is. You can get the placement by putting the rodholder back in with the fitting attached. It will not go all the way in. The barb hits the rod storage compartment and by drilling a 3/8" hole, the barb will extend into the very top of the compartment and the rod holder will seat into the gunnel. Now the rain water drains onto the deck and the fitting can only be seen by laying on the deck and looking up to the top of the compartment. On the rear holders, I attached a hose to the barb and drilled a hole in the lower back corner inside of the storage compartment(the ones with smoke covered plexiglass). Again at Home Depot, I bought plastic through-wall fittings made to put a tv cable through a household wall. They have a large head and are barbed to push through the wall and stay put. I attached the hose from the rod holder to the fittings using a small 2'' long tube that fits inside the fitting and inside the hose coming from the rod holder. This reduces the size of the tube but is still enough to drain. Then I pushed the fitting through the hole and it looks as if the factory did it. The water drains inside the compartment and out onto the deck instead of the bilge.

That seems like an awful complicated solution to a problem that can be solved by these:

[GREGK]

Are you putting them into the rod holder and if so were dose the water go?

[MC]

Originally Posted by Capt Crunch

That seems like an awful complicated solution to a problem that can be solved by these:

I used to use tennis balls to keep rain water from going into the rod holders when the boat was not being used. Just placed them over the holeof the rod holders. I think racket balls will also work.

Drain tube is also easy, but not sure if you'll have the clearance at the bottom of the rod holder and the rod holder insert to put the tube bib in place.

Dry bildge in an inboard (or any boat)- yeah that's going to happen. But I applaude your efforts.