SOT kayak rod holder mounting question

[Squidly]

Hola,

I have a cobra navigator and I wan to add 2 rod holders. My concern is how do I mount the holders. Since it is a SOT how do I drill in the screws? what will they really be grabbing. Any pointers would be helpfull. Thanks

[Noel]

I had (have) a problem trying to decide where to put a permanent mount. I fish fly, and rarely troll, so I took a milk crate and attached a rod holder to it.

I mounted some hooks on the inside of the milk crate. If you've ever installed the rubbermaid instant closets, you'll know exactly the kind that I'm talking about - white plastic, sturdy, bolted in.

Then, I took some tarp bungee cords, and threaded them through 4 of the mounts that were already behind me on the yak, and used them to hook in the milkcrate. While I do have to turn around to grab the rod, and turn back around to put up the rod, it seems to work while I'm busy deciding where the final hull mount is going to go. I use the Scotty model, and Ram makes another version that seems to do about the same thing.

What most are doing, once they decide how the rods are going to go in, is drilling a hole, and reaching their (skinny) arms in through one of the hatches on the boat to thread some screws through in order to make a permanent flush or raised mount for the rod.

Nothing is seaworthy without a solid test, so under controlled conditions, I bailed the kayak (with just the first section of the flyrod installed - I'm crazy, not stupid) - and it seemed to not want to shake loose. While I doubt it would hold up on a failed, rudder out surf landing, it seems to work pretty well upside down to right side up.

If you troll, I think you have to go permanent, so use your hatches to get there.


If you're doing bait

[kayakninja]

I am not familiar with the layout of the Nav. What type of rod holders do you have? I will see if I can find rigging pics of the Nav and post.

[Squidly]

I have a scotty rod holder. I don't have hatches. So I am guess I either cut in a hatch or do themilk crate rig. I am a bit nervous about cuttin for a hatch so unless some has some good news looking more like milk crate.

[mdrew9]

get some wellnuts, they work great.

[LEFTUS]

No hatch? Definately go with wellnuts.Lefty

[KayakerStan]

If your not able mount the Scotty Fly Rod holder using SS bolts/nuts(no access inside the hull). Then as mentioned above get wellnuts they work great.