265 Express overhead Rod holder

[Sea Shift]

Anyone with a 265 or similar ever installed an aftermarket Rod Rack like this? The origional on mine is mounted on the roof and they site at least 8 inches higher. I am a shorter guy and thought this might be a suitable replacement? What are your thoughts. It could be that this may be too short for my tall friends. Not sure I guess I can just measure and determine the actual clearance but this looks nice.

 

[SkunkBoat]

I understand your delema. I have some vertically challenged fishing buddies.
Looks pretty low.
I would be weary that 6' tall people like me would get brained when stepping up. And rods may be low when setting hook bottom fishing.

 

[Sea Shift]

I understand your delema. I have some vertically challenged fishing buddies.
Looks pretty low.
I would be weary that 6' tall people like me would get brained when stepping up. And rods may be low when setting hook bottom fishing.

For sure! I guess my best bet is to just build a mockup and see where it fits. Right now I have to crawl up the side of the boat and try and reach over to put rods up there and in our west coast swell I have almost fallen trying to hang on from up there!!

 

[drbatts]

On a 330 I looked at years ago, the rocket launcher was mounted under the hard top with spacers. It looked like a factory rocket launcher just mounted from the bottom side. I remember the owner saying it made it easier to get to the rods.

 

[vocz]

It’s way too low. I would not do it. It may work for you but it will be a safety issue with someone a bit taller. Also, it will block your vision when monitoring your trolling gear.

 

[Seymour Flatwater]

You might look at the pull down rod rack that Cutwater Boats uses. Not sure if it would be stout enough for offshore use or if it rattles (my pet peeve).
Just a thought. Regards, Mike

 

[Sketchywind]

Hey Doug,
Here’s my 265 with roof mounted rocket launchers. Works ok for my height when I stand on seats to get ‘em.

 

[Sea Shift]

Hey Doug,
Here’s my 265 with roof mounted rocket launchers. Works ok for my height when I stand on seats to get ‘em.

Thats exactly the one I had but being 5' 8" I too had to stand on the seat or step and in rough west coast seas there were many times I almost went overboard.

 

[SkunkBoat]

You could try moving it from the "over the top" to "under the top" with a spacer to get past the lip.
That won't cost anything but time and can be undone if it doesn't pan out.
Definitely would need wide plates for top washers. Hardtop is balsa cored. Washers would pull through with the weight and bouncing...

 

[Sketchywind]

Thats exactly the one I had but being 5' 8" I too had to stand on the seat or step and in rough west coast seas there were many times I almost went overboard.
View attachment 36223

I know what you mean about stepping up on seat! Sketchy in rough water.

 

[SkunkBoat]

are those the original halogen spreaders? dude....

 

[Fishtales]

The stock ones mount on the hard top via 3 welded plates. I'm sure you could review them at a GW dealer yard and adjust the length of the plate. Stay away from welding to the frame if you can. Usually power wires inside for the radio box and also electronic cables may be routed for radar, antennas etc.

 

[Fishtales]

Sea Shift looks close to stock if not stock for the hardtop rod holer. Yep, those are the old Hella Halogen lights. Get some nice LEDs on her!!
I just got the WaveOne Marine 6-LED spreader light off Amazon that I'll be replacing some older 5 LED lights. Same mount as the Hela and 5-light LED I had. Quick change out.
Going to touch up the paint on the metal housing of the older LED lights (make sure you get metal housing to dissipate heat) and use em somewhere....

 

[Sea Shift]

Sea Shift looks close to stock if not stock for the hardtop rod holer. Yep, those are the old Hella Halogen lights. Get some nice LEDs on her!!
I just got the WaveOne Marine 6-LED spreader light off Amazon that I'll be replacing some older 5 LED lights. Same mount as the Hela and 5-light LED I had. Quick change out.
Going to touch up the paint on the metal housing of the older LED lights (make sure you get metal housing to dissipate heat) and use em somewhere....

Ha Haaaa Yeah that is an older photo I now have black oak LED Spreader lights. Much better! Thanks for looking out for me.

 

[Marcus]

Hi SS,
On my 1984 Sailfish 255, there’s the aluminum pipe super structure supporting the hard top.
I bought some individual , stainless rod holders and clamped them to the rear, top horizontal bar. See attached pics.
This allowed me to try different configurations. Quantity, location and even angle. No one has ever hit their head on them ( and you can move them outboard or even angle them way up if they are a hazard).
I was also surprised how well the setup secured my rods! They’re completely out of the way and I can keep 6 fully strung rods up there and even in heavy seas, they don’t budge.

Good Luck