need ideas

[Reel Time]

 i want to try and find something to cap my rod holders that are mounted in the gunwales when sitting at the dock to try and cut down on my water intake.

 the inside diameter of the rod holders are 1.5 inches. tried to find some sort of a tub plug, but dont think they will be that big.

 rod holders can be bought with the plugs, but i cant find just the plugs for sale.

[CapBob]

Rubber plugs come with some of the holders.....I don't know what specific brand off hand, but my bud has a Aquasport and the are on his.................I would search West MArine, Boaters World etc.

[Sam3]

Let me know how many you need. I have something that will work perfectly.

[Reel Time]

 i would need 6 total. 4 are angled holders, and 2 are straight.

 if its something that could be picked up at a store say so, or crafted.

[CapBob]

Check this out rod holder plugs


http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=15

[Reel Time]

 good find CaptBob,,, those look like they will work great.

 should i get those Sam3, or do you have something as good?

[IrishAyes]

Perko is a major supplier of the rod holders with the insert/cap.

http://www.perko.com/frame_catalog.html

[Luna Sea 5]

some come with the caps, but honestly, do you need them.  How much water actually get in them, especially if they are angled.

[IrishAyes]

I had a Pro-Line with rod holders in the gunnels. If I didn't have the caps on them, the bilge would load up with rain water. The rain would run down the gunnel and find its way into the rod holders, which drained directly into the bildge. Very poor set up from Pro-Line if you ask me.

[Luna Sea 5]

mine also drain in the gunnels, but that angle is so much, I rarley get a heavy load of water in them.

[Reel Time]

 enough rain gets in so that when i stepped onto the boat last year the bilge kicked on when it ran to the low spot, which i'm trying to prevent. being angled really has no bearing on how much water will or wont get in, its still a hole.

 stick a glass outside in the next rainstorm and see how much it fills up, and then times that by how many rod holders you got running down your rails, and thats how much water you're looking at. can be alot or it can be a little. but either way it wont hurt anything to try and keep it out.

[Luna Sea 5]

true, but now take that glass and put in on a sharp angle and you will see that alot less water will accumulate.  If you want to prevent an abundance of water getting into your bilge, there must be many other ways that are allowing water to enter the bilge.  Some boats are totally self bailing,some aren't.  In heavy rain, water will run down the floor of the boat and exit through the floor drain holes, but if they are blocked and water builds up, then it will leak into the bilge. Any heavy rain will bring water build up if the drain plugs don't release quick enough.  Even the transom.  You may have access ports on the floor, and if you don't have a good O ring on them, water will leak in there as well.

[Luna Sea 5]

I just think that if the rod holders catch that much water for this to be a on going problem with most boats... then you would see most holders with caps on them.  I bought one to replace my factory one and it came with a cap that I removed.. 

[Sam3]

These are a quick fix. Plumbing wingnut test plugs.

http://www.wmharvey.com/prod/cat12/test_plugs/metal_wing.php

We use them all the time. They are at most home building supply stores or I can get a few for you.