Do it Yourself PVC Rod Holder
A do-it-yourself PVC rod holder might be just what the doctor ordered for organizing fishing rods in the garage or even for some dock and shore fishing. The wooden mount can even be modified to attach to your boat for offshore fishing applications. A DIY PVC rod holder is a cost effective alternative to the expensive rod holders found in sporting goods and outdoor supply stores.
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Building a PVC Rod Holder
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A 1 1/2-inch diameter PVC pipe provides ample barrel space for most fishing rods, but if you're not sure if it will be large enough to hold some of your bigger offshore rods, take the rods with you to the hardware store and select the proper diameter. The beauty of a do-it-yourself PVC rod holder is that you can mix and match different sizes of PVC pipe to accommodate each of your rods.
Cut the PVC pipe into 8-inch sections. Cut as many sections as you need to hold each of your rods. If you plan to mount the rod holder on a boat, it is a good idea to buy PVC caps for the bottom ends of the pipes. Just be sure to drill drainage holes in the caps before attaching them to the pipes. When using PVC cement to attach the caps to the pipes, be sure to do so in a well-ventilated area because the fumes can be toxic.
Take the number of rod holders you have cut and divide by two, then multiply that number by six. This determines the length of the completed rod holder assembly. For example, if you have 10 fishing rods, you would divide that by 2 and get 5. You then multiply that by 6 inches to determine that your PVC rod holder must be at least 30 inches long, because you want your individual holders spaced about 6 inches from each other. The total number of holders is divided by two because the holders will be attached to both sides of a 2x4.
Cut a section of 2x4 to the correct length. This is the rod holder frame. Cut two more pieces of 2x4 to 18-inch lengths. These two 18-inch lengths of wood are the legs of the rod holder assembly. Lay these pieces flat and place the precut rod holder frame perpendicular between them on its 2-inch side. Attach these pieces with wood screws. When finished, the rod holder frame should appear to be standing on its side between the two legs.
Drill two holes straight through each PVC rod holder 1 inch and 3 inches from the bottom. Enlarge the outer holes with a drill bit large enough to accommodate the shaft of a screwdriver. Attach the individual rod holders to the rod holder frame at 6-inch intervals on either side of the frame with wood screws.
When finished, you have a functional do-it-yourself PVC rod holder that will last several seasons under normal conditions.
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