View Full Version : Downeaster rod holder problem
MuskieKid
11-07-2003, 07:48 AM
I have two sets of rail-mounted Downeaster's mounted in my boat (two on each side, front & back sides) and one on the back for the propwash. These are the powder-coated type. The back ones work fine.
The problem: I'm having a problem with the one's in the front jumping out of the holders when I either get hung up or have a fish strike. This never happened in the past with the non-powder type. Anybody else have this problem? If so, what to do about it?
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!
tomcat
11-07-2003, 07:49 AM
I have the same ones you have Kid, PC,Rail...no problems like that yet...good luck the rest of the year.
tomcat
Musk Rat
11-07-2003, 04:03 PM
Never heard of it happening to anybody. Maybe you have them on a crazy angle or your not putting them all the way down. Could be vibrating to the top if your rod is jumping in the holder with the lure action. Not sure why realy. Andy
Capt. Larry D. Jones
11-08-2003, 01:48 PM
Maybe the powdercoat is just to slippery a surface,remove the powder coat from the parts that lock in the holder or take a piece of scotchbrite to rough up the surface to be less slippery.The powdercoating could be to thick on the surface in the bottom of the holder bracket,not letting the top rod holding peice seat down in deep enough and it jumps out easly.I've also have not had trouble with any of my Downeast Rodholders either!
Capt. Larry
MuskieKid
11-08-2003, 03:07 PM
Thanks, Capt. Larry. I thought that might be the problem, but hadn't pursued it yet. I'll give it a try and see what happens. Tom
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!
Musk Rat
11-09-2003, 07:54 PM
Sometimes the trigger is to thick to let the holder go all the way down. Funny sometimes two of the same St. Croix rods have different handles. The trigger on some is too thick. If this is the case simply pull the rod back in the holder to let it fall in place. Also make sure nothing is preventing the hinge part from going all the way down. Sometimes it hits the boat or something thus it won`t go all the way down. Andy
MuskieKid
11-10-2003, 03:42 AM
Thanks, I'll give that a try. Tom
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!
Esoxmasq
11-13-2003, 08:01 AM
I have had problems with the trigger on St Croixs and Loomises being too wide ti allow the holder to seat properly. I simlpy ground the holder to give the triggers more clearance. Another thing that can happen with the trigger being too wide- I had a buddy who set the rods, and put an Avid in a salty that hadn't been customized, but managed to get it seated. When a fish hit, we couldn't get the holder to release the rod with the pressure from the trigger jamming the holder angainst the inner ring. The rod finally came loose after the fish had shaken off because the hook was never set.
Esoxmasq
11-13-2003, 08:01 AM
I have had problems with the trigger on St Croixs and Loomises being too wide ti allow the holder to seat properly. I simlpy ground the holder to give the triggers more clearance. Another thing that can happen with the trigger being too wide- I had a buddy who set the rods, and put an Avid in a salty that hadn't been customized, but managed to get it seated. When a fish hit, we couldn't get the holder to release the rod with the pressure from the trigger jamming the holder angainst the inner ring. The rod finally came loose after the fish had shaken off because the hook was never set.
MuskieKid
11-13-2003, 08:10 AM
Thanks. No triggers on these rods, but they are very thick in the section that goes in the holders. However, I think possible that they are popping out due to the smoothness of the powder coating. As Captain Larry suggested, I will ruff them up a bit and see what happens. Grinding them down or switching to another brand may be my nest step. Tom
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!
MuskieKid
11-13-2003, 08:10 AM
Thanks. No triggers on these rods, but they are very thick in the section that goes in the holders. However, I think possible that they are popping out due to the smoothness of the powder coating. As Captain Larry suggested, I will ruff them up a bit and see what happens. Grinding them down or switching to another brand may be my nest step. Tom
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!
Musk Rat
11-13-2003, 04:10 PM
To be honest i have used the powder coated and had no probs. Other than the powder coat chipping off. I dought that is your prob. I would take a good look to make sure they are seating properly. Andy
Musk Rat
11-13-2003, 04:10 PM
To be honest i have used the powder coated and had no probs. Other than the powder coat chipping off. I dought that is your prob. I would take a good look to make sure they are seating properly. Andy
MuskieKid
11-17-2003, 11:20 AM
As mentioned earlier, I have two sets of these rod holders in the boat. For some reason, the front two are not working properly and turn whenever I hook up on anything. The back two work fine.
I was looking at the ones in the front (comparing to the exact same models as in the back of the boat) and noticed that the ones in the back (that work properly), sit much higher all of the time than the others (which do not hold properly). I also noticed a screw in the base of the rod holder, but cannot figure out what it's for.
Anybody have a solution to this? FYI: I contacted Downeaster Rod Company via email - they won't respond to my question.
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!
Musky Mike
11-18-2003, 07:17 AM
>>Anybody have a solution to this? FYI: I contacted Downeaster
>Rod Company via email - they won't respond to my question.
>
That would be enough for me, Tom. Any manufacturer who doesn't respond to a customer who is having trouble with their product doesn't deserve further business as far as I'm concerned. Happened to me with the Ford Motor Co. 15 years ago and have only bought GM ever since.
Sorry I can't help with the downeaster rod holder problem, have never owned any - and from your account, never will.
Cheers and tight lines,
Mike
MuskieKid
11-18-2003, 03:52 PM
Perhaps they saw my post. Anyway, they agree to replace the holders at no charge to me. No charge for postage either. Seems ok to me. The official seems to think that perhaps the powder coating was too thick. Must have been a bad batch because there were two of them that were screwed up. Tom
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!
Musk Rat
11-18-2003, 04:20 PM
Didn`t think of that if the coating is too thick they prolly won`t seat rite.
Capt. Larry D. Jones
11-18-2003, 11:06 PM
That is what I was trying to tell him in post #3 above!
MuskieKid
12-03-2003, 04:49 AM
I emailed the company and their rep suggested that I return them at their expense (they even offered to pay postage both ways!!) I got them back within three days (replaced at no charge).
Great service.
They suggested (as a couple of you mentioned - thanks) that the coating could have been too thick and that the pins in the holders were the old kind and have been changed to a different type of metal. The new holders work really well. This is the sixth set of holders that I have bought from them. This is the only time that I ever had a problem with them.
FYI: I bought these holders a couple of months ago from an online catalog company. In the letter from a Down-Easter Rod Holder rep., I was told that the holders had not been manufactured in two years!! Apparently, they sat on the shelf for a while before I bought them.
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!
Musky Mike
12-03-2003, 07:05 AM
Happy to hear that the Downeaster Co. satisfactorily corrected your problems with their rod holders, Tom. Was concerning when you said you had contacted the company and they weren't responding to your difficulties with their product. Looks like they are indeed concerned about their reputation and willing to stand behind their products. That is what paying customers deserve and is all that we should really expect. Thanks for setting the record straight, makes it easier for others of us to consider buying Downeaster products.
MLK