Cabella's 8-rod pedestal rod rack.

[REW]

I see that Cabella's has come out with a pedestal seat base mounted 8 rod rack - with different base options available to take care of the Wedge, 2 1/8, 3/4 inch pin, and 1 7/8 inch base mounts.

It appears to be very well made, and at a price of just under $50 - is considerably cheaper than some of the other "similar" rod racks advertised.

A couple of questions.

1. Has anyone used one of these new Cabellas racks.
2. For a walk through windshield style boat - how convenient would these racks be - for either use in one of the back pedestal base mounts - or for bow base use - if you have a full load of passengers for a cross water run?

Thanks for any updates.

REW

[dan(or)]

Got one, had it for two years. Best $$ spent in recent years! I am in a tiller lund and therefore can't answer the second part of your post. did have to modify mine to keep it from bouncing out during a high speed rough water run. Bungee cord....

dan
out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them.

[reelbait al]

Check out the Messenger Rod Wrangler on the Products page if you want a piece of machinery. Now that's a Quality product!

[Mark1775]

Got one last year. I use it on a Pro V 1775 SE on the back bench pedestal mount. I did find one thing out. It doesn't lock into to place (a little short sighted on their part). If you run rough water, it will turn on you in the base. Lift the motor after this happens and it will hit it. Scratch city... (I know first hand). Mark

[Schnauzer]

I purchased the rod holder part (as in hold a rod while you are trolling) but not the rod storage attachment. I too, was a little disappointed to see it doesn't latch in the seat base. I intend to use mine for holding a rod out the back while trolling but I'll have to take it out when I'm motoring from place to place. I'm not sure if I'm going to buy the rod storage attachment.

[EricCO]

I got one last year. Seems to work best when trolling, then you can put it up in the bow. Mine has never bounced out even running big swells at Big Mac. The wedge part is solid metal and is pretty heavy. I imagine if you run really crazy and smash your boat all to #####, this is another thing that may need some jerry rigging to keep it in place

If its a jigging bite or something like that and one person is in the bow and one on the back casing platform is that it works well to hold rods when running spot to spot. Once you get to your spot and are fishing you can tuck it under the console to keep from tripping on it.

Works well for what it was intened to do and it's small enough to tuck away when you don't need it.

"Hunting 'eyes in the Three-O-Three"

[Lund_Dude]

I have one of the Cabellas and it works very well. I have a side console and use the rack in the front while trolling. It also holds my net. I have not had any problems with rods popping out in moderate chop, but I always put them away in good waves. At $150-200 per combo, I don't like to take chances. I am very satisfied with the product.

[Skis]

I'm in the same boat (no pun intended!) as REW. I'm looking at purchasing one of these as well. To those people who have purchased these holders, would you buy it again?

To the owners of the Rod Wranglers, does the stand snap in at the base, or is it like the others? If it snaps in place, it sounds like something I might be able justifying paying more for.

[EricCO]

I would.

"Hunting 'eyes in the Three-O-Three"

[dan(or)]

I would buy the 8 rod rack again in a flash. I have it on the front deck for holding 8 rods. It does bounce out, so I anchored a bungee cord to the floor on both sides with the bungee strap going over the top of the rack to hold it down. The rod holder workes great and the bungee is an easy on easy off method of holding the rod holder down.

The only pain is when you have a fish fun around the bow, but then it just makes life more interesting doesn't it?

dan
Out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them.

REW if you want more info p email me.

[RJ]

I bought a Rod Wrangler rack last spring and have been extremely happy with it. It does indeed snap into the seat pedestal base you choose to use so it should not come out unless the base does. The Berkley racks it contains work well and have locking rings to keep the rod tops in place. The only concern I had going into my purchase was that the rod butts rest on the floor of the boat and I thought they might take a bit of a pounding from bouncing up and down but the rod racks hold pretty tight on the top and there is very little movement that I have noticed so this has not been a problem. My opinion, good product. Very well made with good products and nice workmanship. Powder coated finish is very duable and should hold up to the elements and rough handling quite well. The other nice thing I like with the Rod Wrangler is that it has a handle on the side of it and holds the rods secure enough to transport them from boat to garage or camper without taking them out of the rack. Just buy your self another floor base and you can store your rods vertically in the shop or at the camper while in between trips or while rigging rods. All this is nothing more than my opinion and observations I have come up with over the last year of using this product. Not trying to sell anything for anyone, just some helpful information I hope. Good luck with whichever product you choose. RJ in Montana...

[RJ]

Hey REW, I put a post on the boat&motors side about wiring questions. Maybe you could help me out there. thanks....RJ

[Sparky]

Is there a measurement I can check on my mounts to be sure that the wrangler will fit? I emailed WC earlier today but, it doesn't hurt to try more than one source. As you can tell I really want a couple of these if they'll fit my snap in mounts.

[Atomic Eye]

Which Cabela's mount on page 137 ("Tackle Shop 2002" catalog) fits the Lund pedestal mount (#300?)? It seems like that Deluxe 8 rod storage and trolling rod holder unit would work well? Does anyone know if it will lock into the pedestal mount?

Also, do the In-A-Snap rod holders fit into the Lund cleats, e.g., on a 1675 ProSport? Thanks for sharing your experience.

Atomic Eye -- "Gone Fission!"

[fig-kms]

I own the Rod Wrangler by Messanger Boat Accessories and think it is a wonderful product. I looked at both products before purchasing and although the Rod Wrangler is more expensive than the Cabela's model, in my opinion it supports and secures your rods better, and its quality workmanship is worth the additional money and provided a better long term value. I believe the cost for a Rod Wrangler is $89, but for me it was money well spendt, especially when I thought about the money I spendt on the rod and reel combos stored by this piece of equipment. I thought any boat that doesn't have the new in the floor rod lockers would benefit from this product, and even if I had a boat with the new rod lockers I would continue to use the Rod Wrangler for ease of access to my eqiupment. I own a Lund and the Rod Wrangler stays very secure in my seat bases whether in the bow or the aft of the boat.:)

[fig-kms]

Sparky, I would suggest you contact Messanger Boat Accessories owner Steve Messenger directly to insure you get the correct size to fit the seat bases in your boat. This is what I did before I ordered, and was very happy with the service I received from them. Their website is messengerboat.com and the owner Steve's Messenger e-mail address is messengers@nebi.com

[Sparky]

Thank you. I sent him an email with my question.

[Lund_Dude]

Me Too!

[Big Dog]

Same thing happened to mine. Partner was beeching the boat while I went on stage.Lets just say the merc won. The rod rack is a little(alot)bent but still work great. Also make sure your line is tight and your clickers clicked or you'll lose a lure and 1000 feet of line. It's funny now but it wasn't during the tournament.

[Hawgeye]

I also purchased the Rod Wrangler for $89. It is well made and does lock into the base. As described on an earlier post, it has the locking holders and can easily be used to transport out of the boat. I bought a $15 base and made a frame so I can take the rods out of the boat and bring them into the hotel or home with ease. I too did not like the fact that the rod butts sit on the floor at first but now I don't see a problem with it. I love the product and think it is great. Give it a look!

[mmillelacs]

i bought the cabelas 29.95 rod rack from cabelas which sits level with 8 rods in it and i drilled two holes in the base of it and two matching holes in the floor of my boat . Then in the holes in the boat floor i put 2 stainless 1/4 inch bolts 2 inches long sticking up
and put a nut on each side of the floorboard. Then when i put the rod rack in the boat i just spin 2 wing nuts on the bolts and the rod rack is in place in any weather

[lowe boy]

I have the cabela's 8 rod holder, it works great, worth every penny. But here is a tip: keep the rods with your crankbaits tied on in the tubes away from the side of the holder you have to walk! ouch! Netting a fish with 2 shadraps and 8.5 foot rods dangling from the back of your shirt, thats interesting!

[Westy]

REW: I have one of these holders and have been really happy with it. I can use it in any of the seat bases and move it to wherever it is most convenient. I don't sit up in the front of my boat very often so I can put the rod holder there if I have several people with me or I can put it in one of the other bases if I don't have anyone else with me. I like to be able to move it around. Mine fits in the seat base snugly and if it didn't, I would probably just wrap some tape around the part that inserts into the base to make it fit more closely. I have never had any rods bounc out. If I did, I would probably buy some velcro straps and mount a square on each side of the rod holder, strap up and over the reel and over to the other side. I would buy another one, no doubt about it. Good Luck