Seattle Sports Deck Mount Rod Holder

This rod hold is perfect for kayaks. The edge of the rod tube is rounded over with no sharp edges, a big improvement over some other brands (West Mar, Acad, etc.) The installation was easy but you need to be careful cutting, if using power tools. I used a knife on a scroll saw and had no problems. Since the rod tube is angled, I used a rasp to bevel the underside of the hole so that the flange would lie flat on the surface of the kayak. I recommend cutting the main hole and then marking the holes for the screws using the rod holder as a guide instead of the paper template. I used stainless steel machine screws with nuts and lock washers to secure the rod holder to the deck. My son noted that the rod holder looked as though it came on the kayak from the factory - we have Old Town Vapor kayaks and they have flat spots behind the cockpit for installing this type of rod holder.

I was very nervous about installing this product - something about cutting a hole in my brand new kayak! Take your time and choose a location you can reach easily and that will not interfere with your paddle stroke. IMPORTANT: when you install it DO NOT use the paper template supplied with the product. It is not accurate and could cause you to cut a hole that's not the right shape or drill a bolt hole in the wrong place. Instead, use the rubber gasket as your template, and double-check with the product itself before you start cutting and drilling. Don't forget to check for sufficient clearance underneath. Also, I used 1/4 inch by 3/4 inch stainless steel machine screws. Your "big box" hardware stores probably won't have these. Save a trip and go right to a "real" hardware store! Get some silicone sealant while you're there. I used a portable electric jigsaw to cut the hole - went very smoothly.

Once installed this product does just fine. I've been out on the... Read more

I bought two of these for my Emotion Glide Kayak, to turn it into the fishing version without spending another hundred dollars. The installation was easy, just used a door hole saw like what was recommended on the instructions and it fit perfectly. It would have been nice if it came with mounting screws, but I suppose, what do you expect for eight bucks? It solidly constructed and is water tight, you can't tell from the picture, but the shaft is completely sealed. If I could fit any more on my Kayak I would definitely buy these, a great buy.