Would like to hear from anyone who has used gold framed guides (Fuji or Pac bay) for rods used in the salt. I have customer who wants gold but is also concerned about whether the finish will hold up to hard fishing in the salt, even with regular TLC.
Thanks a lot guys.

Ted..

My personal experience with Fuji gold plated guides, from about the mid 80's through the mid 90's, is that they will not hold up to that environment. I've had the old GRSG trolling rod guides come back in short order, showing a funky green coating that was impossible to remove. Most of the other gold plated items I've used faded to a dull "chrome" color within a season or two.

Improvements may have been made since then. But generally I stay away from gold plated components on rods I know will be used in saltwater. If I need to add a touch of gold, I do it with thread rather than with the components themselves.

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Tom Is it the way they are plated ? I mean all those gold saltwater reel seats made by top companies ??
gimbles, roller guides, butts

Fuji IG's are Ion/Titaniu coated and are more rust resistant (not Proof) than other Stainless guides. A friend has a set on a surf rod which he doesn't clean very well, and he tells me they look perfect. REgular Gold Fuji guides - I have a set on a rod which I do take care and clean after I though tevry trip, but tehy do show signs of Greening. And the rod hasn't been fished all that hard.

I have had the same results with my Fugi gold components turning patina green. The gold reels are anodized aluminum, not plated steel. Ed



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2005 11:22AM by Ed Grella.

Right, anodizing seems to be the ticket. Plating does not hold up as well in this environment, at least as far as guides go.

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I have a rod with Fuji Gold framed Hardloy guides on it that I've given heavy use fishing from a kayak in the saltwater for 4 years now.

The gold plating looks fine on the guides and reel seat hood.

I wash down my rods with fresh water and dry them with a towel before putting them away after every trip.

So if taken care of, they should last.... If not... you'd probably get the patina others referred to.

Erik

Oops... duplicate posting...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2005 05:42PM by Erik Kunz.

That's encouraging. I always liked the gold plated guides and seats but after a few bad experiences way back when, I got a little spooked.

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I know I mentioned it in an earlier post but try the shower method. It really does work. I take my rods and reels used in a day saltwater fishing into the shower and while I tub myself, I also give them the treatment. Keep up the lubricant in your reels and you won't get any problems. I also use a chamois to buff the water off. They come out like brand new. So do I but no-one takes any notice. I also use a leather protector called Armoural on my rods. It is a fantastic help preventing a lot of salt sticking to the rod in the first place.

I'm with Mark. A good cleaning followed by a good drying, but instead of Armoral, I use a coat of Carnauba Wax every now and then.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds