G'day guys,
Just a quick question at what distance from the rear grip do you measure the blanks diameter for the correct sizing of the Fuji ECSM exposed real seats. Thanks in advance.

I measure the blank at the location I plan on having the reelseat at. Measure where you expect the exposed portion of the reelseat will be. After measuring, I get the reelseat that is the size smaller than what I measured. This way I can ream it out to fit the blank just right.

Miles,

Knowing what size to order is a crap shoot at best due all the different tapers of blanks. Here's what I do. I measure the blank where i wish to place the reel seat considering the midpoint of the seat. Say the blank measure 10.5, I will then order a 10.0, 10.5, and a 11.0. Soon you will build up a good stash of the seats and not have to order one each time you get ready to do a build, instead just have do a fit.. They will take some minor reaming, however you do not want to use a reamer made of the Flex Coat reaming material because it is just too agressive and tends to tear thecut out portion of the seat. The first ones I reamed I just used tapered files and reamed by hand. Later, I made me some tapered reamers using 1/2 in strips of emory cloth. spiraled and glued to scrap blank sections using contact cement. I chuck these up in a hand held drill and they work really well.

I preferr to use the Fuji and Pac Bay cut out seats because they have a tapered bore whereas the Am Tac seats have a straight bore. I also have had corrosion problems with the Am Tac hoods even tho the rods are religiously washed down with fresh water after use in the salt H2O.

I have answered more than you asked, but what ever!!!!!

Later,
Gerald Mc

15mm carbon fiber tubing makes it a whole lot easier to get the right size. Just buy all your ECS seats with a 15mm bore, slide them onto the tubing, and instal tubing over the blank like a normal seat. OBviously, it might clash having the woven tubing look in the cut out, and of couse since there is a bushing & the extra weight of the tubing, the rod will be a total waste since it's now too heavy and not sensitive enough since the bushings suck up the vibrations....rolleyes, lol.

Gerald

Any problems with the Forecast seats ?? Thanks

Bill,

I have not used any of the Forecast cut out seats, so I can not comment.
If you do, let know how they work.

Later,
Gerald Mc