The customer asked me to replace all six guides with CXBBG braced guides. I mentioned that only the first to would be sufficient.He said he wanted all six braced, would this put to much stress on the upper section of the rod?
Any help would be appreciated.

Q: Would this put too much stress on the upper section of the rod?


Short Answer - Stress, as in stiffening of the rod blank? -Probably not.
Stress, as in weight? -Maybe. Braced guides, as in many boat guides that are double-footed and 6-legged (Ex: Fuji BULG) are usually stiffer & heavier than they need to be, or than other guides which are just as suitable and almost as rugged (Ex: Fuji BHNLG).


Longer Answer - Tell us about the rod blank / specs?
Length, Line & Lure Rating, Style, Action, Power, ... Material, ...
How will this rod be fished?
What are the CXBBG braced guides.



It sounds like this customer wants all the guides & work done the way HE wants it done. That may have as much effect on the design & decision as everything else. IMO, ...-Cliff Hall+++

Cliff,
What and all I know about this boat rod is that it looks like a Lamiglas fiberglass honey color 7' one piece with a tip size # 10 he will be using 20/ 30lb. line on a conventional set up.The rod was built with the XBG guides now he wants to replace these with the XBBG braced guides. My question being will this change the action of the rod by using the braced guides.He mentioned that the rod performs to his type of drift and bottom fishing. When and how many braced guides are usually used on boat rods. I was always under the assumption that if used, only the first two off the reel would be needed, can you set me straight on this.

Wes.

WES – NOW I got a fix on your guides: PB-CXBBG / CXBG

PACIFIC BAY - TiCH BOAT ROD GUIDES –
MODEL CXBG AND CXBBG
[www.fishpacbay.com]

* For conventional style boat rods.
* Stainless steel ring and frame.
* Super Hard Chrome undercoat.
* All welds are silver solder reinforced.
* Available unbraced (CXBG) or braced (CXBBG)

You can certainly go with your first idea of the whole thing – the first two guides BRACED (CXBBG), and then the rest UNBRACED (CXBG). … I don’t want to be too dogmatic here.

But these (or just about any wire-framed ring) are just about my least favorite guide in the world, so forgive me if I don’t sound too enthusiastic in my reply. I’ll try to sort out my bias from the facts and keep my opinion out until the end. (I’m trying.)

The UN-braced and the Braced guide are virtually identical. Same SS ring and bent wire frame (Cr-SS). Same foot-print width and toe-to-toe base length. Both style frames hold the ring with a silver-solder weld at the 9 o’clock & 3 o’clock position. The Bracing wire runs from heel to heel and is welded at the 6 o’clock ring position.

CXBG-Advantages: UN-braced CXBG flex more and weigh less than the Braced CXBBG.
CXBG-Disadvantages: UN-braced CXBG only has the two welds at the 9 & 3 o’clock positions. Less rugged.
CXBBG-Advantages: Braced CXBBG are more rugged, the 3rd weld.
CXBBG-Disadvantages: Braced CXBBG are less flexible. More weight.

IMO, with a size 10-64ths rod-tip, this rod blank could handle either the braced or the unbraced guides in the tip section. The extra weight and the greater stiffness of the braced guides would be tolerated by this Lamiglas, and by this type of rod. For drift fishing and bottom fishing, any extra weight or increased stiffness in the tip will not be significant or particularly noticeable.

So, rod performance would be the same for the BRACED guides as for the UN-Braced guides.

Now the main difference is the extra ruggedness of the BRACED CXBBG. In my opinion, that is a real advantage worth the negligible extra weight and stiffness for this boat rod. (If it were a SPINNING rod, I’d choose the CXBG over the CXBBG.)

Consider this conclusion to prefer the BRACED CXBBG guides alongside the fact that the CUSTOMER is ALREADY SOLD on using ALL BRACED CXBBG guides. That sounds like a 2-0 vote in favor of ALL-BRACED.

Wes, I would recommend going with the customer’s configuration of ALL BRACED CXBBG Guides. Just make sure to size & space them nicely for a smooth line flow when the rod is well-loaded.

I don’t know if that sets things straight,
but that’s the call I’m making, Wes. –Cliff Hall+++

Now for my bias: FUJI: HARDLOY-RING CASTING GUIDES
BHNLG up front in the butt-section;
BNLG in the mid-section; and
BLBLG in the tip-section.

Re: Determining single vs. double foot guides? Cliff Hall 12-22-05 23:39
[www.rodbuilding.org]
Dave Barrett & Tom Kelly - Thanks for the education. ... Now I see the Hardloy-ring "BLBLG", 8mm-16mm ring, Tri-leg, Single-foot Guides, in the hard-copy of the Mud-Hole Catalog 2006, on page 69. ... Very useful info & guide. Thanks, -Cliff Hall+++ Merry Christ-Mass

grouper rod recommendations Kenneth L. Saums 12-28-05 23:38
[www.rodbuilding.org]
“… What guides do you recommend for the spiral? I'm currently looking at the BHNNG (Si Nit) or the MNSGs with a modified guide for a bumper. I built a seeker LB704 and 706 with spiral turbo style guides and I don't care for the look and I think they may be overkill.” … - Thanks again, Ken