Is it necessary or best to double wrap underwraps and guide wraps medium to heavy salwater rods? thanks for help

I only double the Over wrap on Heavy salt water rods

Not much need to use an underwrap but it won't hurt on a heavy duty rod. A double overwrap is not a bad idea if you expect the rod to see some really rough and tumble use. No fish will ever bust a guide out of a single wrap, but if you know the rod wraps will be subject to a lot of beating, scraping, banging, etc., then a double wrap is not a bad idea.

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TITLE: "Gudebrod Thread Table: Strength & Weight of Guide Wraps for Size 2/0 - E"
For general reference, a Table of Calculated Strengths and Weights of UNFINISHED Gudebrod Thread Wraps for Sizes 2/0-E, for Silk, Regular Nylon, NCP and HT Metallics,
assuming a thread wrap bandwidth of 1 cm, around a rod blank of circumference of 1 cm (OD = 1/Pi = 3.18 mm), is available at: [www.rodbuilding.org]
Calculated values, not direct "in-situ" measurements.
-Cliff Hall+++, Gainesville, FL-USA*****

Hank, I started double wrapping my underwraps on my surf rods, but the reason I do it has nothing to do with strength. I recently started using "J" metallic thread because I like the colors. The thread is so thin that I double wrap to make the thread look brighter. I'm not a big fan of color preserver so the double wrap works great for me. I also double wrap the guide feet but I don't use the "J" thread for that, as it really doesn't seem to have any strength. I know there is a weight issue with using multiple wraps, but on my surf rods I really can't feel the difference. Good luck with your choice.

thanks men for the help and advice, greatly appreciated

I agree that underwrapping and double guide wrapping (triple wraps) isn't always neccessary. I often double overwrap with A thread on saltwater rods say 50# and up. If the rod(s) are to be used on charter boats or by people that may not 'baby' their equipment, I will double overwrap with D thread.

Melton International Tackle now advertises that they quad-wrap (underwrap and tripple overwrap) a couple lines of their short stroker rods.

Jay