Hello Everyone,

Newbie here. I am building an 7' AM GFW (6-18lb.) for my kayak. Do I need 2 wraps over the guides on this one? How do I know when to triple and when not to triple? Thank you all for getting me addicted, by the way!

Scott
Newbie in Seal Beach

I've actually never done any more than a double overwrap on any rod to date, and that was on a tuna rod, 130 lb. class. If it's an 18 lb. rig, you only need a single wrap then just coat it well with epoxy to make sure none of the threads can get nicked or damaged from being bumped around on the yak. Honestly single wraps can handle pretty much anything you can throw at them, but many builders will do a double, or even rarely triple, on the rigs that are for catching the big boys, tuna, marlin, etc. OR if you know the rod is going to spend a lot of time against a boat rail, then a double or triple might not be out of the question. In your case, single will be more than sufficient.

Okay, I am the new guy with the bad terminology. I actually meant single or double wrap over the underwrap. Sorry about the confusion but hey, that's why I am new. The rod is for inshore saltwater fishing off a kayak. Also, at what level should I always double wrap? I plan on building a few bost rods for albacore and yellowtail.

I think Jeff was hearing you right, you mean the # of wraps securing the guide, right? If so then a single wrap is more than enough. Like Jeff said double wraps are used on very large stand up rods with high frame rollers. Other than that a single wrap is more than enough.

You don't need an underwrap. A single wrap with A thread will be more than enough. On a rod like that, all you will accomplish with extra layers is to add weight to the rod.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

without the underwrap make sure the guide foot is prepped well and wont scratch the top of your fingernail when it is run over it.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Scott,

Don't worry about anything special, a single wrap with no underwrap is fine. I also fish from a kayak down here in Florida and have zero problems with this technique on my rods. I just use 2 coats of Thread Master Lite and go fishing.

P.S. Even my buddies who build tarpon rods (fish over 100lbs) don't use an underwrap or double wrap.

Thanks everyone! Appreciate the input and tolerating the new guy.

Scott,

Just to add some more to this;

Other than cosmetics or 'abuse', I can't think of a reason to use an underwrap on ANY rod that a fisherman will hold while fighting a fish.

It's not stronger, not 'better', and certainly is detrimental to the performance of the rod (maybe only a little, but still there).

Prep the guide foot properly. Wrap the foot to the blank. Finish the wrap.

Now, if the rod will be used by a ham handed clumsy lumox with no respect for his equipment, that's another matter. They sell kevlar thread.....

Buddy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/2008 10:24PM by Buddy Sanders.