I am going to be splitting a reel seat for my next build, and I want it to look like the ones Phenix uses on their MBX rods. Since my understanding is they don't offer the seats for sale, I was just going to buy a Fuji ACS seat and split it? My concern is that because it has the ribs inside it won't fit flush to the blank were I trim and shape it. Am I better of trying it with the standard ECSM seat?

The split ACS seat is suppose to be available here to use sometime soon. It was originally said sometime in December, but that was not definate. I one time modified an ACS seat, taking out the middle section under the seat. When it came to installing the seat. I tinted the Rod Bond black and let it fill in the gaps around the exposed section of the ribs. You really didn't notice things at all.

You could glue in an arbor they have black ones, and then when dry, cut and shape the seat. When gluing in place just ream it out to fit

Bill - willierods.com

You can use a reelseat from Swampland Tackle. They have the castaway seats that do not have the vents in them so it will go on the blank with no troubles at all. Give them a shout.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

How about the Minima (skeleton type) reel seat? Acid Rod and Mudhole both have them. []

I've been splitting ECSM seats with good success, even taking a few mm off the back of the seat as well to reduce weight...If weight is the main concern, I'd take down an ECSM rather than the ACS.