Got an old Fenwick ive redone and some how I got my reel seat and guides out of alignment. Now already applied epoxy and need to scoot reel seat over just a hair. How do I fix my foul up? Without tearing down my rod?

At this point it might be easier and faster to cut off guides and move them to match reel seat.

You can fish it as is and I doubt if you will find any issue with it. But if you are like I am, the appearance will bother you. The only solution that is really going to fix it is to remove, move, and re-wrap the guides.

If the misalignment is minor you may be able to just move the first guide and you won't notice the others since they are smaller. Might be worth a try.

I would not try to move the seat. If you can get the epoxy soft enough to scoot the seat over just a hair its integrity will be compromised and it may fail later. If you choose to move the seat, take it right off and re-start with new epoxy. The biggest problem I've seen with purchased rods, other than poor quality cork, is the failure of the seat epoxy.

I agree with Micheal. If it’s a casting rod move the first guide. Then it will be like a semi acid wrap rod.

The smart bet is the slight misalignment won't make a measurable difference in the rod's performance [might even improve it] - but knowing the misalignment will drive you crazy. It would me. I like the idea of splitting the difference by moving the first guide.

I would cut off the guides and re-wrap. The extra practice will make you more likely to triple check alignment in the future.

There is another way though I hesitate to mention it. You can cut the reel seat and blank in half. Then make a spiral cut in each half of the reel seat and use a screwdiver in the cut to pop the reel seat off. Place masking tape arbors on each end of the blank for the new reel seat. Remove butt cap/gimbal (Or drill a hole in it) and fit a piece of fiberglass blank to the inside your blank matching the taper as best you can. A piece around 6 inches long will do. Better to use an aluminum reel seat so there will be no possibility of flexing in the area. Then glue it all up make sure of your alignment. An old time trick for when someone wants a reel seat replaced but isn't willing to spend much.

You can also remove the rear grip and spiral cut the reel seat. Just tricky to do the rear grip from the butt end. Definitely an option if using EVA grips though.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Michael's likely correct, but I wouldn't like looking at it either. So move the guides if you do anything, as all above have advised. Moving the seat is not an option in my book. Good to hear you have pride in your craft!