I have a North Fork Composites 1167-2 Heavy power fast action blank rated 2-8 oz. I plan to match it with a Shimano Aero Technium 14000 (72 mm spool diameter). My guide train will be Fuji RV25 RV16 KW10m and 8's for runners. I need help with determining the reduction train layout. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

No responses, Bob, so I think you are on your own. But I'll give you my opinion, and that will most likely bring dissenting opinions. And maybe someone who really knows.

I would start by locating the first guide about 22-24 inches from the reel, then progressively locate the rest of the guides, longer gaps to the butt area, shorter gaps to the tip. Probably 13-14 guides. After you initially locate them do a two line stress test to finalize the location and number. With the two line stress test guides may easily be moved without unloading the blank, a major advantage over a one line stress test.

Then test cast and move the first guide in and out a couple inches just to see if it matters. If it does, go with the best location and revise the other spacings slightly to accomadate the new stripper location.

Not many surf rod builders on this site, and I certainly haven’t built a surf rod in a long time. I do know for KR surf spinning rods the stripper (RV25) is going to be placed about 32 to 36” (80 to 90 cm) in front of the reel spool to accommodate the larger reel sizes used for surf fishing. Reduction train length about 36” to 38” ( 90 to 96 cm) and would probably use a total 8 to 10 guides. However, this is an educated guess, but I think it would get you in the ballpark.
Norm

Thank you both for the responses. Norm your suggestion matches another suggestion I got on a different site from a trusted builder. 32 to 36 inches seems like a long way out to me but I trust your opinion. I will give that a try. Michael the NGC approach with a KW30 would put the stripper around where you stated. I just wasn't sure if the RV guides were plug and play into the NGC approach. It appears they are not given the much smaller diameter for the height. Thank you both.

Bob, Norman knows a lot more about this subject than I. Thanks, Norman.

Mick, probably not much more. I try to keep up with the generalities for building a surf rod, although I have built very few. They are a different animal from what I normally build. I know for some of the 13’ plus tournament rods the butt guide is placed about 110 cm (43”) in front of the reel stem, that’s a long way. Reels used for surf rods are quite large including the 14000 long cast reel that Bob has. So in order to get a good line path from the reel to the stripper guide of a given size, the larger the reel the further out you push the stripper. For a NGC setup using the 27X method, developed by Tom Kirkman, the estimated average distance to the choke for the spool diameter given by Bob, would be about 194 cm (76,5”) from the spool. So my estimates for butt and choke guide placement are in the ball park. Since this is a KR concept rod using braid, then the choke and/or stripper can certainly be moved in or out a little to accommodate and any spacing issues.
Norm