weighing up the cost

[rockfisho]

Hi All

I'm looking to build a heavy surf rod at some stage. I've been looking around in the shops for components and blanks. I've now made a list and catalogued all the prices, what suprised me was that a similar store bought rod (Gary Howard Greenback) will be about $70 cheaper than if i bought all the equipment, and knocked my self up a few rollers to build it on.

Is it usual for a home made rod like this to be more expensive than an equivalent store bought rod?

Cheers

Owen

[sid_fishes]

in one word yes, but your own built rod is better, because you built it, and hopefully you catch fish with it, and that makes it better again cheers sid

[DR]

But, if gary's rods are still built with the same attention they were years ago, i would grab it, he always paid attention to detail & put together a pretty good rod..

[Owen]

Owen,
First let me say that you are obviously highly intelligent and good looking.

As to the rod... Make sure you are comparing apples for apples with regard to components.
Even then, it's unlikely you'll save much building it yourself (if anything) as you'll be paying retail markup on all the bits.

But!

You get to do the rod exactly as you want it and if you want fancy trinkets like wraps and weaves it's only your time you're spending.

Plus when you drag the catch of a lifetime over the gunwhales on something you made yourself it's so much sweeter.

[rockfisho]

thanks for the input guys

I'm using the exact same components as those on the Gary Howard Greenback. But the blank is slightly different i think. I will probably use a SU6162.

cheers

Owen

[rockfisho]

What blanks would anyone reccommend for fishing for snapper and hopefully a jew and some big greenbacks off the beach or rocks? I'm looking at around 12.5' to 13.5' blank.

Cheers

Owen

[nigelr]

Rock fisho, whats your budget?
Personally I've found we have little in Aus to compare with the range of performance blanks available to buyers in the UK or US, NZ or South Africa.
From MT 7, 8144s, SU's, live fibre surf /rock blanks and up to the imported south african Purglas at around $400ish available from the big tackle outlet in WA, the choice is pretty wide as is the price range.
If you check the Century rods made in the UK, top end blanks go for near $800!
For some reason we don't get a lot of top end OS surf/rock rods imported, probably too expensive/problematic to bring them in.
Good luck with your choice of blank, I've done up a couple of different LF surf rock blanks using the 'new guide concept' (about which there is considerable conjecture) and I'm very happy with them, you're right tho, it is a lot of work especially for a fumble fingered amautuer like myself.
Very satisfying to use, however!
The LF 'pendulum' is apparently one of the better performance blanks available locally, made in NZ I think. Much cheaper than the Purglas, which is prob the top end blank available to us in Aus.
Pacific Composits also list a top end casting surf/rod blank, from memory.
Hopefully others will offer more opinions, great subject for discussion IMO!
Cheers!

[rockfisho]

Thanks Nigel

My buget is up to $100 or there abouts. Does anyone know if Snyder can custom make a blank? Im looking for a fairly heavy style of SU blank or FSU blank in the 13 foot range for heavy beach fishing as well. I find I can't get as far with a 12' rod. It needs to be able to handle 25 lb line.

Cheers

Owen

[Stuart]

Thats funny mate, Custom, $100 and snyder in the same sentance. There is no way snyder will roll a custom blank for $100 so there goes your whole budget. PC makes an FSU 6144G which will pull a jet backwards.

Stu

[nigelr]

Keep an eye on Ebay.
Last week I saw a slightly used Blue Marlin surf rod (made in South Africa on a Purglas blank, stainless steel guides, low reel mount) sell for $152.50.
Wish I'd have scored THAT bargain!

[ryansrods]

hi mate i do alot of jew ishin the 2 blanks i have found to be the best are fsu5120g from pac comp and the 15 & 24kg live fibre lbg blanks cant remmber blank no

[2DKnBJ]

Rockfisho

As Sid and Owen have stated you will more than likley spend more on making a rod as apposed to buying one off the shelf.I can say there is no better rod than the one you built yourself.
They always look better......because you built it
Nothing more satisfying than starting a rod and seeing the finished product.

Cheers Dazza

C

[roz]

Will argee with all of the above, DR is right on the money though.

As for building your own, it's the satisfaction you get.... in spadefulls, fishing with a rod you've built yourself.

Check out M.O tackle, they do stock a very large range of blanks and will beat advertised prices...true story!!!

Another option regrding guides, reel seats etc etc is order from the US, our dollar makes that option well worth the effort.

Some quality fittings can be sourced at huge savings.

Hope this helps.

Good luck with it.

cheers Roz.