Bimin Rocket Launcher
 

Took the plunge with a whopping $88 purchase and tried out the bimini rocket launcher that JasonCooperPCola originally found on Ebay. Went with the one that fits 69" to 79" (my bimini is 74" center to center at the top) http://www.ebay.com/itm/150649053754...84.m1497.l2649

Came in a nice white box with the words "ROCKET LAUNCHER" on in it....after the call from Homeland Security I got down to business.

For $88 bucks I'm happy with the quality. Anodized tubing, the fittings on the end are plastic but seems to be a good quality material whatever it is. tubing thickness is decent, all hardware is stainless. The only joints are the approx 12" of straight pieces at the ends which are made with an internal sleeve with a really thick wall that is through bolted through the plastic fitting.

Wish the rod holders were a little longer because there really is not that much of the rod that sits into them, especially with the long notches out of the top of them but I'm pretty sure things wont be falling out of them....I might be a little concerned if it was loaded with all good sized rods and running in some rough water because just with the two rods I show in there now if I pull on the center things do seem to flex a little....

Also the fittings are made for 7/8 or 1" tube and I guess I have 3/4" on my bimini so they didnt clamp down tightly....added a 5 or 6 turns of black electrical tape underneath them and the work just fine. Once I'm sure I like it I can always run a screw or a pop rivet through them. And finally it also occured to me that the supports are going to interfere with putting up the back canvas on my enclosure but I think I shoujld be able to just leave the supports poking though a small opening....Being that I think I've used my back curtains maybe once in 3 years I can live with the trade off.

All in all I think it is going to work out great for what I intended it for which was just a place to put rods and nets when anchored or moving around slowly....probably will take a few rods down when making high speed moves. Will give further review after field testing.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...uncher/041.jpg

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...uncher/048.jpg


http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...uncher/047.jpg


http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...uncher/046.jpg


http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...uncher/045.jpg

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...uncher/044.jpg

I LIKE IT!!...:clap:...thinking seriously about one for mine...but duh...better get a top first...LOL!!...yer right, Rob...tubes look a little short, but any chance of them becoming ROD-launchers can be negated w/lightweight bungees strategically placed...

Did I say I LIKE IT!!...:clap:

Looks good, let us know how they field test. The weight of 5 big offshore rods up there kinda scares me, but I scare easily.

do the top clips on the rod holders have screws or do they just press on the top tube?

looks good for light rods and gaffs, etc.

I like it!! It doesn't look "cheesy." And it doesn't look out of place. You might want to consider some "bungee cord insurance" to keep your rods in.

Now lets talk finders fee. :sly:

Another question, would y'all trust an aluminum framed bimini top with this? I want one but i am scared by bimini frame will break. Maybe i need to be on the lookout for a stainless bimini frame.

for a little more security while running you could cut out the stops on the outermost tubes to allow the rod to drop through to the reel and you could maintain maximum headroom in the center. also you can easily buy the tube clamps to fit your 3/4" tubing for cheap and not have to "adapt" or screw it solid.


looks good tho

Looks like a lot of bang for the buck, I like it.

If it would fit my arch, I would consider one...

rkc

Thanks for the pics...I am buying one for my boat....:sun:

Correct, the top clips are a tight snap fit onto the upper tube. The pop rivet on the lower tube keeps the holder from spinning . They can pop off but you have to pull pretty hard...its a pretty tight snap fit. Hoping they stay put but I'm pretty sure they will.

The more I think about how nice it will be to throw things up there the more I like it. I mean just being able to set a rod up there while tieing on a new rig is gonna be sweet. If we can get some decent sea conditions It will definitely get used once or twice at least before the end of the season.

It seemed to me when pulling on it all the force is transfered straight down to the back two vertical supports of the bimini. I bet you could just change those two supports to ss tubes and be good to go.