[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by bgreene

This may be what I'm looking for........a simple line from the rod holders to the bilge.

Reelapeelin's set up is fantastic - I understand the initial hardware connection, but the rest of the explaination flew right over my head.

Bottom line is all V21's kept outside with uncovered rod holders have been subject to distructive water intrusion ?
I'd like to call Wellcraft and try to find an engineer that's been with them since the 90's to discuss the how & why ........... I suppose there is no reason, just big company production with no interest in better than the cheapest rigging.

Reason I got into this is while my 200 Etec HO is getting ready for rigging, I removed the side panel so the start switch line could be run to the console. The big rain came in Friday, and I ran back over there to cover with plastic. I'm lucky in that my V seems to have had the easy life - bone dry foam from all I've felt with the side panels off. Well, the rain was starting to drip down the side and I got another look at how Wellcraft designed it. I got lucky - uncovered, or just uncovered rod holders, super heavy rain and these boats could be permanently wet under the deck ???? Who was the idiot who set that up ?
I'm ranting...........anyway, I'll just rig light hoses from the rod holders to the bilge and be done with it.

The type of foam that's used in these types of boats is prone to getting saturated with water over a long period of time. That's a known fact. But if they (Wellcraft) had just made a small hole on the downward side of each compartment so that any standing water could drain towards the bilge it would have reduced or eliminated so many problems. And it wouldn't have cost a cent in extra material. <sigh>
Anyways, I used pipe caps on mine to keep the water out completely... ya, my rods get a liitle wet while they sit in the holders, but they are made for that anyways, and a turkey baster syphons out all but the tinyest amount of water from the holders. Still, I may convert over to the tubing on the bottom of the holders somewhere along the line. And I'm seriously thinking about replacing all my holders with the ones that have the caps at the top, just for extra security.