Rod holders in aluminium

[brooker boy]

Hey guys im going to install rod holder on my aluminium boat its a brooker 4.1 safari just wondering how has everyone drilled the holes out and how big did u do it?

[Nolongeramember]

Hi mate. I used a hole saw to drill the aluminium. The size was the same as the diameter of the rod holder.

[rexaway1234]

Don't get excited and put fancy stainless steel ones up against your aluminium now or watch the metals dissolve away

[brooker boy]

Nah i got the plastic ones

[brickman]

unless there straight up and down the hole needs to be oval shaped drill a hole with a hole saw the o.d. off your rod holder and then using a bur make the hole oval a easy way to do this is make a template off the under side off the rod holder

do a little at a time

now the important part prime and paint the area or salt will get under the paint and bubble it up

to be honest why would you use a plastic rod holder there are good cast stainless and aluminium rod holders out there for around 40.00if your ever going to run a down rigger plastic will not handle it and stainless or aluminium will need a backing plate

good luck cheers gary

[Juggs]

aluminium can cause as much of a issue as stainless as I guarantee its not the same the hulls made from

over size all holes, use a rubber gasket, use duralac or sikaflex (I refer duralac even though its messy)

nylon washes under the nuts