I just got into rod building and I am getting ready to build a gaff and I’m debating between EVA and Hypalon for the grip. What do yall think?
I don’t build rods, but I do hate the eva grips on my ffishin poles feels cheap in the hands
SEAFOX 185DC MERC 125
[MRS KAREN]
14’TARPON 100 paddlepower
[SALTY FLY]
I have about 40 rods from fly to offshore roller trollers under my belt. The choice between EVA or Hypalon is mostly personal preference. EVA is firmer whilst Hypalon is more squishy. EVA has more color selections if you wanted to make something really stand out. FYI, the EVA from a rod building supply is much better material that what you find on cheap rods with foam grips.
I have build a lot of rods with Hypalon and like it, but when I built a dedicated jigging rod that will be subjected to a lot of hand pressure I use EVA because it is firmer and lighter too. I would use EVA on a gaff for the same reasons.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
Thanks for the advice hairball. Do you have any other advice for a beginning rod builder?
Three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn.
Advice?
First is read as much as you can. With the internet there are plenty of instructional videos too. Second, I would say invest in good quality tools and rod jig if it is what you want to do for a long time. Third, always mix your epoxy finish in the correct proportions and thoroughly. There is nothing more frustrating building a rod and laying on the finish coat and having it not set up correctly. To fix you have to put on another coat.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
Thanks for the advice. I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on.
Three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn.
I’ve built several trolling rods over the years and I can say without a doubt the best investment would be the rod turning gizmo. Not just for winding on the underwrap/finish wrap, but especially when you are applying the epoxy. My set up consists of two or three wooden blocks with V’s cut in them that my rods sit in when I’m wrapping/epoxying them and I turn them by hand. Just never could afford to buy the winding machine. Always enjoyed doing diamond wraps above the grip. I would go with the hypalon for sure. More hand friendly and some soapy water washdown will make it last forever.
quote:
I can say without a doubt the best investment would be the rod turning gizmo. Not just for winding on the underwrap/finish wrap, but especially when you are applying the epoxy.
Yes, I agree. But you don’t have to spend much money for a good one, you can make your own with some scrap wood and a little hardware. I’ve built a lot of rods with this one and I don’t think I spent $10 putting it together. It’s only drawback is it’s a little too short. The next one I build will have a sliding extension on the base to handle longer rods.
For turning the rod while applying epoxy and for drying I made a bracket to mount a grill rotisserie motor. Perfect speed and it’s cheap. I don’t use a power wrapper, I just turn the rod by hand when wrapping threads.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
Nice looking rod jig. I built one myself, but spent a little more. Probably about $125, most of which was the phenolic coated plywood specifically for making woodworking jigs.
It is 4’ long with with three movable V-blocks that have alumimun channel on the underside that ride in the dado’d slot and a t-track to lock them in place. The thread carriage is movable in the same way.
I have a fourth V-block that is separate and is used to support long rods. Also shown is my turning motor that slides into any of the V-blocks.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
Yep, that one is nicer than mine for sure 
But it does the same thing:smiley:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
Pretty ingenious Cracker. Never thought of using the rotiserrie. Much cheaper than the one’s they sell from the rod building companies. I remember when I ordered from Bullard out of Texas they were one of the first to get this device, but $$$$