Need help building a rod locker

[CalamityJohn]

I'm making a rod locker for my boat, but I have hit a snag and I'm wondering if you guys could help me out.

I have the rod going thru a hole in a piece of sheet aluminum near the tip of the rod and also the handle. Obviously my rods aren't going to last very long if they sit like this, so I need some type of hole grommet, or something.

I have looked all over town, but can't find anything that I can make work. Any ideas??

[Northlander]

Very hard to help you without some sort of pics at what your really doing.

[Gus]

I used golf club tubes to extend my rod lockers. Went from 6 feet in my locker to 8 by adding the tubes.

[CalamityJohn]

Northlander, I have pics on my computer, but how in the world do you post a picture? I went to FAQs and that doesn't help me understand at all.

[Dave]

Yea, a hole grommet would work well. Find the thickness of the aluminum and fit 'em in. Radio Shack should carry a variety.

[walleyemaniac]

Go to an auto parts store (or a truck stop if there is one close) and find where they have their clearance lights. They make a round clearance light that pushes into a rubber grommet. you usually see these on semi's or bigger utility tralilers. They make to differant diameters and I think the smaller of the two would be about the right size for a fishing rod handle to slip thru. Maybe check that out don't know how big of holes you can have and I can't remember the measurement of the lights. Just a thought. It's a heavy duty rubber grommet so it will last.

[WaveWacker]

You could also cover your homeade rod holders with that can spray on bedliner stuff.

[eyebjim]

Could you run a lengths of PVC pipe from one end to the other thru the holes so the PVC will support the rod the whole way instead of two points?

Then use some rubber trim to cover the exposed edge of PVC.