| abstract |
A fishing rod holder (10) has a tube member (20), a support (22), a spacer (24), and a clamp (26). The clamp (26) has a base (100), a first platen (102) attached to the base (100) at a first hinge (134), and a second platen (104) attached to the base (100) at a hinge (134), and a second platen (104) attached to the base (100) at a second hinge (136). The clamp (26) attaches to a gunwale (12) or like surface by setting the base (100) upon the gunwale (12) and collapsing the first platen (102) and the second platen (104) about the sides (16, 18) of the gunwale (12) by folding at the hinges (134, 136) and inserting a bolt (158) through a hole (120) in the base (100) and a hole (142) in the first platen (102) to secure the first platen (102). Likewise, the second platen (104) is secured by inserting a bolt (160) through a hole (122) in the base (100) and a hole (152) in the second platen (104). A block (176) that conforms and abuts against on of the sides of the gunwale may be substituted for one of the platens (102, 104) in gunwales of certain configurations. The spacer (24) is attached to the clamp (26), the support (22) is attached to the spacer (24), and the tube member (20) is attached to the support (22). The fishing rod is inserted into the tube member (20). The fishing rod holder (10) also incorporates other features of benefit to the user. |