Rod weights.

[sam vimes]

I'm currently bored witless, stuck at home waiting for a fridge to be delivered. After a conversation the other day, and just to confirm my sad, obsessive status, I decided to get my scales out. I'm not suggesting that the scales are absolutely accurate, but they do give some indication, especially in comparison across the rods I weighed. I'm sad, but not quite that sad yet, I only weighed rods that spend time in hand, float rods. It may also reinforce my comments on the recent "A long rod for those that struggle with long rods" thread.

To keep it easy to compare like for like, I'm going to group them into lengths and types.

Sub 13'
11ft Drennan Matchpro Ultralite - 5.25oz
12ft Drennan IM8 Super Crystalight - 5oz

13' Match/Waggler/Stick
Shimano Aerocast 390 Match - 8oz
Shimano Speedmaster 39F FA Match - 7.5oz
Shimano Speedcast 390F FA Match - 7.25oz
Normark Titan II - 7oz
Drennan Acolyte Ultra - 5.5oz

13' Stepped up match/Float/Specialist float
Greys Prodigy Power Float - 8oz
Shimano Catana CX Float - 8.5oz
Freespirit Specialist Advanced 1lb 6oz TC - 8.5oz

14' Match/Waggler/Stick
Shimano Aerocast 42F FA Match - 8.75oz

15' Match/Waggler/Stick
Shimano Speedcast 450F FA Match - 8.25oz
Drennan Acolyte Ultra - 6.25oz

15' Stepped up match/Float/Specialist float
Shimano Aerocast 450SPC (Specimen) Match - 10oz
Shimano Technium DF 450SPC (Specimen) Match - 9.5oz

17' Match/Waggler/Stick
Shimano Super Ultegra Multi Match - 10oz@17', 8.5oz@15'
Shimano Speedmaster Multi Match - 10oz@17', 8.5oz@15'
(both rods feature a dolly section that removes to reduce the rod to 15'.)

It's worth noting that bare weight figures don't necessarily mean an awful lot. Sometimes a heavier (weight) rod can feel lighter in the hand than a rod that weighs less, balance plays a big part. That my Aerocasts are a smidge heavier than similar comparable rods came as no surprise. They have a fairly thick oval blank that was bound to add weight.

It's also interesting just how much lighter the Drennan Acolyte Ultras are compared to similar rods. If anyone needs the lightest, I suspect that the Acolytes are the ones, even in 15'. The 15' Acolyte being lighter than many 13' rods. If you can't manage a 15' Acolyte, you really need to see a doctor!

 

[Mark Wintle]

The Normarks from the 2000 range and later usually have a rubber butt cap that weighs over an ounce. On some of my rods I've replaced this with cork and the overall weight of the rod is generally slightly sub 6oz for 13' rods.

 

[sam vimes]

The Normarks from the 2000 range and later usually have a rubber butt cap that weighs over an ounce. On some of my rods I've replaced this with cork and the overall weight of the rod is generally slightly sub 6oz for 13' rods.

Mark,
i noticed how heavy that butt cap was. I suspected that they'd been used quite deliberately to alter the balance of the rod. The Normark looks like it's going to weigh significantly less than it does. The butt cap weighing so much certainly explains it.

 

[barbelboi]

Drennan Acolyte Rod Review | Drennan LatestI've the 14' Ultra so I thought I'd check out the weight online as it was not on the above list - are Drennan under weighing these rods.................?

 

[sam vimes]

Drennan Acolyte Rod Review | Drennan LatestI've the 14' Ultra so I thought I'd check out the weight online as it was not on the above list - are Drennan under weighing these rods.................?

I'll happily admit that my cheap kitchen scales aren't going to be the last word in accuracy. It's also not particularly easy to weigh a rod accurately. It's interesting to note that both 13 and 15' Ultra are both 3/4oz heavier on my scales than is stated on the Drennan website. I did wonder whether the weights given by Drennan were blank weights.

13ft Acolyte Ultra | Drennan Latest
15ft Acolyte Ultra | Drennan Latest

You could read it that way if you are being cynical, and some manufacturers have been known to do this. However, I have my doubts that reel seat, cork and rings only amount to 3/4 of an ounce. Far more likely that it's down to my dodgy scales. The post was never intended to be the last word in accuracy, just to demonstrate differences. Whatever the weights are, it's enough to show that the Acolyte Ultras are much lighter than comparable rods.

 

[sagalout]

This thread proves one of two things, either I don't have enough rods or Sam has to many! Although if rods are like motor bikes then the amount you need is equal to the amount you have + 1.

 

[tigger]

Ok, I did try weighing some rods last night but using spring scales I wasn't to confident in the results. I rememberd we have a set of salter digi kitchen scales that are pretty much bang on.
Here's the results I got....

I have three 13ft accy plus's and weighed them all out of curiosity
13ft accy plus 5.3 ounces
5.3
5.4

13ft normark avenger mkII 6.3 ounces and another was 6.5 ounces
13ft normark titan mkII 6.7 ounces
13ft normark microlite mkII 6.2 ounces
13ft drennan im9 5.5 ounces (original model with ring reel holders).

14ft drennan im9 5.7 ounces (original model)
14ft accy plus 5.7 ounce
14ft marksman specialist 6.8 and another 7.1 ounces

12ft 9inch drennan im8 specimen waggler 5.6 ounces, another weighed 5.7 ounces
12ft 9inch drennan super tench 7.7ounces

I was surprised at the titan being heavier than my two avengers, it's supposed to be inbetween the avenger and the microlite for weight and for power. The weight of the normarks must be increased quite considerably having got a rubber onion shaped butt stop which imo is an excellent butt stop, better than any other of my rods.


I was surprised at the 14ft marksman specialist being so light as it is a powerfull rod.

After looking at the rods it's quite obvious that they gain their weight advantage by the absence of varnish (appart from on the whippings) and small'ish guides in comparison to the rest.

If the normarks weren't varnished and didn't have the butt stop I think they'd be lighter than any of the rods, even if they kept their stand off guides.

Oh, forgot to say I think the majority of weight variations on identicle rod models is down to the amount of varnish that the builder must have applied and some rods are slightly longer than others.

 

[barbelboi]

If the normarks weren't varnished and didn't have the butt stop I think they'd be lighter than any of the rods, even if they kept their stand off guides.

And don't forget the solid 22ct gold reel fixings - they must weigh a bit..............

 

[mikench]

You all have too many rods! Less is more!:wh

 

[tigger]

And don't forget the solid 22ct gold reel fixings - they must weigh a bit..............

Only gold plated though bb, it wears off....unfortunatly .

 

[mikench]

Ignorance is bliss!

 

[john step]

Sam, may I request that you Personal Message me FIRST when you no longer need these rods and they are due to appear at a car boot sale

 

[barbelboi]

Only gold plated though bb, it wears off....unfortunatly .

You mean you were ripped off with the Chinese clone Ian??..................

 

[Hugh Bailey]

Weighing rods! You'd never guess it was the close season would you?

 

[sam vimes]

You all have too many rods! Less is more!:wh

No, no, it really isn't.

This thread proves one of two things, either I don't have enough rods or Sam has to many! Although if rods are like motor bikes then the amount you need is equal to the amount you have + 1.

Something like that, there's always something out there that's potentially better, or just different, than you have already. You can't tell for sure by just waggling them about in a shop. Believe it or not, there are only two (three at a push) rods in that lot that I deem superfluous, either because it's too similar, but inferior, to another rod or the use I had for it has gone.

Sam, may I request that you Personal Message me FIRST when you no longer need these rods and they are due to appear at a car boot sale

If any of my possessions appear at a boot sale, it's because I've shuffled off this mortal coil. I'm afraid that any request to me is rather pointless.

 

[Graham Elliott 1]

Can someone weigh all their reels please so I can make a meaningfull comparison by total.

And also fulcrum imformation as well please.


Thanks

 

[binka]

Can someone weigh all their reels please so I can make a meaningfull comparison by total.

And also fulcrum imformation as well please.


Thanks

I test my spring balances against reels

 

[sam vimes]

Can someone weigh all their reels please so I can make a meaningfull comparison by total.

And also fulcrum imformation as well please.


Thanks

Graham,
the full ish might be for another day when I'm bored out of my mind. However, having done similar before, I doubt it'll make particularly interesting reading. The heaviest reel I own, the Abu 507Mk2 Goldmax, weighs in at just over 14oz. Coupled to the lightest 13' rod, the Acolyte Ultra, the balance point is still forward of the reel seat. http://www.fishingmagic.com/forums/1377166-post14.html

I've just chucked the Goldmax on the Normark Titan. The balance point is still just forward of the front end of the handle.

However, after fishing with a long rod that had it's balance point artificially brought back to the reel stem, I reckon that the balance needs to be forward of the reel for decent strike speed and tip control. The vast majority of float rods balance between handle and first ring. Even the notoriously weighty Goldmax fitted doesn't bring the balance back to the reel stem on any of the 13'+ rods I own.

 

[binka]

Interesting about the balance point of a rod with a reel fitted.

Even my 10' ultralite bomb rod balances forward of the reel seat and just onto the blank with a seemingly oversized 3500 baitrunner (Emcast) fitted.

I think the only time I ever achieved the perfect balance was when I tried my TDX on a 6' Greys G-Tech spinning rod.

A lot to be said for a wrap or two of lead strip I guess?

 

[tigger]

Just put a stradic 2500 fj on a 13ft accy plus and it rested level on my finger about an inch and a half above the top of the cork.