i have a simular problem ,i have a 15ft gti harrison float rod ,the previous owner had lashed on a fugi clamp plate reel fitting ,they'd obviously broken the graphite reel bands ,but instead of doing a proper job and maybe fitted a new fixed reel seat or new bands .for reasons best beknown too themselfs and their god .they lashed on the clamp plate ,and in so doing ,compressed the cork rings benieth it .and totally ruining the handle
and the Philistines even varnished the cork around the clamp plate
& still left the plastic on the bottom half of the handle ??????
now i've two problems 1.) remove the varnish 2.) remove the clamp and refit sliding winch fittings
or go for a new fixed real seat arrangement , either way i have too sort out the damaged cork
i could remove the rod rings then cut off the front cork rings and replace the damaged area through too the front flare & fit new reel bands or i could cut out the damaged cork rings by removing the alternate rings first ,then fit new rings ,then do the interveining rings then sand it all level .then emoving the rear flare ,pop on the new sliding reel band ,then fit a new rear flare (cork or duplon) for a nice neat job without the need too re-whip the eyes .
or i could cut the handle in half (just past the damage) then remove the damaged area and fit a new fixed reel seat or sliding reel bands and new cork rings ,then join the two halfs of the handle back together using a internal spigot /sleaved to get a nice invisible join and neat out come ,again avoiding re-whipping the rod rings .
now i have the reel bands (as above) ,and i've already brought two different fixed reel fittings ,from two opersite sides of the world
a comfort seat (from the USA) ,based on the abu comfort reel seat ,which will fit
and i brought one of these (from korea) ,not a perfect fit as i'd have to bore it out a bit
but i'm not 100% happy with either ,and thinking of getting one of these (again) used this style before
i used one here fitted in reverse to above for a fixed fore grip and to facilitate a abbreviated handle design on my other custom built 15ft float rod
i'm tempted to go for this and fit a cork fore grip as above
i'm just in the procrastinating stage of the project ,i will hopefully have this done before the new season