I've Binka'd me Marksman Specialist!

[binka]

Absolutely gutted!

I returned this morning from a night session which I'd spent fishing the float and I unpacked the 13' Marksman Specialist to find that the top inch along with the tip ring had gone, I have no idea how I’ve done it or where it is now

I think I might have been lucky in that it’s such a small length, this is the tip in comparison to the Specimen Float which was identical in length…



My first thoughts are to send it to Hardy and get a new tip ring fitted at the very slightly shorter length as I honestly can’t see an inch making that much difference especially on a rod like this.

Has anyone had similar experience?

If so what are your thoughts on also repositioning the first eye after the tip ring just to even out the spacing?

I think my only other option would be to buy a complete replacement tip from Hardy spares but this would be very expensive and given that it’s a couple of years or so since these original Marksmans were replaced with the Superos then it might be unlikely that I can even get one.

Still can’t believe it, this was my first original Marksman which I bought around four years ago and holds some great memories, I had gone on to buy a few more and occasionally still add to them when exceptional ones come up for sale with a view to keeping these rods for life (breakages permitting!) so I really want to sort it out rather than buy a new rod.

 

[tigger]

Sorry to hear that Steve.
Did you take it made up ? I can't see that happening if it was in it's bag and a tube.
I reckon you be as well giving Hardys a bell and get a new top section made up, too good a rod not to.

 

[sumtime]

My wife tells me an inch makes a hell of a difference.

 

[sam vimes]

If you are anything like me, you'll have to bite the bullet and get a new top section, new or second hand. I've used rods that have been inadvertently shortened before and acknowledge that the differences are imperceptible. However, even though I can't feel a difference, the very obvious visual difference gets my OCD ticking nicely.

 

[flightliner]

Steve, a tiny fibreglass spigot would do it if done by the right guy.

 

[binka]

Sorry to hear that Steve.
Did you take it made up ? I can't see that happening if it was in it's bag and a tube.
I reckon you be as well giving Hardys a bell and get a new top section made up, too good a rod not to.

Hi Ian...

No the rod was packed down for transit in bag and tube both going and coming back, I was on a rocky shoreline and can only think I've clanked it down and just bounced the tip on a rock or something.

I think in future i'll have a small rod rest set up next to the unhooking mat to place the rod on whilst unhooking a fish away from the main rod rest, the more I think about it the more I reckon it could have easily happened in the dark this way.

Can't tell you all how gutted I am, I know I've got a bit of a reputation for clumsiness but I've always kid gloved my rods with the upmost care.

Looking like i'll be seeing if Hardy can knock up a new tip judging by the replies so far.

 

[barbelboi]

Knock another couple of inches off Steve and you'll have a top tench rod......

PS Did the same with the first edition of the Preston Carbonactive float rod a couple of years after buying it (c2000) and bought another top section for the very reasonable sum of £30 - might be worth checking if the price is worth the outlay..

 

[peter crabtree]

When Hardy launched the Marksman range I bought my 14ft float. It came with a serial number which is painted in white on the blank immediately above the cork handle. I also got a 'lifetime' guarantee which is a card with the same number on it. I have loved and cherished that rod and so far not Binkered (sic) it but still live in hope that should such a mishap occur I will be safe in the knowledge that a new section would be delivered gratis should I report it?

 

[tigger]

When Hardy launched the Marksman range I bought my 14ft float. It came with a serial number which is painted in white on the blank immediately above the cork handle. I also got a 'lifetime' guarantee which is a card with the same number on it. I have loved and cherished that rod and so far not Binkered (sic) it but still live in hope that should such a mishap occur I will be safe in the knowledge that a new section would be delivered gratis should I report it?

Peter, you've still gott'a pay 'em mg:.

Steve, i'm pretty sure Hardys will make you up a section no worries bud. If you ever take notice I only put my rods down on grass
Fingers crossed for you that it's gets sorted asap and the costs are minimal .

 

[Windy]

I broke the top section of my Hardy's Smuggler seven piece fly rod some ten or elven years ago.

The rod itself was then over fifteen years old and is one of the early Graphite rods, not carbon. I thought that that would be it, oh Sh*t.

One telephone call to Hardys and £65 later (bit of a gulp there for 18" of graphite, but it was originally a £5 - 700 rod....) I had a new, perfectly fitted and perfect top section with no perceptible difference at all in feel.

So the answer is they do keep spares and for old long superseded models. I suspect you will get similar, if not cheap, service with relation to your Marksman if you ask.

That said, for the sake of the extra inch I'd be more inclined to just fit a new tip ring to what you have left. Functional difference and change in feel nil I would guess. Plus if it gets further damaged it won't matter, you will have your nice new untouched spare safely back home

 

[Titus]

Fit a new tip ring, it's a simple push fit with a tiny bit of hot melt glue to hold it in place. You'll never know the difference if you're fishing in the dark.

 

[binka]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I've just been on to Walkers of Trowell where I buy my rods from and they have quoted me £8 plus the cost of the tip ring and a few pence worth of matching whipping and varnishing by a rod builder who does a quality job so I'm gonna drop it into them in passing tomorrow.

At least if I'm not happy with it afterwards I ain't spent the earth trying to avoid what will be an expensive whole section if I end up going down that route although I doubt I will be.

And of course the repaired rod will be unique...

 

[Windy]

...And of course the repaired rod will be unique...

Thinking about it it's the rod equivalent of having a circumcision....

Any chance Corky's charity could help cough up some of the readies perhaps ????

 

[binka]

Any chance Corky's charity could help cough up some of the readies perhaps ????

I've heard he's temporarily suspended from handling finances due to irregularities discovered in the balance sheets of the associated PaSC who in turn have had their own assets frozen pending a full investigation by the SFO.

Concerns were raised after their annual return showed a taxable liability of 37p in contrast to the £1,674,356 of the previous trading period and the paperwork whiffed of Stilton

 

[Tee-Cee]

I did the same with a Drennan Tench Float....It was only the top inch that disappeared and I did repair it, but ( and I cannot say why ) in the end I bought a new top joint. The repaired jobie was okay and it obviously did a job, but it didn't feel right...

I think you know what you have to do Binka....cost is secondary, I'm afraid..

 

[binka]

And on a much needed lighter note for the weekend...





https://youtu.be/glC9_8Ijt9k



Have a good one everyone :w

 

[tigger]

Glad you got sorted Steve....my OCD would mean i'd have to have a new top section lol.

 

[binka]

Glad you got sorted Steve....my OCD would mean i'd have to have a new top section lol.

Cheers mate... There's a new listing on Ebay for a brand new one for a buy it now price of around £200 inc. p&p, I must admit I looked at it twice as I reckon that's not too much over what a new tip section would have costed me

 

[tigger]

Cheers mate... There's a new listing on Ebay for a brand new one for a buy it now price of around £200 inc. p&p, I must admit I looked at it twice as I reckon that's not too much over what a new tip section would have costed me

Steve, would it not be worth your while to give Hardys a bell to see just how much a new top section would actually cost, it might be less than your expecting. You'll never know until you ask .

 

[binka]

Steve, would it not be worth your while to give Hardys a bell to see just how much a new top section would actually cost, it might be less than your expecting. You'll never know until you ask .

It would... I just thought I would chance the cheaper repair first to see how I go, I think by this time tomorrow night i'll have my answer providing my will doesn't give way to the bait dropper and Specimen Avon