[nomadfl]

I saw this statement on a US Fishing Board.....anyone want to question, qualify, or comment on the statement.

"Think about it like this..With a carbon fiber,graphite or even fiberglass(less likely) as the tiny fibers that make up the material are stressed and fractured,the rod is going to lose ridgidity and therefore become "spongy" the cheaper the blank the faster this will happen. Also things like UV rays help to weaken the molecular structure"

They were talking about beach, or surf rods loosing their original strength after usage. :g: :g:

 

[MikeR]

Rods do 'go soft' over time.

Depending how good the rod is this could be a long time (Century's which are autoclaved) or a short time for cheaper rods (plenty of reports of the Ron Thompson Axellarator going soft quickly).

 

[macky1]

The penn rods are well known for going soft within a few months.

as mike says Century rods are autoclaved to help retain there rigidity
but all rods will eventually go soft.

thats not always a bad thing tho, as soft rods are the best for fishing

mack

 

[MikeR]

thats not always a bad thing tho, as soft rods are the best for fishing

Good point Chris. I've heard plenty of people saying that they prefer their rod once it's gone softer. Suppose that's why so many people have their rod rebuilt rather than buying a new one.

 

[nomadfl]

Good point Chris. I've heard plenty of people saying that they prefer their rod once it's gone softer. Suppose that's why so many people have their rod rebuilt rather than buying a new one.

I'm just waiting to see if any of you out there is going to say "Rub it with Viagra"..:secret: :uhuh: :g:

 

[Rob]

I'm just waiting to see if any of you out there is going to say "Rub it with Viagra"..:secret: :uhuh: :g:

Early yet, give it time!

Any composite material will eventually degrade after constant flexing whatever it is and whatever it's use.

 

[BIG SPLASH SFT]

:uhuh:

The penn rods are well known for going soft within a few months.

twaddle,maby in years gone by this may have been the case but now that cant be said ive had a ruffstuff for 18 months the tip has softend slightly but it is nowhere near being soft!!!!!!!!

 

[dabcatcher]

i have seen a couple of old century rods go soft in the tips with time and use.

i have had an abu 484c and a daiwa graphite coil go a little softer with time. i think most rods will have this happen.

check the century site they have a peice about it in there section about autoclaving.

 

[Nick The Greek]

hi all,
i am an aircraft engineer by trade and have used and worked with carbon fibre and various other composite materials, the idea of a composite is to bring out the best properties in two or more materials by combining them together. rods you have to combine strength, wall diameter and flexibility amoungst many other things, i also test areas for damage and see the results of dropped tools etc on composite materials. you would be amazed how easily the stuff is damaged! i'd be more worried about this than the rod going slightly softer. i am now very wary of damaging my rods when out fishing, dropping them, not cos of the varnish/ finish, but becos of the unseen damage to the rod, i certainly wont glue anything to the blank, i wont use any type of reel clamp that puts undue stress on one specific area. i noticed conoflexs website refers to this too. even the minutest of surface layer/finish cracks can weaken the blank, as i found out to good effect up on the humber! my abu snapped clean in half! i go out of my way to keep my rods in pristine condition and free from knocks n bumps. reels on the other hand get battered into oblivion!!!
autoclaving is used to lengthen and preserve the life of a material, century's website explains it well, most rods just ease up with time and settle down. personally i like a softer rod anyway.

 

[oakley_ten]

I have a 6ft 6inch, 12lb IGFA class boat rod by Shakespeare. It was my 1st rod and is 30 years old - it fishes like a car aerial!

 

[blankerman]

i've noticed my rod getting softer with age,do you reckon getting a new model will stiffen it up again

 

[skipperboy]

I have a 6ft 6inch, 12lb IGFA class boat rod by Shakespeare. It was my 1st rod and is 30 years old - it fishes like a car aerial!

I have also a fiberglass beachcaster 'flipper'. older than myself. It is heavy but still casts further than my carbon rods.

jan