Installing Ram Tubes on the RTM Tempo

It was time to install forward facing rod holders on the Tempo. I get on well with the flush mount rod holders on the Abaco but the Tempo lacks space on the side rails to fit them. I settled on installing Ram-Tube™ 2008 rod holders with 1.5" ball round base so that i could position the rod at various angles for bottom fishing and trolling. Here's how i installed them..... 

The Ram-Tube™ 2008 rod holders come with a 1.5" ball round base. The tube itself has two leashing points and a flared top with slots to hold a reel in position. They are relatively inexpensive at around £30 each.

 In order to fit the holders to the Tempo with the rods being in a comfortable position i would need to remove the 2 D-rings either side of the seat. Unscrewing these reveals the 
moulded-in brass fittings that held them in place. The Ram balls would be positioned directly over these

The Ram ball will be fixed to the kayak using 4 trifold pop rivets as there is no access to the back of 
the ram ball to use bolts. The shaft of a trifold rivet is split vertically into 3 sections which splay out when the rivet is popped providing a strong hold against the plastic hull of a kayak.

The holes were marked and drilled using a drill bit slightly larger than the diameter of the rivet shaft. Clear silicon is liberally applied around the holes and on the Ram ball to form a waterproof seal when the ball is fixed in place.

The trifold rivets are then put in position ready to be 'popped' using a standard pop rivet gun - these are available from most hardware stores for less than £10. Pop rivets guns come with several nose pieces, each with different size apertures. Make sure you select the right size aperture so that it will take the rivet shaft. When 'popping' the rivets make sure the nose piece makes contact with the head of the rivet before you start to close the handles. It will take several closures of the handle, each time pushing the nose back down to the head of the rivet, before the rivet shaft will break with a pop! Occasionally the shaft may break slightly above the rivet head but you can file this down flush to the rivet head or use a hacksaw.

Excess silicon will come out from the Ram ball and this can be smeared into a smooth bead using a wet finger

The Ram-Tube can then be fitted to the ram ball

Thats one rod holder fitted. The same process is repeated for the other side of the kayak.....

The rod holders can now be positioned at any angle i like and tightened down hard to prevent hold the tube in position.

Forwards for bottom fishing at anchor or whilst drifting....

to the side for trolling.....

and to the rear when paddling or trolling....

The rod holders can also be laid flat, forwards or backwards, for any surf launches/landings so that the rods are not sticking up above the deck. This would help prevent any broken rods if the kayak was to roll.

So thats it. Two Ram-Tube told holders with 1.5" ball round bases installed on the RTM Black Tempo. Time will tell how they perform!