I'm very impressed with this new 8' Raptor blank that Randy, owner of United Composites has come up with.
It is nothing like the 7' & 7' 6" versions. This is a true 80 lb. class rod that will fish 60 very well.
Easily tossing 2 oz. sinkers 70 yards with 60 lb. line using my US113.
Most rods that I make for my use aren't any thing special to look at. Mostly just wrapped all black they are tools for my end purpose.
The blank weighed in between 15 &16 oz. Complete rod came in at 22 - 23 oz. Very happy with that finished weight.
I played around with different size guides & guide lay out casting & under load both.
Not all will agree with what I've done here.... when looking at both casting performance & rod loading. This is the best lay out I came up with for this specific blank.
Starting with a size 25 stripper with second dropping to a size 16. All the other 8 guides are size 10.
This lay out cast very well & feels great when loaded... Jeff
Oh & the handle..... click on the pics to make larger & turn right side up.... Jeff
Awesome, sounds like a real bluefin killer! Im going to check into the United Composite rods.
Jim, If I can help you choose a rod or blank from UC's rods or blanks let me know if you need any help I can offer.
I don't sell them I just believe they are the best rods made for heavy use... Jeff
very nice!!!! this is the first i've heard of an 8 foot blank!
Alan, this is an extremely nice blank for 80 lb. line. This will be the heaviest rod I need for the biggest catfish in North America.
Able to cast or lob out any size or weight bait needed. But It's not to heavy to hold all day... Jeff
I really like that aft grip. Is it a hypalon butt with Winn grip in between? Seems like that would protect the butt really nicely...
nice rod Jeff, love the simplicity, you even didnt used underwrap on the guides.
do you went for a graphite reel seat over an alluminium one for the weight?
I debating on getting on of those graphite reel seats for my 40-80lb rod build or go for the ALPS centralock one, main use for mine will be trolling and bait so, weight is not much into consideration.
Guides are under wrapped. I just didn't bring undewrap out from under & between the guide feet.
Thread there serves no purpose.
I wouldn't use a graphite seat on a salt water trolling rod
and I wouldn't troll with an 8' Raptor! It makes a good 60# bait rod for Guadalupe.
Quote from: Rivverrat on June 13, 2018, 01:27:03 PM
Guides are underrapped. I just didn't bring underrap out from under & between the guide feet.
Thread there serves no purpose.
you're right, pure cosmetic on that zone
Quote from: Rivverrat on June 13, 2018, 01:27:03 PM
I wouldn't use a graphite seat on a salt water trolling rod
same thing that I was thinking, thanks for comfirm my initial choosen accesories
Quote from: MarkT on June 13, 2018, 01:50:20 PM
and I wouldn't troll with an 8' Raptor! It makes a good 60# bait rod for Guadalupe.
Either I amigo Mark, I wouldnt use a that awesome rod for trolling, its not where it shines.
my idea of a two task rod is a rainshadow RCJB84XH 7ft, paired with the mak15 will serve as light trolling rod (not for long periods during the day) and live bait rod, there is no reason to have a exclusive IFGA trolling rod for fish on the 20#- 40# in this zone and also when fishing on a panga you cannot bring too many rods for every specialized way of fishing that you can do on the same day as jigging, casting 3/4oz lures to the rocks, trolling, drop fishing, live bait, etc..
sorry for hijacking the thread Jeff.
Quote from: steelfish on June 13, 2018, 04:48:16 PM
sorry for hijacking the thread Jeff.
Dont even worry about that.
Quote from: Fishy247 on June 12, 2018, 04:10:31 PM
I really like that aft grip. Is it a hypalon butt with Winn grip in between? Seems like that would protect the butt really nicely...
I used Winn with EPDM foam. This stuff is supposed to be as good as hypalon. Verdict is still out on this. So far I'm really liking the stuff.. Jeff
Quote from: MarkT on June 13, 2018, 01:50:20 PM
and I wouldn't troll with an 8' Raptor! It makes a good 60# bait rod for Guadalupe.
Mark, I dont know what 8' Raptor you've used or seen being these are a fairly new release. I would have to disagree with you that this particular blank isn't as good for 80 lb. as it is 60 line, most any where it could be used.
Every one whom I've spoke with, Darin Dohi, Randy Penny & several others, prior to purchasing one then another of these blanks all said it works very well for making an 80 class rod. My testing of this blank has proven this to me any way.
Different strokes for different folks. If I can ask, what rods are you using now for 80 ?
This rod cannot be compared to any of the other prior or presently made Raptors those are at their best with 60. I guess if some one is using a true 100 rated rod for 80 then no, this rod wouldn't work
EDIT:Mark I guess if your saying this rod feels better fishing 60 I would deffinantly agree.
Youve got me very curious as to your response... Jeff
Quote from: Rivverrat on June 13, 2018, 05:57:18 PM
I used Winn with EPDM foam. This stuff is supposed to be as good as hypalon. Verdict is still out on this. So far I'm really liking the stuff.. Jeff
Jeff
how do you like the EPDM foam grips so far?
I was told to stay away from EVA and hypalon seems hard to find nowadays.
this new material grips cost double than EVA grips
Alex, I am really liking this stuff. It's liteweight & seems to be very durable & very grippy when wet. I did have some issues slipping it into place on the blank during the rod build. So after marking rod where the EPDM would go I applied epoxy in this area. Then dropping the EPDM down blank to where it stops on its own, I applied rubber cement down to the epoxy.
This works very slick & the rubber cement rubs right off with your hand after its dry. No mess like when using epoxy to slide grips into place. No body else that I've spoke with using this grip material has had the issues I did. I think I should have orderd it with a bigger inside diameter. But anywhooo I'm very happy how it came out & so far very impressed how it performs when fishing.
Unless an issue over time pops up, when ever I'm building for lighteweight & durability, on my own rods, this will be my go to material for rod grips when not using cork.
Well seems like it worth the shot for my trolling Rod build
Thanks compadre
Nice looking rod you've built, would something like that be a good jigging/live bait for bottom fishing for big snapper and grouper? Thanks, Darin
it would be interesting to see an 8 foot raptor, side-by-side, with an 8 foot centaur. in the 7.5 foot versions, i use the raptor for 60 pound and the centaur for 80 pound, with 30% drag settings. guessing that the 8 foot blanks are "mostly" the same, i would be inclined to stick with those line classes.
That is a very interesting rod Jeff. I've seen the spiraled guides but never where they just spiral to the bottom like spinning rod guides...cool! I bet it does load great, I like it. 8)
Quote from: mo65 on September 27, 2018, 02:50:48 PM
That is a very interesting rod Jeff. I've seen the spiraled guides but never where they just spiral to the bottom like spinning rod guides...cool! I bet it does load great, I like it. 8)
Ive not built the number of rods that some here & else where have. However I have come to the conclusion that a lot of folks over complicate the rod building process.
Which I believe is a simple thing when one keeps in mind the end goal.
With that said as I searched the internet & talked with people about Acid / Spiral rapping rods one thing became clear to me.
A lot of people make it a hard thing. Some even seem to forget the end goal. Which is to equaly spread the load on the blank with proper guide spacing....
More Later... Jeff
This build looks really sweet- the finish looks impeccaple, and when everything is in gloss black any imperfection would stick out to me. Lemme know how the winnwrap holds up, I have some waiting to use.
Hey Jeff, did you figure out where to land on your "client' rods?
Great Work Jeff. I really like it!
Quote from: thorhammer on September 27, 2018, 07:45:54 PM
Hey Jeff, did you figure out where to land on your "client' rods?
No not really. I have some 8' Ugly Stiks that will be re wrapped to spinning. I have 3 of these that I will cut 6" from the tips. So I will need 6 more 7' rods that will fish 50 line. Wanting to put some level of Quality while still being durable in the hands of those I take out I'm looking at these blanks http://www.unitedcompositesusa.com/rods/challenger-advantage/
Quote from: thorhammer on September 27, 2018, 07:45:54 PM
Lemme know how the winnwrap holds up, I have some waiting to use.
This stuff is great. Its tacky with out being sticky & seems to be very durable. I wouldn't put it against the rail with a big one one on sliding it down the rail following the fish. I'm very pleased with it & will make use of it again... Jeff
Thanks. I switched the bench over to rods this week so will be getting back after it.
I think you'll be very pleased with it. I'm going to build a heavier than normal rod for my little Torque 12 & will be using nothing but this for the grip... Jeff
OK, I would really like to hear others thoughts on this blank. Specifically if you would classify it as an 80 rod. I've a lot more time with it than I did when I originally posted this. Right now my thoughts may have changed a little. Dont get me wrong. I loves the two 8' raptors I built for myself they have seen regular use. Just very curious to hear what weight line you would use most with it... Jeff
These rods work very well with 80 line for me & the fishing I do.
However I'm now thinking a lot if you would use it for 60.
Being that a lot of people like to have a rod with certain amount of flex & lift left when fishing what ever line rating they are using.
Personally I find it has a little more to give when fished 25 lbs. of drag ..Jeff
I'm going have you make me one of these someday! Put a xn 4/0 on it with 65 braid and 50# top shot, will use it to throw live baits to cobia and bft behind shrimp boats off our coast...
Just got back from fishing the warm water outlet. I took 3 rods. Two were my 8' Raptors. this gave a chance to really test these rods on some jumbo monster size carp.
The short of it is... after seeing I'm wrong about any assessment or statement I've made I like to get it corrected so others expectations can be met in a positive way. So here it is.
My new & I think better thoughts on this rod is this, the 8' United Composites Raptor makes a fantastic rod for 60 that will fish 80 OK. If its fished standing up, not placed on the rail it will do 80 just fine. But once a rod is leveraged on the rail any short comings in rod or reel quickly come in veiw.
The Raptor is where United Composites rail rod models start. As you progress up UC's rail rod models you will find the 8' Raptor is very different than the others with the Centaur & Viper being next in the order. The Raptor is much more parabolic / softer in its bend as the blank comes to rest down a bit lower in the blank finding it's sweet spot for line used. Where the the Centaur & Viper have a much shorter soft tip. More so with the Viper.
Keeping in mind this is the 8' model we are talking about. I find now that I agree with Mark & Alan's assessment of this blank. It is best suited for 60 line with the caveat it will still fish 80 but with out the cushion it has used with 60 line... Jeff
8' Raptor 25lbs. off the floor
under the left arm is the way mark fights fish. i tuck the rod under my right arm. i feel that i gives me more control.
Quote from: alantani on November 21, 2018, 11:10:40 PM
under the left arm is the way mark fights fish. i tuck the rod under my right arm. i feel that i gives me more control.
Alan, having never been into the fish that you all have available. I am still trying to find my way. Mainly through trying out different methods so I can get some Idea of what works best for people. I know going with the rod under right arm the rear of the rod needs to be longer than when using the left
I like the rod under the left arm as in the picture above. I find it harder to crank with the rod under my right arm, I feel like I'm binding up. Left arm for the rod, right for the reel works for me.
Mark, I know exactly what you mean.
What your likely feeling is the effects of the rear handle being to short for tucking under your right arm.
There are question to be asked & measurements that need to be known for a rail rod to work well based on the person hieght, reach & whether they will tuck it in their left or right arm... Jeff