The Moonraker Falls to Earth
Submitted by Colin Hay on Mon, 2009-07-27 12:15
I suffered a major tragedy yesterday when my Daiwa Moonraker rod snapped while launching a cast.
It is the best rod I have ever owned and its demise has left me shattered.
I apologise to anyone who was on the beach within hearing range of me for the expletives I uttered when I heard it snap.
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Matt T
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Damn - higher end rod too
Would think they'd replace it unless you were really doing something out of the ordinary.
Colin Hay
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I had quite a few changes made to it Matt
So there is no chance they would replace it - and it is also a few years old now.
I can't complain as it had given me a lot of good service.
It was just sad to see such a great rod snapped like that.
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hlokk
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Sad to hear Col. What do you
Sad to hear Col. What do you recon could have caused it? Heavy weight or maybe a knock to the rod? Doesnt matter how careful you are, some knocks still happen (just the amount depends on how careful you are)
Colin Hay
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Not sure Matt
I don't think it was a knock as I normally carry it around everywhere in its hard case - but you never know.
I had been using it as a bit of workhorse really, probably loading it up a bit too much with heavy baits and sinkers - so that wouldn't have helped.
I have never had a rod explode like that before, but it was a finesse rod and my fishing style couldn't be described as finesse.
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damo6230
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comiserations Colin
know how it feels to lose something sentimental.
new journey though.........
Colin Hay
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Thanks damo
I have lost a good fishing friend which brought me a lot of good fishing times.
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Bones76
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RIP
RIP
hlokk
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Would that be Rest In Peace
Would that be Rest In Peace or Rest In Pieces?
Colin Hay
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Thanks Bones
I might make a memorial to it by framing a broken bit with some pics of the fish it caught.
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mako magic
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sad to hear about the
sad to hear about the moonraker Colin, atleast now you have a replacement here in that other rod to be built
Colin Hay
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Hi Matt (man there are to many Matts)
I was going to PM you. Do you reckon I will be able to use the low rider guides and the reel seat from my Moonraker on that blank?
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mako magic
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yeah might be able too, will
yeah might be able too, will have to bring it in and we will look into it, would save you a few bucks too
Colin Hay
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Thanks Matt
I really like those lowrider guides, so it would be great if I can recycle them. All may not be lost.
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mako magic
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very true, we will turn them
very true, we will turn them into gold lol, as you said atleast all will not be lost.
Colin Hay
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Lol That's cruel Matt (Hlokk) , but true
All may not be lost though.
I have picked up a nice Purglas blank, so I thining of using the lowrider guides from my Moonraker on that.
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Bones76
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Matt - i would never be that
Matt - i would never be that cruel... not when talking about a busted rod to a fellow fisherman. I will never forget the feeling when my beloved jig rod made an almighty crack while hooked on to a sambo - only to realise that it must only have been the epoxy.... a tear came from my eye
Colin Hay
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I know the feeling Bones I just couldn't believe what had
happened.
It was like the stages of grief.
First there was shock and denial, then pain and guilt, followed by anger, then depression and now, finally acceptance and hope.
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just dhu it
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new horizons
sorry about the rod colin but you might have a new heading now
Colin Hay coming to a tackle store near you !!
Colin Hay
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LMAO just dhu it
So true. Lucky it is tax return time.
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7739ian
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Col-
i've got to say i haven't seen this much grief and condolences since my Aunt Lizzie lost a sprint with the 5.15 to Fremantle.
Colin Hay
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Lol Ian
But you know how it is mate. A tried and trusted piece of fishing equipment is irreplaceable (Lol).
One of the worst things was I had been teasing a good mate who had his good Daiwa rod snap two days before. That's karma for you.
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Bones76
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Colin If you are interested
Colin
If you are interested a mate of mine wants to flog off a "new" G-Loomis Surf 10'6.
He wanted $200.
I would have to clarify model number and the "new" comment if you were interested.
Colin Hay
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Thanks Bones appreciate the info mate
That's a good deal.
But I have just brought a 14 foot Purglas blank and I am going to make that my new "go to" surf rod.
Thanks anyway, I appreciate the heads up.
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grayzeee
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i had a brand new daiwa soft
i had a brand new daiwa soft plastics rod that snapped on me 3rd outing.
got a decent fish and it pulled the rod round and literally just touched the outboard motor cover.
snap!!
i have bad luck with daiwa
went back to trusty shimano and all good
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
Colin Hay
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Yeah, who knows Graham
It might be bad luck or bad blanks.
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couldntcatchacold
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oh no my whole hearted
oh no my whole hearted condolences col! must be like losing a member of the family mate dont know what id do if my favourite rod broke, but dare say shes heading that way shes getting ollld now
I wanna get free! im gonna get free! right into the sun!
Colin Hay
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Thanks Chris
I did feel pretty gutted.
My wife couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
I know that rod has been my only companion so many times when I have been standing on some rocks, or a stretch of beach, on a freezing cold morning or night.
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hlokk
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She might have made a fuss
She might have made a fuss if she knew what it cost
I think the sentimental value is far beyond the actual cost though, and that can be the hard bit to bear.
Colin Hay
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Fuss (Lol) Matt she might have made a dent in my head
if she knew how much it cost. I just told her it was an old rod that I had been using for years.
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Bones76
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if only your wife knew the
if only your wife knew the pain that rod had been through... The amount of times it stood up for you in the heat of batttle...
If only my wife could make the same noise as a screaming reel... I might spend the money I spend on fishing on her
hlokk
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Theres so many responses I
Theres so many responses I could make on that last comment but I think i'll refrain, haha.
Colin Hay
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LMAO Bones
If I feel guilty about spending money on fishing gear I just go and look in the wardrobe and count all of my wife's shoes.
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Faulkner Family
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sorry to hear about the
sorry to hear about the raker , you must be "shattered" on loosing a true fishing companion thats been there through thick and thin , hot and cold and finally couldnt take any more and going to "pieces" all in the plight of chasing the elusive taylor and mulloway.I hope your next lot of adventures with the new comrad at arms will be as fruitfull as the old.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Colin Hay
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Thanks guys
I will pop up and buy myself a slice of pizza sometime soon to comiserate.
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499
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that sux colin.............i
that sux colin.............i was so close to buying one of these for long casting but the reasons why i didnt was its a high mount, it felt a little light for my style of fishing but most importantly cause it was so light it also had quite thin walls which worried me alot
another excuse to go fishing for a new rod
Colin Hay
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Absolutely 499
I have my eye on a few already.
The Moonrakers are a fantastic rod, but for me the high reel seat was a bit of a pain, so I had it moved.
I would be tempted to buy another one, but I am not sure I want to then have to go and get the reel seat re-positioned.
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499
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Date Joined: 07/12/08
there is the issue of the
there is the issue of the reel seet but thats a minor esxpense i guess.........these new light rods have too thin a walls for me personally.......they wont like the rocks and any nick in the rod is a explosion waiting to happen me thinks......i fish the older style rods ie purglass/azegai and they can handle a bit of punishment but im not a hack with my rods anyway as i baby them given their price..
the new salty surf rods are quite good......a mate has one but again its the high mount but there is a rod out there with an adjustable reel seat which has some sort of tapered mechanism
any1 know wot brand it is.......ive held this in my hand and it feels great with good balance....id consider this rod as it comes in various lenghts also
out of curiosity did u find the moonraker a bit soft for casting or did it load up nicely and how many oz's could it load up with....ie 4oz or 6oz
Colin Hay
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I think that rod is made by Shimano 499
The Moonraker loaded up nicely when casting, but 4 oz would have been a maximum weight I would put on it.
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Colin Hay
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Good news
Mako Magic may have come up with a solution where I can get my Moonraker back together. I will post up the results.
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Wild Turkey
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499
Tino That mate we both know that has the Saltiga Balistic surf rod is now a 4 piece as well(Not a happy chappy) after the Quobba Trip.
Colin Hay
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Oh no
Not a good times for rods
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mako magic
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but better times again
but better times again hoepfully for the moonraker colin;)
Colin Hay
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Thanks to you Matt
The Moonraker could be soaring again.
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499
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hey legs 11 is that u big
hey legs 11 is that u big fella or is that tedy..........cant work out who it is
nova wont be happy bout that, consilation prize is he has onather one to snap....ill call him shortly to see wot you lucky buggers caught...i need my wagoe fix legs
ive been wanting to buy one of these new rods but prob wont......my gut feeling being they are to light/thin walled for west aussie surf fishing and rockhoping was and seems to be correct...........unfortunatly
ill stick to my purglass/azegai........tried and tested by many b4 me...not the lightest rods compared to the new age stuff but good blanks, noice feel and wont break easily