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Posts: 93
Location: WI | Looking to upgrade rod holders over the fall and winter.( I've been using cheap Action rod holders now with safety clips to rods when trolling.) Was looking for pros and cons of these two rod holders. No stores around me carry either of them so I'm relying on others to help. I have seen video of both in action and they seem very similar in how they opperate. They would all be side mounts if that makes a difference. Also all would be used for pulling boards. Any info on which way to go is helpful.
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Posts: 941
Location: Freedom, WI | Folbe, tough and they work. I use them for my down rods and lots of buddies use them for everything. I have the Traxtech system on my boat for the rest, but if I did not have that it would be all Folbes. |
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Posts: 380
Location: Michigan | I switched this season from down easters to Folbes. So far, no regrets. After 10 years on DE, i was looking for something I c6ould use and be able to remove easily to put my cover on. The Folbes allow me to do that, and they work well. Seem to be easier to use for clients, and people not familiar with DE, as the DE can be a little tricky to get the rods to relase if you don't pull up evenly. |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | i found the best way to get the rod out of a DE is to take the handle with one hand and grab the forgrip with the other and push the rod(forgrip) torwards the front of the boat and the rear part torwrds the rear of the boat and then pull up and they pull out easy as heck.. bill |
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Posts: 1504
Location: Oregon | Folbe makes a good rod holder, however, I don't like the lock they have on the base of them. If you forget to lock down the base, well, there goes your rod, reel, and holder into the lake. I know several folks that have lost rods in this way.
I am still using the original Scotty's but when I change it will be to the Orcas.
RM |
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Posts: 402
Location: WI | Go with Folbe. As close to indestructable as you can get. |
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Posts: 380
Location: Michigan | archerynut36 - 9/13/2011 8:20 PM
i found the best way to get the rod out of a DE is to take the handle with one hand and grab the forgrip with the other and push the rod(forgrip) torwards the front of the boat and the rear part torwrds the rear of the boat and then pull up and they pull out easy as heck.. bill
Agree Bill. I have no trouble with them, but even wiith instruction, I get people in the boat who get hung up. I am not trashing the DE's at all, and may go back if I have any trouble with Folbes. But so far, so good. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | I've used Folbe holders for the last four years on my boat. They are the best holders I've ever used, period. I've had Roberts, Scotty, Down East, Bystrom and maybe a few others I can't remember on my boats in the distant past. There is no other holder I know of that will securely hold a rod pulling double tens at over five mph and when you get a hit you can simply lift the rod and it is clear of the holder in a fraction of a second. All the other holders seemed to clamp harder under pressure and it was a struggle to free the rod with a fish on or to reset while pulling lures.
There are a lot of holders that work, some are just better than others. |
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Posts: 1504
Location: Oregon | Here is a review that was done by someone who has owned both that I found at another site I visit. If you wish to read the thread yourself you can see it here: http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=350271&highlight=folbe&...
Bottom line, I think they are both good and like everything else it just depends on what you like.
Comparison
The first noticeable difference between the "F'ers" and the Orcas, is that the Folbes open in the center like a blooming flower; symmetrically. The Orcas open sort of like an sideways "U", that turns right-side-up. This action is flawless on both... well, almost. I found that the Folbes typically require a person to grab the front grip of the rod, first. If you grab the butt, it doesn't always open freely. The Orca does not have this "friction hesitation" (for lack of a better description). It opens freely and easily if you grab the butt or the forward rod grip. Both rod holders allow one vertical movement to release a rod from the holder.
The Orca lacks an open bottom for a trigger grip (on a casting rod) to index in-to. The Folbe allows the trigger grip to fall into a large hole, which is nice. I was most paranoid about this feature (or lack-of) on the Orca. After fiddling around with it, I noticed there is a heavy "X" pattern that is molded in the bottom of the Orca holder. You can place the end of the trigger grip right in the bottom of that "X", and it hods the rod vertically, without movement. Problem solved!
Base Attributes
The Orca comes equipped with a nice base. I think it's a step above the Folbe base, because the lock mechanism is spring-loaded. Once you drop the rod holder in the base, it "clicks" and won't allow the rod holder to come free until you push the spring-loaded release button. The Folbe base requires the user to remember to slide the base lock switch. This user requirement has caused many people to have catastrophic losses... enough said.
Even though the bases that came with the Orcas are well designed, I didn't use them. I opted for the flush-mount bases that I already had mounted on my boat. These require the user to install the end of the rod holder toward the inside of the boat, drop it slightly into position, and then rotate it outward. This makes it impossible for the rod holder to release by a vertical pull (upward). It's old-school safety that works well.
Conclusion
I found nothing negative about the Scotty Orcas. They work as well, or better than the Folbes. The opening action is a little smoother than the Folbes.
The open bottom of the Folbe is a better design than the Orca, but because of the deep "X" groove in the bottom of the holder, it's not a deal killer. -There is still a place for the end of a trigger grip to sit.
The Orca has a travel lock feature that allows me to put a rod in the holder, flip a switch, and have the rod locked in place. If locked in place, and you loosen the adjustment screw & position the holder vertically, it acts as a vertical rod holder for making quick trips up to the top of a trolling lane, or back to the dock. Cool bonus.
I give the Folbe 2 thumbs-up.
I also give the Orca 2 thumbs-up!
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Posts: 93
Location: WI | WOW That was quite the review for both products! Thanks for all the input I think I'm going to go with the Folbe's little by little over the fall and winter. Did Folbe do anything different with the bases so you don't have to remember to lock them every time since that review??
Thanks so much
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Posts: 41
| I've used both on my kayak and gave the orca away. The release is much easier when pulling the rod up with the Folbe. The rod also sits better with the cut out for the trigger on the folbe. |
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Posts: 93
Location: WI | I bought a set of each now and they are very similiar. There are a few things I like more on the Folbe's but I'm not sure that it can justify a $15 difference in price between the two. I will say the Folbe's are a lot smother than the Scotty's but the Scotty's seem to be more heavy duty. Still haven't made up my mind  |
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Posts: 165
| I've got four powder coated DE's Saltys (only a few months old) and trying to trade towards four Folbes or Scotty Orcas in case anyone want to get rid of either.
Thanks for the great report on both of them.
I love the DE's but need something that sits flush with the gunnels. |
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