Cumberland Mods (rod holders, apron, and livewell)

Hola!

I'm new to the forum. For my 48th bday, I finally got myself a float tube. I opted for the Cumberland due to the great reviews and price point. After doing a ton of research on this great forum and YouTube, I was able to complete my project. I'm a bit late to the season but since I live in the desert, I should be able to get some good fishing in even through the winter months here in the Phoenix area.

First off, I followed Fisher Newb ([You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]) on YouTube to make the rod holders on either side of the float tube. His video is [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

Then, I attempted to make his apron mod using the yellow bin lid from Home Depot with his video found [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. I didn't quite like the result for me personally. I explain why in the video I made. Instead, I opted to use a shoe/boot tray from IKEA to replace the apron and feel I got a pretty sweet result.

Here's my final result.

Video:


Photos:
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Bird's eye view

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IKEA shoe/boot tray. Holes for drainage drilled. Rod rulers for measuring.
IKEA [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
27" long 1"PVC with 45deg mitre cuts on both ends. Hardware is stainless steel. Bolts are 1/4-20-2.5". Nuts are nylon lock nuts.

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Spacers are nylon and purchased at my local ACE Hardware. Dimensions below in response to SP Dan.

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Sterlite container
Walmart [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Yak Gear Bruce plow type anchor (1.5kg)
Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Cup phone holder (adjustable)
Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (phone holder)
Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (phone tether)
Home Depot [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (ABS drum trap)

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Brush anchor
Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Sea-to-Summit dry bag (20L). 2.5g bucket with twist on lid. Telescoping oar.
Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (oar)
Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (twist bucket lid)
Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (dry bag)

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Camkix telescoping waterproof GoPro camera mount.

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ABS cup holder
Home Depot [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (ABS drum trap)

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Camera mount made with 1.5" ABS cap and 1/4 stainless bolt, lock washer and nylon stainless nut. See [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] video

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Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (sterling silver carabiners)
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Bungee cords from [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Bungee cords from [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Bungee cords from [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Livewell Buddy:
I also picked up a Livewell Buddy on Amazon. I tried making my own from a couple posts and YouTube videos but disliked the quality. I added some extra zip ties for more security then another to tether with paracord and a stainless carabiner.

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Amazon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Updated Apron Mod:
I added a magnet to the corner of the IKEA tray apron. This will be handy to keep pliers and other metal odds and ends hands and in their place. Secured with a stainless [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] pan head screw and a stainless [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] nylon lock nut.

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Home Depot [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I like that you’ve taken a little bit of everybody’s ideas and put it all together to make this one-fine-ride.

I’m certain she’s gonna give you many good years of stories and memories!

SP Dan

What are the dimensions on the “white spacers” above the PVC spreader bar?
I like your idea a lot!

Thank you!

Hey thanks SP Dan, I really enjoyed putting it together. I just need to get it in the water now. Here's a picture of the exact nylon spacers I purchased at my neighborhood ACE Hardware. The lumen is the size needed to fit the 1/4-20-2.5" stainless steel bolts. I used a stainless steel washer on the top side of the apron to keep it clean and secure.  

Elias

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Welcome Finding_Elias that is how you make a splash on to the forum. I think you have done some great modifications and the live well is great as well. Thanks so much for sharing looking forward to seeing some reports from your neck of the woods soon.

i have been using the live well buddy for over a month. I am generally pleased with it. I am trying to come up with a mod to keep the bottom from collapsing. Maybe I need to store it more carefully, any ideas?

Great set up you have there Finding_Elias.

Thanks for sharing this.

Finding_Elias wrote:Hey thanks SP Dan, I really enjoyed putting it together. I just need to get it in the water now. Here's a picture of the exact nylon spacers I purchased at my neighborhood ACE Hardware. The lumen is the size needed to fit the 1/4-20-2.5" stainless steel bolts. I used a stainless steel washer on the top side of the apron to keep it clean and secure.  

Elias

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Thank you.
I am in the middle of designing a new lap tray for myself and I need to raise my tray above the Cumberland spreader bar; like you did, and I like your idea over my idea. I’m using it!

Hey all, noob here and just got a Cumberland and getting ready to mod it. Quick question, are the downward abs “curved” legs necessary? Or could I just attach bungees to the horizontal piece? I am concerned some of the streams I will be fishing get shallow and I will be skimming over rocks and think those two pieces will make ground contact. I may build one of each and test it out. Any thoughts?

t0dzi11a wrote:Hey all, noob here and just got a Cumberland and getting ready to mod it.  Quick question, are the downward abs “curved” legs necessary?  Or could I just attach bungees to the horizontal piece?  I am concerned some of the streams I will be fishing get shallow and I will be skimming over rocks and think those two pieces will make ground contact.  I may build one of each and test it out.  Any thoughts?

I don’t have the turn down ABS Rod rack tubes because it just adds a lot of unnecessary weight.
It doesn't add any stability over a bungee-cord held rod-rack.

Good luck!!!

Awesome build! There is a lot of money relying on a couple plastic clips on your rod holders, maybe change once a year. Good job!

tunacat wrote:Awesome build! There is a lot of money relying on a couple plastic clips on your rod holders, maybe change once a year. Good job!

That is so true good idea to change them out from time to time.

this is the exact video and tutorials i was looking for. great job brotha on everything.
Just got my new tube in and then got injured. so while im recuperating, gonna build up the mods. Thanks for sharing all links and info brotha. it’s gonna help a ton.

Amazing set-up! I just bought a Cumberland, but didn't have any time to do anything special.

Gator wrote:Amazing set-up! I just bought a Cumberland, but didn't have any time to do anything special.

I am sure you get dialed in soon for now just get out and enjoy.

Everything looks great. I'm curious about the rod holder is everything glued together in one piece, several pieces or no glue the only reason I ask is because I would like to make one but don't have a lot of real estate I usually keep all my float tube gear in a 64 quart bin except for the tube itself and I was just wondering if you break it down or leave it as one piece?

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I use Straps it gets shallow in the River Straps hold all this CRAP on

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].. flippin sweet. I like the tackle bock attachment!!

Are sponsors supplied all of it. I haven't had a problem with any of it I bought it all from our sponsors

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]    this is the arming kit