Re: Pole holder ideas??
This may be too late for your installation, but there are several rod holders that will mount to the transom and put the rod out the side. The common plastic ones that cradle the rod around the reel seat are adjustable for swivel, not sure about rod angle though, but it sticks up at around a 45 degree angle. There are a couple of brands, but the rod butt sticks back through the backend of those and might get in the way of the tiller or the transom itself in some positions. I use the aluminum Tite-Lok which I think works great. The mount is a small angle bracket with four screws into the transom (or through bolts if you like - not needed IMO). The other leg of the bracket sits on top of the transom and the base of the rod holder bolts down into it, using a socket bolt and allen wrench. The butt holder extends up and out from the mount, so nothing extends inward any further than the mount. The swivel position can be varied before bolting down, and they have at least two types of holders - one that can be adjusted through a range of vertical angles, and one that sits in one position while trolling, but can be rocked back for easy removal of the rod. I've trolled downplaners and 2.5# lead balls and it seems plenty sturdy.
