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How to fit out a leisure boat for fishing with SEANOX equipment
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Article by Matt Bollaert, sea fishing guide and instructor based in the port of Calais. A first-hand account of fitting out a Bénéteau Flyer 550.
When people talk about fitting out a boat for fishing, they often think of the latest models. Yet it's entirely possible to turn an older boat into a real fishing tool, practical and suited to the way you go out on the water.
That's what I did with my Bénéteau Flyer 550, built in 2006. The boat is now nearly twenty years old, but its hull is still an excellent base for sea fishing. There are plenty of them on the second-hand market, which makes it an attractive way to get started without buying new.
This type of boat was originally designed as an all-round leisure boat. To turn it into a proper fishing boat, you just need to adapt it step by step to the way you fish.
That's where SEANOX equipment really comes into its own. The range lets you add rod holders, storage and various mounts to make the boat more practical, without major work.
Over the years, I've gradually equipped my Flyer 550 so it matches exactly how I work as a sea fishing guide.
Here's the SEANOX equipment I've fitted on board, why I chose it and, above all, what it does for me day to day.
Fitting a SEANOX handrail to add a rod holder
Originally, my Flyer 550 had no handrail on the inside of the topsides. So I fitted a 50 cm SEANOX stainless steel handrail.
It's a good example of how you can adapt a boat to your needs, even when it wasn't designed specifically for fishing.
The handrail bridged the recess between the storage pocket and the gunwale and gave me a really solid mounting point. Using the SEANOX clamp system, I was then able to fit a 4-rod stainless steel rod holder.
This piece of kit has become essential on board.
I always have four outfits ready, secure and independent of each other. Whether I'm switching technique, unhooking a fish or re-rigging, every rod stays within immediate reach.
I also added the SEANOX mounting track option. It lets me remove the rod holder in a few seconds when I want to free up space or change the boat's layout.
The holder also protects the gear better. The rods stay in place while we're underway instead of lying in the boat, where they could get knocked, which is something you really want to avoid with carbon blanks.
It's a real plus, both for the life of the gear and for ergonomics on board.
Key takeaway: combining a handrail, clamps and a track creates a spot for several rods while keeping the installation removable.
Adding rod holders for different fishing situations
To cover every fishing situation, I wanted eight rod holders in total on board.
The aim was simple: for each client, have at least two outfits of different power ready to use depending on the conditions.
So I fitted two more rod holders, one on each side of the helm station. They're within easy reach and hold the outfits I use most.
This set-up lets me react quickly when I need to grab the right rod at the right moment.
Mounting clamps for a flexible layout
The big advantage of the SEANOX system is its stainless steel mounting clamps.
Supplied with screws in several lengths, they fit handrails with different tube diameters.
When handrails are inclined, curved or not perfectly level, SEANOX also offers a stainless steel clamp-to-track adapter. It compensates for the angle and lets you set the mount's orientation precisely.
On my boat, this adapter gave me perfectly vertical rod holders despite the angle of the original handrails.
Each clamp also comes with a plastic protective pad that prevents direct contact between the stainless steel and the tube. The mounting holds properly without marking or damaging the boat's handrails.
That's the whole point of a modular system.
When you fit out your boat for the first time, it's hard to know straight away whether the spot you've chosen will really work in practice.
With SEANOX clamps, you can remove an accessory and easily reposition it somewhere else: a screwdriver, a spanner, and you're done.
This flexibility lets the boat's layout evolve over time, without being locked into your first choice.
My advice: when you fit out your boat for the first time, being able to try different positions before settling on a final layout gives you real flexibility.
Creating storage on board without cluttering the boat
Still aiming to add storage without cluttering the boat, I fitted two double suction-cup lure trays.
It might seem a minor detail, but it's very handy every day.
Thanks to their powerful suction cups, these trays attach to various smooth surfaces: gelcoat, windscreen or console. You can create storage almost anywhere, without drilling or modifying the boat.
The material is tough. It stands up to spray, UV and heavy use at sea. For a reasonable budget, these trays make life on board a lot more comfortable.
I've placed them within reach of the rear seats. Each angler can put a water bottle, something to eat, a phone, pliers or any small item they want to keep close at hand.
A storage tray to keep small items together
On top of that, I added a SEANOX suction-cup storage tray.
It attaches the same way to a smooth surface, and I use it to keep together all the small items that quickly go missing on board: keys, sunglasses, sinkers or rigging accessories.
Like the other suction-cup storage, it's easy to move to wherever I need it.
Like many SEANOX accessories, these trays can be removed and repositioned easily. So you can try different spots and find new uses for them over time, with no hassle.
Key takeaway: suction-cup accessories create extra storage on the boat's smooth surfaces, with no need to drill.
Evolving your boat's layout as your needs change
With these few additions, I hope I've shown you that you don't need a new boat to have one that's well suited to fishing.
Some boats may look dated at first glance. Yet a good clean, a few well-thought-out additions and often inexpensive new equipment can be enough to give them a new lease of life, while keeping the build quality of the hulls of that era.
That's what I like about SEANOX: the choice of solutions, the build quality and the modularity.
Everyone can upgrade their boat at their own pace, according to their needs, their fishing and their budget, without major work.
My Flyer 550 will no doubt keep evolving in the years ahead, and new SEANOX equipment will probably round out its layout.
About the author: Matt Bollaert
Matt Bollaert is a sea fishing guide and instructor based in the port of Calais. He fits out and develops his Bénéteau Flyer 550 with SEANOX equipment as his fishing evolves.
FAQ: how to fit out a boat for fishing
Can you turn a leisure boat into a fishing boat?
A leisure boat can be adapted for fishing by gradually adding equipment that suits the way you fish. On my Flyer 550, I added rod holders, mounting systems and SEANOX storage.
How do you add rod holders to a boat that doesn't have any?
To add rod holders to my boat, I fitted a 50 cm SEANOX stainless steel handrail to create a solid mounting point, then a stainless steel holder that takes four rods.
How do you fit accessories to an inclined handrail?
On an inclined handrail, the SEANOX stainless steel clamp-to-track adapter compensates for the angle and lets you orient the mount. On my Flyer 550, it keeps my rod holders vertical despite the angle of the handrails.
Can you fit out a fishing boat without drilling?
Some equipment can be added without drilling the boat. The SEANOX lure trays and storage tray I use attach with suction cups to smooth surfaces such as gelcoat, the windscreen or the console.
Why choose modular mounts to fit out your boat?
Modular mounts let the boat's layout evolve after the first few outings. SEANOX clamps can be removed so you can move an accessory if its position turns out not to suit you.
Which SEANOX equipment is fitted on this Bénéteau Flyer 550?
The SEANOX equipment on this Bénéteau Flyer 550 includes a stainless steel handrail, several rod holders, clamps and a track, as well as lure trays and a storage tray.
