Get the pipes

• Whether you want to make a holder for several rods or one sand spike for surf fishing, you'll need some PVC pipe available at hardware and plumbing supply stores. Decide in advance how much pipe you'll need. For example, to make a sand spike you'll need a piece of PVC pipe about 3 feet long and 2-3 inches in diameter, depending on the size of your rod handle. You'll also want an assortment of steel bolts and nuts to insert through the PVC pipe near the base. The bolt is what supports the end of your rod and keeps it from sliding through the pipe to the sand. If you want to build a rod holder, you'll want to decide how many rods you wish to transport (six is usually plenty). Figure about 2 feet of PVC pipe for each rod, plus a length of pipe for the base of your holder. This needs to be long enough to create some spacing between the rod holders. You'll also need to buy some T-connectors to attach the pipes hold the rods to the base of your holder and shock cords for securing the holder to your vehicle.
  
  

Cutting the pipe

• For safety's sake, use a handsaw to cut PVC pipe. A handsaw with no more than 13 teeth to the inch will give you a good, fast cutting edge. Too many saw teeth and you'll just wear out your arm hacking through pipe. If you must use a power saw, wear goggles and a breathing mask to prevent inhalation of little plastic particles.
  Remove the burrs from the pipe end with a sharp knife.
  Glue your pipes and connectors together with waterproof glue or cement. Super glues don't hold up under all-weather use.
  
  

Adding support hardware

• Drill a hole through a 3-foot length of PVC pipe about one foot from the bottom. Insert a steel bolt through the pipe and secure it with a nut on the other side. This bolt through the pipe will hold the butt of your rod for use as a sand spike.
  Cut the bottom off the pipe at a 45-degree angle to create a point for stabbing the spike into the sand.