C.E. Smith 53673A Stainless Steel Backing Plate for 70 Series Rod Holders

The C.E. Smith 53673A Backing Plate is an essential mounting accessory for anglers who demand reliability from their flush mount rod holders during heavy tackle fishing. Designed specifically for the 70 Series, this plate installs beneath the boat's gunwale to sandwich it between the backing plate and the rod holder's mounting flange, dramatically increasing load distribution and preventing costly structural damage.

Without a proper backing plate, standard nuts and washers concentrate mounting stress at a single point. Under extreme load, this can cause spider cracking around the rod holder or even tear the holder through the gunwale entirely. The 53673A spreads that pressure across 30 times more surface area than washers alone, keeping your gunwale and installation intact season after season.

Key Features:

• Material: 316L cast stainless steel — corrosion-resistant and built for the marine environment
• Dimensions: 4" x 5-1/4" with 4mm thickness for solid, rigid support
• Universal 70 Series Fit: Compatible with all three 70 Series rod holder models — 53670A, 53670CA, 53671A, 53671CA, 53672A, and 53672CA
• Easy Installation: Mounts using three 1/4" stainless bolts (hardware not included)
• Mounting holes spaced 2-1/2" on center (2-5/8" diagonal)
• Center oval opening measures 3-3/16" wide x 2" tall

The 53673A is sold individually. For the larger 80 Series rod holders, see the C.E. Smith 53674A backing plate. Hardware not included — use 1/4" stainless steel bolts and nuts for a fully corrosion-resistant installation.