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The question regarded “competence” for building a rod. To state that someone could be competent after only building one rod is ludicrous. That would be like saying a person is a competent fly caster only after one lesson.
The ability to build a rod comes with experience and experience comes with repetition, just like anything else. Having built a few rods myself I think I can say that I have made most of the mistakes that can be made but I surprise myself repeatedly by disproving that proposal. Truly competent rod builders know how to fix mistakes without the customer ever knowing one was made. The standard one should set for one’s self is to make a rod one would be proud with which to fish. If it meets other’s standards is not relevant.
I have lower standards for rods I make for myself because I don’t want to go into that much work. I can complete a rod a day from individual cork rings and all other components to finished product that is competently made, long lasting and functional. However, to finish a rod that I am happy to sell or give as a gift takes longer. Sometimes much longer for those special fishing tools.
To answer the original question, I would say that a person would have a good idea of what to do to produce a rod that is of quality factory specs with excellent wraps, finish, and overall balance would take up to seven or more rods. Those who continue in the rod building hobby, or trade, find that they become better and better at the various facets of the skills involved and if they save the first rod they built and compare it to their 20th or 30th will be amazed at the difference. That is, if they have been paying attention and concentrating on bettering their abilities. There are some who, for some reason, never seem to improve, but that is life.
Charlie still wrapping and learning.
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