Tight Rod Lockers and beat up reels?

[Baron49]

Many of us do not have boats with the fancy rod lockers that have plastic tubes and holders inside to store rods and reels.  The rod lockers on my PolarKraft are simply two aluminum compartments that are 7 1/2 foot long, not very wide, but deep enough to hold 6 to 8 rods and reels in each.  Have used nylon "Rod Savers" from Cabelas and BPS for years and these do keep the rods from getting tangled and from getting beat up quite well.  However, they do nothing to keep the reels from banging against each other and the inside of the the rod locker.

The solution I found...?   Simply nothing more then a thick terry cloth towel.    I tuck the towel in and around the reels in the rod locker and have not had a reel get beat up from banging against each other or against the inside of the rod locker from running in rough water or from long trailering trips in years.  Simple is so much easier at times....

[coldfront]

Simple is so much easier at times....

interesting how 'simple' can sometimes be the hardest thing for folks to figure out...

great tip!

[Donald Garner]

Baron,

Thanks for sharing the tip.

Have you ever used Reel Covers before.  My wife picked up a couple for me and I've not gotten
the chance to try them yet.  Your thoughts on using them?

[Baron49]

Baron,

Thanks for sharing the tip.

Have you ever used Reel Covers before.  My wife picked up a couple for me and I've not gotten
the chance to try them yet.  Your thoughts on using them?

Don,

Tried several brands of reel covers over the years and to be honest they were more trouble then they were worth.  If they got wet was a pain to get them all together and dried out.  If you forgot to put one back in the locker it would blow out of the boat.  With the constant movement in the rod lockers some wore out very quickly and usually by the time I found out there was dings in the reel.  The zippers rarely lasted and the ones with the Velcro never seem to stay in place. 

With a towel if it gets wet or dirty I simply replace it, I never take it out of the rod locker while on the water so never have to worry about it blowing away.  It was just an easier, simpler way to protect my reels that are rigged and on rods in my lockers.

Some have asked me about the number of rods and reels I have on the boat and to give away a little more about conserving space.  In the bottom of one rod locker I keep several of the rods I do not use very often without the reels on them.  They are kept in Rod Savers and again the towel keeps the cork butts safe, clean and from damage.  I picked up a BPS soft reel box.  It holds up to 12 bait casting reels or several spinning reels and spools.  I keep the unused reels in that and put it in my dry box until I need to use them.  Only takes a few moments to put a reel on a rod and to string it up.  That way I can have a full arsenal of rods and reels on board and not use up all my rod locker space.

Baron

[DBrooke]

Don,

Tried several brands of reel covers over the years and to be honest they were more trouble then they were worth.  If they got wet was a pain to get them all together and dried out.  If you forgot to put one back in the locker it would blow out of the boat.  With the constant movement in the rod lockers some wore out very quickly and usually by the time I found out there was dings in the reel.  The zippers rarely lasted and the ones with the Velcro never seem to stay in place. 

Same here

[Bassinkorea]

Thanks for sharing Baron