For the guys who have older boats that didn't come with a rod organizer in the rod locker compartment, what aftermarket rod organizer did you go with and did you like it better than not having one? I'm thinking about getting one, but I don't want to waste my money on something I'm not going to like. I know the newer boats have good ones, just not sure about the aftermarket ones?

People are starting to get away from them and going to rod socks. Personally I prefer the organizer but have no clue on aftermarket brands.

Get it make a set of antlers for the handles and put socks on

Took mine out of my 05 but kept the antlers. Horrible but I carry 24 rods in my locker with no issues

one of the greatest features on my '22' Bass Cat is a few butt-holes on the port side with a removable insert for the forward side of the rod, and none on the starboard side !... I have always run Rangers and hated when they got corporate lazy and put the boot-n-butt system, then the butt-n-tube system in their boats...because it limits the amount of rods you can carry...when I climbed in the Cat and started rooting around my first thought was I stayed with Ranger wayyyyy to long... everything i beached about the direction Ranger went Bass Cat was still building old school, from rod boxes to duel gas tanks... I say all of that to say the rod socks are the way to go...i use the butt-holes to suspend spinning reels setups, and my favorite jig flip's and pitch'n setups, but have all the rest lay flat and happy... rod organizers are for lazy boat builders, craftsmen know how to lay carpeting all the way up...

Have had them in my last 2 boats, would never put them in one that didn't have them.
Much rather just have socks and the rods laid in the box.

If you only keep a dozen rods in your locker, the holders are good. I liked mine in all my boats until I kept buying rods. I now have 18 rods in my rod locker, all in socks, with the treble hook baits in clear bait holders. I love the setup. I could get more in the locker but I am on heavy meds for ORBS (obsessive rod buying syndrome). David, if you want my holder to try, pm me. Its in great shape, just not good for too many rods.

I bought a sheet of pink insulation board. Made a template with paper then cut the insulation. Drilled holes to fit plastic golf club tubes. It just wedged in place. For the grip end did the same thing with tunes. I have an old Champion 176 so lockers aren't big and rod lengths today weren't what it was made for so it was a little tough to get the rod tips in. Ended up removing the butt end. Works better than not having one but really starts limiting number of rods it will hold. Nowadays I don't ever put rods away.