Mate Series

Rod holders are boat-mounted brackets designed to securely hold fishing rods while you troll, wait for a strike, or free up your hands for other tasks. They mount to the gunwale or rail and keep rods angled at specific degrees so lines stay spread and untangled during fishing.

Stainless steel rod holders are designed for anglers who fish in saltwater or harsh marine environments where corrosion resistance is a top priority. Boaters who want a cleaner, more permanent installation and a polished look on their vessel also tend to prefer stainless steel over plastic options.

Choose a rod holder angle based on how you plan to fish — a 0-degree holder keeps rods nearly vertical for still fishing, while 15- or 30-degree holders angle rods outward for trolling spreads. Matching the angle to your technique helps keep lines clear and reduces tangles between multiple rods.

A drain rod holder has a small hole at the bottom that lets water, rain, and bait residue escape so the holder stays clean and odor-free. An open rod holder has no bottom, meaning rods pass all the way through — this style is typically used for flush-mount or through-deck installations.

Yes, screwless rod holders are designed to snap or lock into a mounting base without exposed fasteners on the face of the holder, giving the installation a cleaner finished look. Standard rod holders typically require visible screws on the face plate, which can be harder to seal and less visually appealing on a finished boat.

Oval top rod holders have an elongated opening that accommodates a wider range of rod handle shapes and larger grip sizes, while round top rod holders have a circular opening suited to standard round rod butts. Choosing the right top shape helps ensure a snug, secure fit for the rods you use most.

Rinse stainless steel rod holders with fresh water after every saltwater outing to remove salt, grime, and bait residue that can cause surface staining over time. Periodically wipe the holders down with a marine-grade stainless steel cleaner or polish to keep the finish looking sharp and prevent any surface oxidation.

Yes, rod holders installed through fiberglass, wood, or composite panels typically require a backing plate behind the mounting surface to distribute load and prevent the fasteners from pulling through under stress. Using a proper backing plate also protects the hull material from cracking or deforming when rods flex during trolling.

Because purpose-built marine rod holders are engineered to hold rods securely at specific angles even when a boat is moving at trolling speeds or rocking in waves, which bungee cords and improvised solutions simply cannot do reliably. Proper rod holders also protect expensive rods from falling overboard and keep the cockpit organized and safe.

Yes, rod holder accessories such as caps and tee adapters are designed to expand or modify existing rod holder setups without requiring a full replacement. Caps protect unused rod holder openings from debris and water intrusion, while tee adapters let you branch off a single base to accommodate additional holders or accessories.