I fish out of a 16' Carolina skiff with a front desk. While on the water I keep my poles verticle in rod holders but once trailered I place the reel end of the poles under the deck letting the poles lay in the bottom of the boat. Some trouble...but it keeps my poles safe from breakage. BTW, I have a piece of electrical tape around the joints of my poles to keep 'em from callapsing accidently.