I've had good use of Ugly stick rods medium in 7 or 7.5 feet length for dipsies and boards. I've had Okuma convector 24s and 27s since 2008 and with a bit of grease every spring, they are still in use. One of the counters sticks a bit but you just have to keep an eye on it. I outfitted a 2nd boat a few years ago with Diawa rods and reels. One of the reels came with no lube in it. yeh right. A couple of the counters are sticky from the start and one of the rod eyes broke the lining.

Keep the line especially mono out of sunlight too. Mine lasted 10 years because I don't store them in sunlight on the boat.

Rickerd