Which reel?

[Stephen McMullan]

Forgive the dumb questions

Is there any particular reason why some reels offer white line and some reels offer coloured line or is it just a way to colour id your primary and backup reel?

Is there any difference between a reel for deploying DSMBs and a "Wreck" reel? I've seen several products on websites where the naming implies a difference. Does it just imply a shorter line length with perhaps a closed handle and a ratchet for mid-water deco for dSMBs but the wreck reel would have a longer line and an open handle for travel or something like that?

I was thinking about buying a CUSTOM DIVERS 70 metre RATCHET REEL-WHITE LINE as my first reel. Any thoughts or advice?

Cheers, Stephen

[barrie law]

Stephen,
Leaving aside Cave diving or wreck penetration.
You can use reels you feel comfortable with and can afford, after loosing a few I find the Mcmahon reel 'The big yellow one' yes that is it's name, suits me sir.
It cost's about 25 sterling and although it is plastic it has a ratchet and holds 80mtrs of line (white) this is my preference for use with a DSMB.
Custom Divers make good kit and the reel is no exception but the price reflects that.

Cheers


Barrie Law

http://www.divertec.net

[richie]

well Steve, ive had a MGE 50m reel for 8 years ,baged of with it on most dives a fantastic reel never jammed once! there only £35 quid. i did buy a custom divers 125m  reel this year, cant fault it either, had to re mortgage the house to pay for it  

[dom]

have a custom diver ratchet myself as well as an agir find the ratchet easier when bagging up espically when reeling in before a stop as the wing nut lock on some reels require that bit more work (granted not a lot but im lazy) i would agree that they are expensive but you do get quality if i was replacing my one though i would shop around first and see what other ones are on the market, ive also found over time that the s/steel fittings are rusting dispite care only a small point but there you go

dom

[T.Carey]

Customs divers reels are excellent, dive with two of them and couldn't fault them, a bit expensive but you get what you pay for

[donal]

I've a Halcyon pathfinder... nice reel but if I was to get another reel I'd go with the Custom Divers one.  Expensive but seems to be a great bit of kit.

[mark lakes]

Might be worth having a look at what Kent Tooling have to offer. I have two and love them.

[Eoin OBeara]

I found Kent Tooling's website: http://www.divingproducts.co.uk/index.htm
They don't go into marketing or advertising much, but you can order a catalogue on the site. I got a torch bracket from them at LIDS this year, and I'm well happy with it.

Ta,
Eoin

eoin@scuba.ie

[Ian]

quote:Originally posted by mark lakes

Might be worth having a look at what Kent Tooling have to offer. I have two and love them.

 Ya picked mine up from the Dive show off em, lovely piece of kit, still have to get in the water and try it out yet tho!! Think ill be able to get rid of my belt cause of the weight now..


 Ian

[Jack]

Dom, to secure or "lock" the line on a stop with "wing" nut reels like Agir,Halcyon and Salvo, you simply loop line around winding knob and hold in place with your thumb . I do it with my right hand no bother. (4 fingers missing, Salvo Pathfinder 400`reels in stock)

quote:Originally posted by dom

have a custom diver ratchet myself as well as an agir find the ratchet easier when bagging up espically when reeling in before a stop as the wing nut lock on some reels require that bit more work (granted not a lot but im lazy) i would agree that they are expensive but you do get quality if i was replacing my one though i would shop around first and see what other ones are on the market, ive also found over time that the s/steel fittings are rusting dispite care only a small point but there you go

dom

[mark lakes]

O tell me about it Ian one of mine is 8*6inch with 200m of 4mm line.. It weights a tonne but the quality is just superb and it will long out last my diving career i'd say.

quote:Originally posted by Ian

quote:Originally posted by mark lakes

Might be worth having a look at what Kent Tooling have to offer. I have two and love them.

 Ya picked mine up from the Dive show off em, lovely piece of kit, still have to get in the water and try it out yet tho!! Think ill be able to get rid of my belt cause of the weight now..


 Ian

[Andy]

Hey all,

when coming off the UB89 a few weeks ago (mental note - must post review of the trip), I was forced to bag off instead of using the trapeze.  This was the first time that I'd used my shiny new Kent Tooling rachtect reel in anger.  I'd sort of put a rebreather down on top of my old one and it didn't like it.

Only catch was that when i reached the surface, it came apart on me (literally).  The spool came off the backplate and it spiralled down into the depths  :'( and I had to cut the line to prevent getting me or others getting tangled.  As you can imagine, I was unhappy as their reels are rather expensive.  The following day, I called John in Kent Tooling to let him know what had happened.  To be honest, I didn't expect much (having had bad experiences with Northern Diver and other UK shops in the past) but wanted to vent my anger and frsutration .

Fair play to John and Kent Tooling.  As soon as I described what had happened, he offered to replace the reel.  No further questions or anything.  I didn't need to yell, scream, cry or beg!  All he needed was an email with my address and my new reel arrived today .

I just want to give a big THUMBS UP to John and Kent Tooling for

1) providing brilliant customer care
2) producing a quality product also.

I have no problems recommending them to others either.

Andy

[aldiver]

Ill second that!! Great to deal with somone who understands exactly what you need as he dives himself. Anything Ive ever bought from them has been extremely high quality.

[RogerViking]

yep johns a great guy thumbs up here too.

[emmbee]

"it came apart on me (literally)"... "producing a quality product".

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