Torium VS Saltist: whats your preference
 

I am setting up a new baitrod(Truline D8 !!!)and am getting either a new torium or a saltist.For those who have fished both I would love to hear the pro's and cons of each.I am leaning towards the torium because the drag(infact the whole reel)is like a trini with a cast body intead of forged.I also like daiwa's and just want to hear someone elses .02 cents.Thanks.

I just switched over to Avet. The lever drag is super, the drag setting is small and does not have a chance to get bumped. Made in the USA. Keep our cash and jobs here. Get a used one that was just broken in and save $$$$.

Cheers

Steve

The Torium gets a thumbs down for me for several reasons and for big reasons at that.
Cons
1. The free spool is crap with the Torium.
2. The anti-reverse fails all the time. And because of that, when you are fighting larger fish with your drag pinned down the stress will actually break the anti-reverse.
3. Drags wear down and crack really fast.
4. Bearings are not sealed, they are open.

Pros
1. Excellent cosmetics (paint and body).


The Saltist on the other hand is my favorite reel:
Cons
1. The paint job is awful and will scratch if not babied.

Pros
1. Excellent free spool with the option of manipulation via. centrifugal brakes.
2. The anti-reverse problem seen in the Toriums is non-existent due to the backstop that Daiwa placed behind the anti-reverse clutch to prevent unnecessary back swing causing failure.
3. The drags are now made of carbon, similar material as carbotex, and they are smooth.
4. The bearings are sealed.

Go with the Saltist you will not regret it.

Torium:boxing:Saltist

AVET!!! made in the USA!! I've had the Torium 20 and hated it - lacks power and breaks all the time. Ive got a Saltist right now and like that lots better but it does get scratched really easily. They both suck compared to Avet.

saltist gets my vote. have a 40 on the bait rod and my dads been using a 50, 30 and 20 in the surf where i use a sealine and abu. they stand up to the salt (they are scratched though as stated before), excelent freespool and cast a mile, especially the 20 and 30, but the 50 matches my abu in the surf.

imo, if it can stand up and handle the rigors of surf and jetty fishing through all the spray, and salt, and sand then it will be fine for boat and yak.

Thanks for the input guys.I am leaning toward the saltist now.

Avets-I have owned five.Neptune stole 2 from me in the surf last year.I still have a JX2 and an SX-MC.I like them but they dont like the salt.The tolerances are too tight or something.every time i take them in the yak they loose freespool and get rough.I have had to replace bearings and such and i am pretty good about rinsing them off.

Have you tried using stop salt? I picked some up a squidco and spray my reels down with a squirt bottle after a light rinse with the hose. the look like the day I got them.

The Saltist all the way.

A couple of years ago Mike from Charkbait cracked open both of the reels you are looking at and did a side by side comparison with detailed pics.

The Saltist had much stronger parts.

I just spooled up a couple more for myself today. 22 lbs. of drag with No Handle bind like the lever drag reels.

Bulletproof
-----------------------------
The Avets have OPEN spool bearings and collect salt water. They don't like the kayak environment, but work fine on Boats. You Must fish them within the recommended Factory Drag Specifications.

If you set the Pre-set too high you will overload the pinion bearing and destroy it with One revolution of the handle. A drag scale will able you to set it properly- then you can Mark the Pre-set knob to avoid any problems.

BG Saltist
 

I began with Toriums and they required tons of maintenance. I was told that the Saltist was built in such a way as to not "drink " as much water as the toriums do. Perhaps its my imagination but I think it is true. Have had all 4 saltists for more than 6 months and have had zero trouble with them.
Good luck, T

Chris

Avets... Support the USA! They are a better reel anyway!

Just curious with all this talk of toriums, saltists (Great reel), Avets (not the greatest choice for kayaks maintenance wise),
how come the sealine hasnt come up (aside from how ugly the exterior is?)

I think the only reason the Sealine hasn't come up in this thread is because its not among the the two reels he is considering. Most everyone here who has landed Big Fish on The Sealine agree it is the best all around reel for Kayak fishing - and just about anything else for that matter. 16.5 lbs of smooth drag straight out of the box - even smoother drag with the carbotex drag washers.
Very little maintenance required.

The Saltist is a class above.
Stronger internals parts, gears, and frame, 2 silent anti-reverse devices, additional sealed bearings, 22 lbs. of smooth drag.
Very little maintenance required and it survives the kayak environment.

Right on thanks billy, my sentiments exactly... i probably shouldnt have even brought that up but it was itching at me

You can say they are too expensive, bearings need maintenance once a year, they scratch fairly easily, the clickers can be next to silent on some, or hell, just about anything else... but hard to maintain? OK someone sold you a line... with a circle hook attached...:rolleyes:


I have 2 saltist, 1 of the newer LD 30 two speed, and one of the LD 40 two speed models. (won them at fred hall this last year)
I have, or did have, one torium that I never did like, gave it to a friend...:p
I also have two HV40's and one 50.
My Avets... I have 2 SX, 3 MXL, 2 HXW, and 2 older EX's (before the etching).

Out of all of those reels the Avets are, by far, the easiest to rebuild and maintain. Especially since having a number of them of the same models cuts the cost of having bearings on hand:cool:. They are value priced for the level of performance, and quite frankly hold a bit more spectra;).

I actually do like my Saltist 30 that I won at one of the Fred Hall shows this last year. The Saltist does have an awesome, and loud clicker, and very smooth drags, and I really like the stock "power handle". The positions on the lever drag are a bit shallow, and do not hold as well as the other reels, and when your hands are wet and slippery the drag adjust knob grooves are almost to shallow to get a good hold. But, over all I would definitely say that it is one of the top choices for inshore kayaking, as it holds up fairly well to the abuse we give them, even though they are kind of a pain to rebuild compared to the Avets.

I also agree about the all time favorites for some of us old timers being the Sealines, but they really are a step below some of the newer, and better designed reels. That does not mean they are, by any means, a bad reel, just a different category. They have well earned their reputation as strong, reliable, bomb proof, and well priced reels, that will bring in any trophy fish.

I do not like the toriums at all... they seem to have a good following but I am not a fan of star drag reels... a more comparable model, IMHO, would be the Talica or Tyrnos. (I own neither of them, so I won't say anything but would be happy to give an honest review if someone wants to donate one!!)

And for those that really want a maintenance free reel you can buy almost any reel bearing you need in a ceramic version. I use the ABEC#7 Orange seal bearings from www.bocabearings.com. going on three years with only occaisional rinse outs... on my Avets... and the bearings are flawless...
How hard is that for Maint for an Avet?:D

Just my 0.02...;)

I am still fishing with a couple of sealines, 20, 30 and 50, I got about 25 years ago. They still work, take a beating, survive the salt and land the fish. They are easy to take apart and maintain.

I am thinking of upgrading to the Saltist as soon as I can afford it though.

i hear that diawa is coming out with a new reel called the SEAGATE in septemeber. it is placed between the SEALINE and the SALTIST. you should maybe take a look at these. they look really nice and the specs seem impressive for the price.

I'm not fan of the Sealine simply because the gear box is annoyingly in the way.

Show off.:biggrinjester:

Love my new Torium, paint job is amazing!

I only said what I said because I knew about your latest investment! Hahahahaha:biggrinjester: just messin'

Handyman-
I own saltists and sealines, and have had avets; rad little reels but of the three of them the avet is the only reel that needed bearings replaced and had an issue with saltwater intrusion and the reel gumming up.. No one sold me any line Ive fished all three of these reels on a regular basis and the only reel Ive had issues with was the Avet. Now that being said Im sure it is a simple reel to service, and with regular services the reel would definately last a lifetime and american made, but I dont like having to break down all my reels all the time, I like to fish. spray stop salt on my gear and fish again with the occasional squidco service, the daiwas work well on my neglectful program especially the hideous sealines, the avet... Well the Avet is no longer with us. RIP AVET you sexy little beast... I think its like being an ass man or a tits man