Quote:
Originally Posted by RK
Avets (not the greatest choice for kayaks maintenance wise)
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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...
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...
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
. 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?
Just my 0.02...