Reels

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by pawel

Yes, I want a DIR option. That's why I'm asking here. I already have a 30m finger spool and it's a nightmare in the dry gloves, a bit fiddly as well. Looking for a solid replacement for years to suit my future training and diving.

I'm thinking of getting Kent Tooling Wreck Reel:



I will use the real mainly for the SMB deployment, but also as a jump reel and for marking short routes in caves and wrecks.

Initially I was thinking of getting 50m which should be OK for most of the caves and wrecks I have in mind in the near future. It should also be enough for the SMB down to 30m (+50% current = ~45-50m).

But I also intend to do some deep trimix training and wreck diving up to 100m and I hear that I might want to send the SMB from this depth, so I would need about 150m of the line.

Do you think it is too much?

Does the colour of the line matter? I opt for hi-viz.

Lastly, what do you think of Kent Tooling?

What they think of KT is not relevent. Whilst there is technicaly no reasion why thats not suitable for DIR its not going to be looked favorably upon.

I dont know if this is a wind up (pun intended) or not but if you want to go the DIR rout just stick to the program and get a Pathfinder or Pathfinder copy.

ATB

Mark

EDIT: Actualy there is a metal to metal fixed contact between the bolt snap and the reel which is non complient.

[GLOC]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

What they think of KT is not relevent. WHilst there is technicaly no reasion why thats not suitable for DIR its not going to be looked favorably upon.

The issue I had with using the KT reel while trying to lay line and holding the light head was that the handle is not aligned 90 degrees to the reel which makes it very difficult to hold. I know that you can get a 'goodman' type handle for the reel (I did) but again it is very difficult to hold. Hence why I sold mine.

I would be interested to know how people use a reel like this when laying and recovering line. Do you hold the light head in your right hand with the inherent movement of the light beam?

Regards

[neilh]

Originally Posted by pawel

Yes, I want a DIR option. That's why I'm asking here. I already have a 30m finger spool and it's a nightmare in the dry gloves, a bit fiddly as well. Looking for a solid replacement for years to suit my future training and diving.

Ok - so the DIR option would be a Halcyon Pathfinder, Salvo Primary Reel or Agir. They all look pretty similar

Originally Posted by pawel

Lastly, what do you think of Kent Tooling?

They make some cracking bits of kit - but not necessarily DIR compliant...

[Fiona]

Due to fear factor on here I have never posted anything negative about the KT reels I had but my changing reels Mark had nothing to do with DIR.

I had a couple of instances with mine where the line came off the body under the guide and jammed up and I had to let go, once it wasn't too bad and I managed to unjam it. I am not the only one either.

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by GLOC

The issue I had with using the KT reel while trying to lay line and holding the light head was that the handle is not aligned 90 degrees to the reel which makes it very difficult to hold. I know that you can get a 'goodman' type handle for the reel (I did) but again it is very difficult to hold. Hence why I sold mine.

I've got a knuckle mount KT reel and have no problems with laying line with it with a torch in the same ahnd. I do like the look of the Salvo reels though. I need a primary and the Dive Rite reels that I've always ended up using I find hard to get along with.

Jason

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by pawel

Yes, I want a DIR option. That's why I'm asking here. I already have a 30m finger spool and it's a nightmare in the dry gloves, a bit fiddly as well. Looking for a solid replacement for years to suit my future training and diving.

I'm thinking of getting Kent Tooling Wreck Reel:



I will use the real mainly for the SMB deployment, but also as a jump reel and for marking short routes in caves and wrecks.

Initially I was thinking of getting 50m which should be OK for most of the caves and wrecks I have in mind in the near future. It should also be enough for the SMB down to 30m (+50% current = ~45-50m).

But I also intend to do some deep trimix training and wreck diving up to 100m and I hear that I might want to send the SMB from this depth, so I would need about 150m of the line.

Do you think it is too much?

Does the colour of the line matter? I opt for hi-viz.

Lastly, what do you think of Kent Tooling?

From a DIR perspective,

- the metal to metal connection would be a probably but could be overcome easily.
- the handle angle that GLOC refers to *is* more of a problem and I think this reel has some form of mechanical friction built in. The DIR technique involves using fingers to keep friction and therefore the line tight .... which is the important thing when laying line
- the pathfinder has a little thumbscrew on it to enable it to be quickly locked off if the need arises.
- I have never looked at a KT reel closely so don't know the tolerances to which they are made, but it is not possible on a pathfinder for the line to come off the spool and get trapped .... it was certainly possible on the Dive Rite one I used to use.
- the line colour makes no difference I think



HTH
Mal

[Fiona]

In that case Mal if you would like to edit my quote.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Fiona

In that case Mal if you would like to edit my quote.

Done

[Mark Chase]

Hears a not particularly exciting vid of me laying line in 7m of water using a pathfinder. Its damed hard work at 7m i can tell you. Much easier at 70

Thers a great bit i have edited off the end of Janos doing line retreval but he has paid me a vast sum of money not to show it



ATB

Mark

[Fiona]

Lovely another video