Reel or Spool

[Beardy]

Ok, so it's quite likely that I'll be going to the dive show, and you can't do that and not spend money can you

I'm probably going to buy a dSMB and reel/spool, so thought I'd ask for opinions here to help with the decision process (I'm not going to ask about dSMBs as I've seen/read lots about the diffrent flavours on here already - Still haven't made a decision yet thought )

I dive a wing so have no pockets, on that, and I have a small leg pocket on my dry suit. But I MIGHT be getting a strap on leg pocket any day now (eh airassisted )

So pros and cons of reels vs spools for dSMB deployment please.

[Little Pete]

I use spools all the time now and I much prefer them. Take a little bit more time to learn but I'd rather them any time.


Adv:
Very small and neat (can carry 3 in a pocket), easy to stow, cheaper (£20-£23 from Nackers), look very cool when deploying (V.important), very hard to jam, very good for slowing ascent rates.

Disad:
Take a little longer to learn to use (but not a lot), Maybe not so easy to wind in very quickly (but not much and you probably wouldn't be ascending that fast anyway), if you drop them without locking off then it will sink (albeit slowly).


Personally I think that they are much more useful than reels for the most part. If you're doing deeper stuff then you'd probably need a reel just for the depth of deployment but most of us wouldn't shoot a bag until 20m or shallower. Check out Nackers and check out some reels (Woz has a good one he loves) and see what you like the idea of.

Probably a DIRzone spool if you're pocket is only a small one though. Hope it helps

[reef hook]

In the market for a couple of spools.Please, who, or what is/are Knackers and how do I purchase from them/it?

[SoB]

Originally Posted by reef hook

In the market for a couple of spools.Please, who, or what is/are Knackers and how do I purchase from them/it?

The man you want would be Phil aka http://www.divingniknaks.com/ purveyor of shiney torches of the Salvo. He is an Ancient of Mu-mu and can provide for your most basic needs (as a diver).

....he is also a very nice man!

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Little Pete

.... but most of us wouldn't shoot a bag until 20m or shallower.

Just once I'd like to be in the majority.

The bag goes up from the wreck for me - I don't want to be drifting off the wreck in the English Channel without the skipper knowing exactly where I am.

Not having used a spool I can't comment. With regards to reels ......... they are more bulky but as I send the DSMB up from the wreck (having tied the reel to it) I would go for another reel if I had to replace mine. The reel and DSMB are bungied together and clipped off on the D ring on my cylinders.

An added benefit is that you can reel yourself up from the wreck if you loose some weights or, as I did, not make it back to the shot when the skipper has given strict instructions to come back up the shot because the wreck is in the shipping lanes .

Beardy, given the relatively cheap prices why don't you buy one of each?

Another idea I have seen used is by a guy (Geoff) who dives off Nauticat a lot. He has a lead weight (home made) in an H shape. He has 10 mtrs or so of line wound round the H. As he is at the appropriate depth he holds the bag and lets go of the weight which unwinds as it drops. He then inflates the bag and lets the line run through his hand as the bag goes up. I was thinking of doind similar for my backup OR for my NEED MORE GAS blob.

[Fathoms Down]

It depends on the diving you are doing. For general diving then a spool can be easier to deploy once you have the hang of it (assuming you are not using a DSMBi) but if you are doing deeper dives then a large reel is much eaiser as it takes less effort to reel line back in than re-wrap a spool and that can be especially important if you are on trimix - having a bent finger isn't nice!

Personally I have a reel for my primary buoy and then either use my wreck reel or spool for my backup deployment.

[Woz]

Originally Posted by Fathoms Down

It depends on the diving you are doing. For general diving then a spool can be easier to deploy once you have the hang of it (assuming you are not using a DSMBi) but if you are doing deeper dives then a large reel is much eaiser as it takes less effort to reel line back in than re-wrap a spool and that can be especially important if you are on trimix - having a bent finger isn't nice!

Personally I have a reel for my primary buoy and then either use my wreck reel or spool for my backup deployment.

What he said.

I tend to use a reel for primary deployment and a spool for backup blob. Spool is a doddle to fire but a pig to wind in.

There are lots of reels out there and many of them are awful. Ask around first and try a couple before purchasing.

Personally I use an OMS Cavern reel that I got 2nd hand and it's great. Has only ever jammed once and that was, er, user error and nothing to do with the reel. Too big to go into a drysuit pocket though so it gets clipped off on my left hip, out of the way.

If I was going to get a new one then I would go for either the Lumb Bros reel or the Narked at 60 one. Both well made, easy to use. NAS one has more line and has a telescopic handle. Both obvious copies of a mini-McMahon but loads cheaper.

As for blobs, if you are not using a DSMBi thingy then I use the 33 from Advanced Diving Products. Small and compact and is stored on the OMS reel in a way that makes you want to cry it's so good.

[Brian of Aquanauts]

Originally Posted by Woz

What he said.

I tend to use a reel for primary deployment and a spool for backup blob. Spool is a doddle to fire but a pig to wind in.

I now use spools for everything, having used reels for years before hand I find a spool easier to wind in compared to a small compact reel. As you can sweep your hand round in whatever arc is comfortable. A small reel makes my fingers and hand ache going round and round in tiny circles.

The spool has never jammed can be used to winch yourself up if neccessary, and is so small it stows easily in a small pocket. Midwater, horizontal DSMB deployment is a doddle once you're used to it. You can't attach them to a wreck to fire a blob but then i never did that anyway.

Brian

[Woz]

Originally Posted by Brian of Aquanauts

I now use spools for everything, having used reels for years before hand I find a spool easier to wind in compared to a small compact reel.

Absolutely. Try winding in a Buddy Pocket Reel and you'll throw the thing in the sea once you get back on board. The LB and NAS reels are not really small but are still comfy to wind in.

[Fathoms Down]

Originally Posted by Brian of Aquanauts

having used reels for years before hand I find a spool easier to wind in compared to a small compact reel.

And the moral of this story is: don't use a small reel!