What Reel?

[puddlediver]

I have a couple of reels and a spool. The small McMahon rachet I use for dsmb. The non rachet I use for line laying. The spool I use as an emergency dsmb deployment.

I have a large McMahon but it is too big for my small hands and I find it unweildly.

Lyv

[Scubee]

I have two reels that use and a spool.

My MGE reel (the normal one, not the multi-function awful one) is great. Easy enough to operate, has never jammed and fits in my dry suit pocket.

However, I bought a Kent Tooling 75m skinny ratchet reel at the dive show (yellow string) and gave it a good testing at the weekend. it truly is a thing of beauty. and so easy to use. Worth every penny

[The Duck]

Another vote for Kent Tooling ratchet reel. In answer to the OP question

Originally Posted by [Bryan]

Also, is spending £75 on a nice reel, like the Custom Divers, worth it? Or am I just going to lose it off the side of a rib one day

Yes it is worth it. How likely you are to loose it depends on how careful you are! - though with what I've come across on the seabed there are some careless people around

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by The Duck

Another vote for Kent Tooling ratchet reel.

Excellent piece of kit !

[RogerViking]

KT SHINYNESS WINS EVERYTIME

[drunkdiver]

Ive got a custom divers 50m reel which is ok and very reliable but not the easiest thing to use.

My buddy today had just got a Kent Tooling rachtet reel. Makes my custom diver reel look crap. Now ive got to spend £100+ on a new reel. Bugger !

[sonic123]

Just about to update my reels, now which reel do I go for. I need a new wreck reel and a reel for lunching a DSMB. I impulse bought the first time around and have never been happy with I have been using. Kent Tooling seems like a no brainer but Manta reels also seem very good.

Any ideas on which to go for and how much line to have on each. Will be doing advanced wreck fairly soon?

Don't mind spending money on kit. At the end pf the day it may be a life saver one day.

[Tim]

I have recently got a new reel (This week). After asking for advice on here and talking to John I went for a KT reel. It arrived today and is very nice!!!

Reel For A DSMB

Give John a ring if you decide to go for one. I found him very helpful.

[sonic123]

Thanks for the link, will give John a call on 01227 700015.

Cheers,

Jamie

[colinicky]

Originally Posted by sonic123

Just about to update my reels, now which reel do I go for. I need a new wreck reel and a reel for lunching a DSMB. I impulse bought the first time around and have never been happy with I have been using. Kent Tooling seems like a no brainer but Manta reels also seem very good.

Well the first reel I had was a Manta Junior & I could not fault it . It let me down only once when it bird nested on my trimix course last year I had used it for 4 years untill then .In fairness it was partly my fault as I was laughing so much watching my buddy screw his 2nd stage back on after it fell off !
My 2nd reel was a 150m KT ratchet reel which I got for laying line & launching smb . I now have a 50m KT ratchet reel as well just for the smb .
KT reels are nice, reel (y) nice , but the Manta was a very good reel as well . The one thing I do like about the KT is that you can lock it in free spool mode for launching the smb wereas the Manta you had to keep the handle squeezed for release .