What Reel?

[[Bryan]]

Hey,

Woo... my first YD post - Dave will be proud

Just looking for some advice on what smb reel to buy.

After a bit of web searching, and a read of the Divernet Reel Tests, I came up with the following shortlist:

Buddy Pocket Reel £40
McMahon Compact Reel £45
Custom Divers Rachet Reel £75

Just wondering whether anyone has used any of these, or perhaps there's a different one I should be looking at?

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

Thanks,
Bryan

[Crisspy Fiver]

Welcome

McMahon large gets my vote if its your firts one.

The buddy one I have heard lots of problems with this so personally would stay clear.

i dont use a big exspensive one as the McMahon does what i want and need it for. It has never got tangled and is great. Worth every penny.

jamie

[Fathoms Down]

Quote[/b] (Crisspy Fiver @ Mar. 10 2004,13:04)]McMahon large gets my vote if its your firts one.

Yes, I have to agree with you on this one. Yes, its the size of a small dinner plate (ok, perhaps a bit smaller) but its almost impossible to jam and can be used for other things as well (wreck reel, etc.).

[Dominic]

Another vote for the McMahon. I have the big McMahon, which is tough as nails. (I once had a cheap copy of the small McMahon, which broke on dry land - make sure you get the real thing, no pun intended)

I also had the Buddy pocket reel and didn't rate it - too prone to jamming up. And too awkward to hold. What genius decided to make a small round wet object out of smooth plastic instead of rough??

[Dr Stevil]

When I replace my current reel, I'm planning to get one from Kent tooling , here's a link to a piece from Divernet about them. Gav and Porg have one, they look the mutts nuts (the reels that is   &nbsp and KT will happily send you a free catalogue if you contact them

[Mark Chase]

OK no you know how embarising it is to have that realy comfortable pair of slippers thats falling apart but they are just so nice to wear that you cant throw them away. Or Girls, how those aligator skin winkle picker stilettos look so cooooooooooooool but they hurt like hell after two seconds wearing them.........

Well thats how I am with reels.

I use the Beever Ospray wreck reel which is cheep, looks cheep breakes very very easily but is sooooooooo nice to use and with 80m of line on it does for most dives I do. Ratchet reels for SMB are very nice and this is the best I have used so far. It has NO street (Rib) cred but it does the job.

Cut the handle down to about 25mm long before use or it will snap off during the first few rummage dives. Always have a back up reel as it will break sooner or later. In about 250 dives I am on number three.

The Custom divers reel looks very very cool but I didnt like using it the gaps in the ratchet were two big and the ratchet option was a two handed operation to set up. For a very expensive reel the internal ratchet system is rubbish.

Buddy pocket reels are prown to jamming due to their fully enclosed design and not realy designed for SMB use

Friction reels which use a centrel locking nut are great for laying line but I dont like using them for SMB deployment but if you do go for one  go for the Kent tooling Stainless steel ones designed for SMB deploymnet with the bag holder on the side, very neet idea.

Soooo is there a coool reel out there that does the job and is robust in design.

YES

The McMahoon reel is very reliable and strong and nice to use and has the kind of cred that used to be aportianed to Saab  owners. OK its dog ugley and very very big but it works well.

So my choice of your three would be the McMahoon but with only 50 of line on it its better to go for the big one.

ATB

Mark Chase

EDIT Blimey in the time it took to write this you had a load of replys opting for the McMahoon does this meen we hae a consensus on YD? Surley not
Various failures on my reel

[Crisspy Fiver]

What you do run over it?

I would go mad if that happened.

jamie

[beanie]

<font color='#8D38C9'>depends what it's for really

for fixed SMb something big chunky and simple racket is usfeul is good McMahon, mce etc

for delayed i prefer a smaller more compact reel here i got for a custom divers 50m free reel (if I had to repalce it I'd get a kent tooling one)
I also use a kent tooling 125m wreck reel for lining out and if i'm getting close to 50m depth - this is the dogs I dropped a twinset on it after a dive and the handle was slightly bent. I now have a thicker handle and a rebreather so it's not gonna happen again

I also have a kent tooling spool (v sexy) not so good for fixed smb but good as a back up delayed (small and simple)

Then I have my tiny spool whihc i made and is v cute &nbsp;

best way forward:
nick your mates reels and take them diving see what there like
weigh up the pros and cons size / ease of use

if you start cheap you can always have it on standby when you 'upgrade'

[Stu Sheridan]

<font color='#0000FF'>What Reel? &nbsp;This Reel...

http://www.divingproducts.co.uk/reels/index.htm#

50m all stainless, goodman handled scooter reel from Kent Tooling.
Had various, now have this. It's the best I've ever used.

Stu.

[Mick F]

I use a 50M Custom Divers Reel &amp; am quite happy with it. As Mark said, it's a two handed OP to switch from free to ratchet, but it literally is a half second turn of a knob (which is not far off something I've been called in the past &nbsp;

Guess it's a very personal thing really.

Mick