Anyone have any feedback on the Rob Allen reels? the Stainless ones in particular? Good, Bad, Ugly?
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RA Reels?
- Thread starterAmphibious
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
I've had two of the stainless for two or three years and recently got one of the new composites. I've had good luck with the stainless, but I think I like the composite better. The metal in the stainless is pretty thin, and I don't think it would stand up well to coming through the surf over rocks. I dive from a boat so its no problem as long as I don't let anyone drop a cooler on it.
There is a minor design difference too. In the stainless reel, a little pin goes through a hole in the axle and fits into a slot in a bushing. If you lose that pin when you assemble the reel, the bushing turns and the drag either tightens or loosens as line is pulled off, depending on which direction you wound the line on. I've managed to hang onto the pin, but I've had several people call and tell me that their reel doesn't work, and invariably they have lost that pin when they disassembled and reassembled.
On the composite reel, there is a flat side on the axle that matches up to a flat spot on the bushing, so there is nothing to lose.
The other main difference is that the stainless has more capacity and you can use a thicker line or more line, but I have 200 feet of Q-Power spectra kite line on the composite, and that line handle very well.
There is a minor design difference too. In the stainless reel, a little pin goes through a hole in the axle and fits into a slot in a bushing. If you lose that pin when you assemble the reel, the bushing turns and the drag either tightens or loosens as line is pulled off, depending on which direction you wound the line on. I've managed to hang onto the pin, but I've had several people call and tell me that their reel doesn't work, and invariably they have lost that pin when they disassembled and reassembled.
On the composite reel, there is a flat side on the axle that matches up to a flat spot on the bushing, so there is nothing to lose.
The other main difference is that the stainless has more capacity and you can use a thicker line or more line, but I have 200 feet of Q-Power spectra kite line on the composite, and that line handle very well.
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I agree with Bill
The RA reels are the best on the market, I also have both and like the composite is my favorite.
The RA reels are the best on the market, I also have both and like the composite is my favorite.
One other bit of info that may matter. The stainless reel weighs 6.2 ounces, and the composite weighs 3.75 ounces (plus 0.25 ounces for the adapter if used).
If you are installing on a small Euro gun, the difference in weight might be the difference between sinking the gun or leaving it buoyant.
If you are installing on a small Euro gun, the difference in weight might be the difference between sinking the gun or leaving it buoyant.
Bill
has a good point, I like the RA reel for longer guns (longer then 1 meter Euro), but for my small guns I like this imersion reel.
Scubastore - Diving Gear and Dive Equipment, Diveinn
Does not hold a lot of volume but it is bullet prof and never locks, very cheap too.
has a good point, I like the RA reel for longer guns (longer then 1 meter Euro), but for my small guns I like this imersion reel.
Scubastore - Diving Gear and Dive Equipment, Diveinn
Does not hold a lot of volume but it is bullet prof and never locks, very cheap too.
thanks for the tips Bill. need the bombproof kit for diving up here, everything takes a pounding.
Strangelove: I used an imersion reel once upon a time, wasn't impressed. looks like the same one. was a sand trap.
Strangelove: I used an imersion reel once upon a time, wasn't impressed. looks like the same one. was a sand trap.
I'm trying to remember, the last time I used one was a couple years ago. I would hazard a guess it's the same problem I have with most reels: sand gumming up the work and the difficulty of use with 5mm gloves. the one I was using was mounted on an immersion gun with some weird quick-release plastic clip setup. looked very weak and poorly engineered. maybe we're talking different reels?
Well I think we are talking about the reel.
I never had any issues for a number of years, I also I think is a good reel even tough it may look week poorly engineered, but it is not ( at least on my case). Probably the reverse effect from the omer pelagic reels, they look strong and well engineered, but they are junk, they seize after a few years of used.
I was very surprise to hear that someone had problems. But it is an immersion reel, it does have a little plastic clip, like the electric clip and I would not recommended for big game guns but for small guns, if one mounts a big reel on a small gun, it messes up the whole gun balance.
But if you did had problem, I take your word for it, I was curious about the nature of the problem. I've allways installed my by drilling the barrel.
Anyway it was a diversion from your thread since you ask for input on the RA, those are solid and really good reels, at least with the experience I had with them (better way of wording I would say).
I never had any issues for a number of years, I also I think is a good reel even tough it may look week poorly engineered, but it is not ( at least on my case). Probably the reverse effect from the omer pelagic reels, they look strong and well engineered, but they are junk, they seize after a few years of used.
I was very surprise to hear that someone had problems. But it is an immersion reel, it does have a little plastic clip, like the electric clip and I would not recommended for big game guns but for small guns, if one mounts a big reel on a small gun, it messes up the whole gun balance.
But if you did had problem, I take your word for it, I was curious about the nature of the problem. I've allways installed my by drilling the barrel.
Anyway it was a diversion from your thread since you ask for input on the RA, those are solid and really good reels, at least with the experience I had with them (better way of wording I would say).
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