the best primary reel...

Jon Adams · 3rd April 2008, 19:14

Manta reels had them forever never let me down

wARNY jIM · 3rd April 2008, 19:38

Hi Guys

My favorite reels are my homemade ones you can find the plans here:
http://www.plongeesout.com/articles%...0irlandais.pdf
There ideal for the job i want them do(cave diving in Ireland).
You can build them your self or buy them of some guys that make small runs of them.

Jim

Marvintpa · 3rd April 2008, 20:03

The Halcyon has worked well, no problems that were not user-caused. Pretty bullet-proof so far. Simple, and easy to use with very little chance of something breaking. I like it. My Dive Rites... take the opposite of all those and you've got the idea.

The only problem with the Halcyon is the screw will sometimes tighten itself during prolonged reeling.

***Decodiver*** · 3rd April 2008, 21:23

Kent Tooling ratchet reels, quality, well made and never let you down.

I wouldn't buy a reel from anyone else.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

Dave Sutton · 4th April 2008, 00:55

Kent Tooling. Zero doubt: These are works of art. Utterly top shelf. Just buy one. I use the rachet reels, which can have the rachet selected on or off. Perfect kit.

Salvo: Functional, and "fine" but not nearly as jewel-like in quality as the Kent Tooling. I carry them on the boat as "loaners" for guys who show up with broken Mantas.... (which are, IMHO, consumer-grade sport-diving quality)

Halcyon: "As Nice" as the Salvo. Not better, nor worse. Just more expensive. The bolt that tensions them is utterly worthless with drysuit gloves on and tend to tighten. I've picked them up and have been totally unable to use the reel underwater. Replace with a decent bolt with a "T" on the end.

Dive Rite, and all of the "Plastic Generica" reels are junk.

Dave

Talisman · 4th April 2008, 01:11

Manta Sr Reel is the way to go when doing cold deep dives. Great support for the product too if you need parts

se2schul · 4th April 2008, 02:23

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Sutton)

The bolt that tensions them is utterly worthless with drysuit gloves on

That's what their cold-water screw is for. I don't see it on their website, but I've seen it in EE. Maybe you just need to ask for it. I think all of their reels should come with the cold-water screw.

otterinaround · 4th April 2008, 04:36

Um..... MINE!

These little numbers known as the "super reel" by DIVE STRAIGHT DOWN are hand tooled aircraft aluminum and stainless steel.

This picture is actually one of the test reels post "beating." (We had it dragged around behind a toddler with a pint being the betting price)

As for use, I checked the lock screws for "cold water use" by having an arthritic patient lock and unlock them, so gloved hands and grip shouldn't be a problem.

The clearances are tiny, with the option to remove the crank arm should you just desire to spool up the rope by hand.

We've found during the test phase that springs and ratchets... BREAK...

Being a LIFETIME GUARANTEE COMPANY... We thought it best to avoid such silliness.

Our thread choice also reflects intense testing.

We don't guarantee the thread but some of the lines put out by "major dive companies" work well as serrated finger slicers as an SMB goes to the surface.

I would recommend, the more expensive but definitely more durable, reel line put out by OMER for spearfishing... it's thin, light, weight tested, and slick.... all in all beautiful stuff.

sdwenham · 4th April 2008, 09:18

I just brought a Kent Tooling 75m narrow ratchet reel at LIDS to replace my McMahon large reel

Quote: (Originally Posted by bigfeller)

(or winch as I call it!)

- good name for it.

The coolest bit is it has a knob on the ratchet that if you turn it 1/4 turn and press the ratchet it locks the spool open like a friction reel 1/4 turn again and you are back to ratchet

. I took it into our local pit to to do some line laying (Im not a cave diver so probably don't do it right) locked the reel open and swam off and it had just enough friction to spool out and not free spool. Then turned round and re engaged the ratchet.

Also did a DSMB deploy. Turn ratchet off deploy the bag and no overrun/free spooling then turn ratchet on and wind away.

Someone at the show dropped one on there foot, the reel was fine, the foot wasn't so lucky

If you are left handed and can't get on with the normal reels Kent Tooling will put one together in a left handed config for you.

So in case you hadn't guessed I love the new reel and the McMahon is relegated to being borrowed by trainees.

Sam

**fireman** · 4th April 2008, 14:33

Anybody carry Kent tooling in the states?

3rd April 2008, 19:14	#11 (permalink)
Jon Adams New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Ouroboros Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic MK 15.X Ouroboros Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 39	Re: the best primary reel... Manta reels had them forever never let me down Manta Industries ja
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3rd April 2008, 19:38	#12 (permalink)
wARNY jIM New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ireland Co Clare Posts: 11	Re: the best primary reel... Hi Guys My favorite reels are my homemade ones you can find the plans here: http://www.plongeesout.com/articles%...0irlandais.pdf There ideal for the job i want them do(cave diving in Ireland). You can build them your self or buy them of some guys that make small runs of them. Jim
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3rd April 2008, 20:03	#13 (permalink)
Marvintpa Bad knees, matching brain Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 257	Re: the best primary reel... The Halcyon has worked well, no problems that were not user-caused. Pretty bullet-proof so far. Simple, and easy to use with very little chance of something breaking. I like it. My Dive Rites... take the opposite of all those and you've got the idea. The only problem with the Halcyon is the screw will sometimes tighten itself during prolonged reeling.
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3rd April 2008, 21:23	#14 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Ouroboros rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,179	Re: the best primary reel... Kent Tooling ratchet reels, quality, well made and never let you down. I wouldn't buy a reel from anyone else. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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4th April 2008, 00:55	#15 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Membership Cancelled Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island and Hackettstown, New Jersey Posts: 2,637	Re: the best primary reel... Kent Tooling. Zero doubt: These are works of art. Utterly top shelf. Just buy one. I use the rachet reels, which can have the rachet selected on or off. Perfect kit. Salvo: Functional, and "fine" but not nearly as jewel-like in quality as the Kent Tooling. I carry them on the boat as "loaners" for guys who show up with broken Mantas.... (which are, IMHO, consumer-grade sport-diving quality) Halcyon: "As Nice" as the Salvo. Not better, nor worse. Just more expensive. The bolt that tensions them is utterly worthless with drysuit gloves on and tend to tighten. I've picked them up and have been totally unable to use the reel underwater. Replace with a decent bolt with a "T" on the end. Dive Rite, and all of the "Plastic Generica" reels are junk. Dave Last edited by Dave Sutton : 4th April 2008 at 01:25.
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4th April 2008, 01:11	#16 (permalink)
Talisman New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Avon Posts: 3	Re: the best primary reel... Manta Sr Reel is the way to go when doing cold deep dives. Great support for the product too if you need parts
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4th April 2008, 02:23	#17 (permalink)
se2schul New Member Current Rebreather/s: RB80 / Clone Other Rebreather/s: RB80 / Clone Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 89	Re: the best primary reel... Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Sutton) The bolt that tensions them is utterly worthless with drysuit gloves on That's what their cold-water screw is for. I don't see it on their website, but I've seen it in EE. Maybe you just need to ask for it. I think all of their reels should come with the cold-water screw.
(Offline)

4th April 2008, 04:36	#18 (permalink)
otterinaround Smeagle-the dive carnival Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lebanon Posts: 67	Re: the best primary reel... Um..... MINE! These little numbers known as the "super reel" by DIVE STRAIGHT DOWN are hand tooled aircraft aluminum and stainless steel. This picture is actually one of the test reels post "beating." (We had it dragged around behind a toddler with a pint being the betting price) As for use, I checked the lock screws for "cold water use" by having an arthritic patient lock and unlock them, so gloved hands and grip shouldn't be a problem. The clearances are tiny, with the option to remove the crank arm should you just desire to spool up the rope by hand. We've found during the test phase that springs and ratchets... BREAK... Being a LIFETIME GUARANTEE COMPANY... We thought it best to avoid such silliness. Our thread choice also reflects intense testing. We don't guarantee the thread but some of the lines put out by "major dive companies" work well as serrated finger slicers as an SMB goes to the surface. I would recommend, the more expensive but definitely more durable, reel line put out by OMER for spearfishing... it's thin, light, weight tested, and slick.... all in all beautiful stuff. __________________ Started as a free diver .Moved on to scuba and advanced at Penn State Uni. 1998. Took up Nitrox while I got evacuated from the War in Beirut Summer of 2005. Began training in tech, advanced Nitrox and Trimix/HELIOX summer 2007... Starting Rebreathing on an Optima....Ouroboros...whenever I find someone to buy my other kidney.
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4th April 2008, 09:18	#19 (permalink)
sdwenham New Member Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Posts: 11	Re: the best primary reel... I just brought a Kent Tooling 75m narrow ratchet reel at LIDS to replace my McMahon large reel Quote: (Originally Posted by bigfeller) (or winch as I call it!) - good name for it. The coolest bit is it has a knob on the ratchet that if you turn it 1/4 turn and press the ratchet it locks the spool open like a friction reel 1/4 turn again and you are back to ratchet . I took it into our local pit to to do some line laying (Im not a cave diver so probably don't do it right) locked the reel open and swam off and it had just enough friction to spool out and not free spool. Then turned round and re engaged the ratchet. Also did a DSMB deploy. Turn ratchet off deploy the bag and no overrun/free spooling then turn ratchet on and wind away. Someone at the show dropped one on there foot, the reel was fine, the foot wasn't so lucky If you are left handed and can't get on with the normal reels Kent Tooling will put one together in a left handed config for you. So in case you hadn't guessed I love the new reel and the McMahon is relegated to being borrowed by trainees. Sam Last edited by sdwenham : 4th April 2008 at 09:21.
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4th April 2008, 14:33	#20 (permalink)
fireman rEvo combat swimmer Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 497	Re: the best primary reel... Anybody carry Kent tooling in the states? __________________ Heres to you Capt. Bill Never Forget, and stay safe everyone.
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