Anybody ever try one of these reels?

[stairman]

[RN]

I haven't tried one, but I've seen them. I wouldn't use one. I'd be afraid of it falling apart on me!

[K Mejean]

I have played with one. It is an open water reel. The one I messed with wasn't something I would trust in a cave.

[DA Aquamaster]

Maybe be suitable for dragging a dive flag, but nothing you'd want to use in technical diving.

[phillip1]

Edit: Phillip, you are well-known for making disparaging remarks about a company that you don't like. If you continue to do this, you will be banned from this forum, as your remarks serve no purpose other than to trash a very popular company.

Russell Edge, Moderator

[allen]

I have one that I used to use for cavern diving and wreck penetration. It worked well. My instructor vetoed it for cave diving, so I haven't used it in a cave. It might be worth trying it out by using it as a primary in Peacock, where failure would not be serious.

[Gibby]

I'm not afraid to admin it.
One of these was my first reel I ever owned.
The I bought the 400' version on ebay about 6 years ago.

I still have it and it still works fine.
They are a little bit awkward to reel back in due to the off-set static handle.
The crank handle sticks out about 2 to 3 inches once and begs to be cut off.
The ratchet action does have its advantages and I thought that it would fail first.
It never did fail even after I abused the hell out of it.
I've used it for anchor line for my kayak.
I lost it in hospital hole for 4 months.
Guide line to run from the fire road to buford sink.
Daughter that it was fun(ny) to use her sand box.

phillip1 is absolutely right.
I love paying another $100+ just for the bent piece of aluminum and a sticker.

Overall...not bad for the price seeing as the higher end reel$ are only marginally tougher due to the aluminum construction rather than plastic. The DR and OMS reels I have now cost 4 and 6 times as much and foul up just as easily as the plastic junker. I would recommend to anybody that they buy one just to have a reel they wont be afraid to lose or destroy.

[JerseyJersey]

http://www.reefscuba.com/litension.htm excellent reel

[TONY CHANEY]

I have used one, from my instructor, and for shooting a lift bag it is hard to beat. The best thing about it is that if you drop after shooting the lift bag, it will not drop to the bottom. I have never seen one use in a cave and would not use or buy one. I use the OMS one and it has never jamed. The DR reel looks good and works well until it breaks. I have seen 3 break in one day. Just my 2 yen worth.

[WJH]

I had two of them that I used for dive flag anchoring in open water. Both have broken. All of the good quality reels that I have had are still in use and good as new (Manta, Halcyon, DiveRite, Ralph Hood)

WJH