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Originally Posted by alantani as far as the stock daiwa drags go, i personally would never use them. i only know what i see, and i've seen lots of daiwa drags, both the cardboard type and the felt type, fail dismally. i'm glad to hear that your experience has been different. hey, if you've got a 50h laying around somewhere, maybe give this a try. i would be very interested in your opinion. |
I've never had a problem with the stock, (Cardboard?), drags, either in my own reels or a customer's reel. The "H" series Sealine drags only had problems when the drags were oil soaked due to over lubrication, usually through the handle nut oiler by the owner. They would also stick from leaving the drag star buttoned down after use. Although I don't use the reels myself any more, they are used as loaners by friends and customers and I've never had a drag failure with them. I actually liked these washers because you could "resurface" them with a light sanding and they could be degreased and reinstalled if needed on a trip.
Likewise, I have not personally had a failure with the impregnated felt washers like those found on the SLX series reels. One of my favorite reels and one of my best sellers since it came on the market is the SLX 40 HV. The one I use is first year production and it is still on it's original drags! This reel has caught BF to 45lbs., Albies and Yellowtail to 30lbs., and a wide variety of other species as well. The only maintenance it has recieved since I got it is a drop or two of M Pro 7 in the bearings once in a while since I won it in a story/photo contest and decided to see how much abuse it could take. Like a Timex watch, it has takin' a lickin' and kept on tickin'!
I wholeheartedly agree with you about the functionality of wet carbon fibre drags and I thought that the new Carbontex drags from SmOooth Drag were the best thing that ever happened to my 500 series Newells. But I just can't see arbitrarily changing out the drags on every reel I look at and in fact I have customers who don't want them installed on their reels. After a while it just doesn't pay to argue with them.
It also just isn't economicaly practical for me to try and stock drags for converting all reels in this manner. If someone wants it done, I'll find the right washers. But I don't just do it or even suggest it on all reels.
FISH HARD!
Chris