Has anyone tried these yet?

[FIXXERVI6]

I'm not promoting this web site, this is the only place I could find a quick easy link to the reel I'm talking about.

http://www.diveriteexpress.com/tools/img/re4600montagelg.jpg

 

[ScubaSarus]

I've heard nothing but good things about dive rite goods

 

[FIXXERVI6]

what about that reel?

I do like dive rite products and I'm sure thats a quality product, but I'm looking more from what do people like/dislike about that design.

 

[Diver0001]

what about that reel?

I do like dive rite products and I'm sure thats a quality product, but I'm looking more from what do people like/dislike about that design.

I'm curious too. The LDS has a couple of these and I've been playing with the idea of buying one for a primary reel for wreck diving. Looks abuse proof, hard to foul, easy to hold, wind and store.

R..

 

[jfoutz]

I inspected one at my LDS the other day. A (very) cheap knockoff of the Halcyon reel. A decent reel? Yes. But nowhere near the quality of the Halcyon. (And this is coming from someone who generally likes Dive-Rite equipment.)

 

[jonnythan]

It's a Halcyon reel, with a cheap plastic reel instead of Delrin, and a cheap plastic screw isntead of steel.

 

[FIXXERVI6]

ok then has anyone used the halcyon? I'm not worried about the material so much as the design.

 

[jfoutz]

ok then has anyone used the halcyon? I'm not worried about the material so much as the design.

I use the Halcyon – and I like it very very much. Design is very solid. They’re virtually unjamable. I wouldn’t own anything else for a primary or larger. The only downside is they’re kind of pricey.

It takes a little while to adjust to the hand configuration you use when reeling them in as opposed to that used with a more traditional reel.

Also, be sure to get the “cold water” knob (the standard one can be hard to turn underwater).


Note: As a non-DIR diver I feel kinda weird evangelizing for Halcyon gear. :06:

 

[jagfish]

I use the Halcyon....

No compliants, but I've only ever used one other reel and it was a real junker...

 

[Doc Intrepid]

ok then has anyone used the halcyon? I'm not worried about the material so much as the design.

Use whatever you prefer, but this particular reel (and the Halcyon) were designed to be used in conjunction with a cannister light having a goodman handle on the lighthead. The design is such that you can hold both the goodman handle for the lighthead and the reel in the same hand. (I'm not saying it cannot be done otherwise, I'm simply saying the Halcyon handle was designed to complement the goodman handle.) If you're using a lighthead with a goodman handle, this will work well with it. If you're using a more standard recreational primary light, (and you want to hold both your light handle and your reel in the same hand), then a more standard reel handle design may work better for you.

In terms of costs, check again. At the recent Dive-Rite seminar I attended the price quoted for this reel was within $10 of the price of the Halcyon reel.

FWIW. YMMV.

Here is a photo of a cannister light and goodman handle, you can see how the reel handle would work with the lighthead handle:
http://www.extreme-exposure.com/
http://www.extreme-exposure.com/spools.shtml
scroll down to the bottom photo to compare/contrast screws, handles, etc.:
http://www.halcyon.net/guideline/index.shtml