AmmoGuy

I think it is largely floating spool vs non. In my experience, and I've had quite a few, all of the "Tatula" style reels that have a traditional shaft-through-pinion design are a coin flip on whether or not they are geary.

I wanted to like the Tatula rods. I've purchase quite a few of them over the last two years. However, the cork has come loose on 3 of mine now and makes a lot of noise while fishing. One was luckily replaced by the retailer, but the latest one to exhibit the issue is my 60th anniversary 7'3". I've spoken to a well known rod repair shop recently that confirmed they have seen this more than a few times. Disappointing, as I do like the blanks. https://youtube.com/shorts/zThHmZkSjD8?feature=share

Weird. Most retailers have all the models listed at 5oz. If it has brass gears, I'd be more interested in it.... But getting that info is probably a good luck situation.

I'm hesitant to weigh in here, because this can be such a tribal topic, and some of my opinions on the topic aren't necessarily popular. However, there are very few women in this country that put more rounds through handguns every year than my wife. Shooting, competing with, and instructing on handguns is a big part of our lives. Do not buy her a J frame (snub nose revo). Just don't. Disregard advice to "see what feels good in her hands". If your wife isn't truly experienced with handguns, she has no basis on which to base that on. If she is not experienced, how she holds a handgun, and the amount of pressure she applies is most likely incorrect anyway. Stay away from .380 when possible. .380, generally speaking, performs very poorly terminally. With modern compact 9mm's, there is very little reason to ever choose a .380. If the gun is not going to be carried on her person or in her purse, there is very little reason to choose a sub compact (a G19 will be hard to beat if this is the case). If the gun IS going to be carried on her person or in her purse, there needs to be quite a bit of thought and preparation put into it. Shoving a Kel-Tec into an Uncle Mikes soft holster from BP and dropping it into a purse should never be the solution. Do not buy a handgun with a manual/thumb safety, it is unnecessary and can lead to issues. A quality handgun in a quality holster is safe. If her intent is to carry the gun on her person or in her purse, a P365, G43/48, Hellcat, or Shield/Shield + in 9mm is about all I'd consider.

Hmm. Aluminum main gear. Not sure I’m a fan of that. I don’t know the Abus that well, what makes that reel so much better than the SX’s? Other than more bearings and what not.

I have a couple Revo SX’s. One is relatively smooth, the other got so geary/noisy last summer that it got replaced under warranty. I’ll have to take a look at the MGX.

Yea. I’d just like to know why. What makes a Scorpion smoother? Mechanically speaking, they should be the same. I have a bunch of Daiwas. Some of them are noisy and geary, some of them are smooths. It’s a lottery. This Curado has a light buzzing sound too, and in my experience it only gets worse when they start that way. Being picky is frustrating.

I swear, I feel like getting a smooth reel is a roll of the dice these days. I’m over the Tatula lottery. The brake dial on this Curado is almost impossible to turn. That normal for these?

Ended up ordering a Curado DC. It arrived yesterday. I have to say, I'm not overly impressed with the "smoothness" out of the box. I can feel/hear a hint of gear noise. Not what I was hoping for.

For $100+ more than the Curado, I'd expect it to be.

No, it’s not coming out between the two castings, there’s are two (presumably) drain holes at the front of the water pump casting. This is where the water was coming out, and some right above the two holes at the clutch rod opening (which I believe is just open to the same void as the two drain holes).

Running it a little last night, and I noticed a fair amount of water comes out at the joint between the gear case and drive shaft housing. I’ve had this before on other motors, and no big deal, but it wasn’t at two specific openings at the front of the case like this. Seems to me making good pressure? Tell tail is flowing. Normal? Odd?

Well, I ended up pulling it home. After some haggling, and driving away one time, he came off his asking to the point that I couldn't turn it down. Basically ended up paying "average" NADA, which currently is kind of unheard of around here.

Solid advice, and it's the first thing I do with any boat (I'm 6'6"). Unfortunately, to get a side console bass boat that isn't "tight" for me, I'd have to step up to a much larger/more expensive boat. My main reservations are that the old Xpress boats weren't very wide, I think this one is a 71" beam, and the front deck is kind of tight. By myself, with my weight on one side of the boat, I'm betting it won't track perfectly.... But again, larger/more expensive is the answer to that.

Thanks for the info. Would the hull dent I posted above bother you? It does seem to be between the ribs. And hopefully far enough forward that it won't affect when on plane.

It’ll depend on how bad he wants it gone! Ha. I’ll add, that while I’d love to have it looked over, there’s not a good boat service with an hours drive of me. So not much option there. That said, I do all maintenance myself, and the motor seems to have been well cared for.

Ha, thanks for the offer. I think this case is closed though.

Yea, my phone doesn’t like to let “Xpress” stay that way it seems. Dent isn’t painted, just the odd glare from the street. I don’t know that it would have to be repaired? But I’m still not a fan. Current owner doesn’t know. Dent was there from original owner. It’s pretty tight room wise. I’m a big guy and don’t fit under the console well. That may be a deal breaker.

Right. Whether it’s justified or not, things like this are not confidence inspiring.

Went to look at it a little closer. Not a big fan of this hull dent. But it’s pretty clean otherwise.

I agree. To a certain extent. I manage a small manufacturing company that sells to the public. Being able to communicate correct product specifications is meaningful. Or rather, giving someone the wrong specifications isn’t good. It’s not that big of a deal though. The intent of the thread was to try and find if what I had been told by Dobyns was accurate (because I guess Im one of the 1% that does care). That has been accomplished.

Well, now we know I guess. Although Brice IS the one I corresponded with. It's odd, because how did he even come up with the 40% number if it doesn't at least correspond to one of the other blanks Gary mentioned? Anywho. It is what it is.

I have gift cards and a great code for BP, so not the same price (in this instance) ha. It's sad that BPs inventory is so limited. I also need a 6:2 right hand.

Well. BP just canceled my MGL 150 order out of the blue. Said they didn't have stock to fulfill it. Awesome. So the hunt is back on. Might just go with a Curado DC.

Someone near me is selling their 1999 16’ Express. It has an early Gen Suzuki 4 stroke 40hp (DF40?). It’s been kept covered most of its life, under a carport. It shows some signs of age, but otherwise very clean. Carpet is in pretty fair condition. I know nothing about that era Express, or the early gen Zuk four strokes. If anyone has any input, I’m all ears. Also ballpark what it may be worth.