I have to agree with Jeffhead, I run two Scotty long arms,(manuals) from our sled. and really love them. we started out with the short arm scotty's and no real complaints, just that the arms were too short, and after cutting off one of the cables with the kicker on a windy day, made the upgrade to the longer arm model, they are maintenance free, and easy to use, and the horizontal crank it is easy to crank if it is choppy with one hand.
as far as releases go, in my opinion there is only one...it is actualy a kite release for fishing bait on the surface from a kite for marlin, but it far and away the best release out on the market. no pads or any of that, a positive, stainless elbow, with a tension thumbscrew, when you go to check your gear, one quick pull and its off. try that with an offshore.
they release cleanly, every single time. I place the release about two feet above the ball, that way I can bounce the ball on the bottom for blackmouth, and not get the bait, flasher, plug etc... dragging in the mud. and when you have the gear up, and are re-setting, the ball isnt swinging around in the air, its in the water. safer, easier, quicker.

Fuzzy

Silent Approach Jigs