Originally Posted By: summerrun
Ask Gilly, Vedder and others...nothing "complicated" just a spring or other assorted jimmiemabob that goes tits up on a regular basis and puts em out of commission for a few weeks. They are smooth as butter when running at 100% and as purty as Pam Anderson butt naked but for the $ I dont get the worship factor.

I just compare them to my $50 shimano knucklebusters that have caught upwards of 200 Kings with NO issues up until one finally gave out last year after 10 years of service.


I have a couple of Shimano single actions. The new style GT ones and have had to return one two different times because of a drag issue. For some reason the drag would never get tight enought to not have line walk while in the downrigger. There is nothing quite like the sound of a 40# plus king pulling on the drag of an islander. One you experience that it is hard to not want one. If I could find a couple of Hardy single actions I would buy them but they are really hard to come by. Also the drag on them is unusual in that when you tighten the drag it makes it harder to reel too. Makes it really sporting with big kings.