Is this a reef or a reel....you decide......

[thorhammer]

Some years ago my cousin reeled up an outfit that had been underwater off NC awhile...I rebuilt the rod for him into pretty nice shape, but considered the SLOSH 30 toast and just put the parts through a freshwater bath then left in a jar for five years...UNTIL I joined AT. I started working on it about a year and a half ago and finally got tired of looking at it on my bench...

[Steve-O]

The barnacles do add a bit of "crusty old salt" look to it.  You didn't scrape those off didya?

Just kidding...for the amount of underwater time it got I'm amazed it isn't a hunk of rust!

[thorhammer]

 Steve, was writing the back end when you posted....finally got cleaned, AT greased, new bearings with Hot Sauce, Carbontex, and a handle I found on Alan's garage floor looking for his accurate covers (thanks for the goody box BOSS!!!!!!). I am debating the conversion kit after seeing the price , but am leaning toward leaving it stock considering its journey. If so I will pull the beauty rings off for a further Ted-style treatment to pop with the chrome handle  (the stock was black but the knob seized and broke; I was gonna reknob but the counterbalance had largely corroded away).

I popped it on a 6'6" heavy jig stick with a 4oz spoon and was amazed to see it launch almost 90 yards across my pond with straight 20 lb mono. looking forward to putting it through the paces on a 12' with a shock leader. These bearings have a cool old-skool ramping turbo sound, like my old Abu's.

Couldn't find a full tear down tutorial on this; should have done one. All I need now are two metric screws to install clamp.

[mo65]

That is a killer transformation...great work!

[sdlehr]

Wow John, great job! Is there a shortcut to barnacle removal, or is it just elbow grease? I would have been afraid to scratch the finish while getting the barnacles off.

Sid

[thorhammer]

Thanks guys!

Sid, I just started scraping gently with a knife, then scotch brite pad with simple green. I figured I had nothing to lose at that point but you see the result.

[Steve-O]

And it turned out just fine.  To misquote a certain Book of religiosity ..." The Ocean giveth and the Ocean taketh away... "  looks like the Ocean gave back this time.

90 yards on a short stick....not bad, not bad at all...I didn't realize it would be capable of doing much past 60.

Time to hit the pier or beach with it.

[Rancanfish]

Looks like you swapped out the parts, nice job! 

[thorhammer]

And it turned out just fine.  To misquote a certain Book of religiosity ..." The Ocean giveth and the Ocean taketh away... "  looks like the Ocean gave back this time.

90 yards on a short stick....not bad, not bad at all...I didn't realize it would be capable of doing much past 60.

Time to hit the pier or beach with it.

me either....it just kept getting it...this was on a 80-200 lb jig stick so really minimal flex. surprising.

[reelrepair123]

wow  john,  beautiful job,  looks great, go catch a big one.    harryk

[steelfish]

john that's was an amazing work of restoration

how many parts did you changed?

[Shark Hunter]

Wow!
I love a Davey Jones Special. Looks great.

[thorhammer]

Thanks, D!

Alex, as noted the only changes were handle, though I could've reused the old one; new bearings- toast, and drags- the felt ones were full of sand, and we carbontex anything we bother anyway right?

Everything else is as it was from Mother Mother Ocean. Note that the rings are matte aluminum; the gold was destroyed between the sea and barnacle removal, but I have to decided to keep it as-is without the frame kit and polish the crap out of them to shine with the handle.

A credit to Daiwa on this one.... Newell-level anti-corrosion...only the bearing housings (and only one at that) crapped out.

[Bill B]

Cool beans brother.....that was a good save....     Bill

[Dominick]

Wow!
I love a Davey Jones Special. Looks great.

Good job John.  Daron good title.  Did you make up the name or is that a common expression?  Dominick