Penn 16s - COFE??

[Marlinmate]

Got a 16s international 2 speed in for routine service.

Tore into it and found some interesting stuff.

Anybody know who/what cofe is or does?

[foakes]

Cofe is/was a guy in CA that enhanced stock reels. His "freespooling" mod allows the reel to attain higher drag settings and freespool better than a stock reel. The guys that use these types of enhanced reels are fishing 50-60 lb braided line on the 12Ts for long range tuna fishing out of San Diego, CA.

This is similar to sending your International to Cal Sheets and his son in SoCal —- to be "Blueprinted".

Best, Fred

[Alan Matsuno]

Larry (Cofe ) Cofeen was a San Diego CA area reel machinist.  Offered services similar to Cal Sheets. 
 
Cleaning, balancing, blueprinting, bearings, drag enhancement.

That reel maybe from the 90's, with no live bait casting ability and 12 lbs of drag..  Cal Sheets and Larry Cofeeen would turn that into a San Diego style live bait fish reel using braid.  Able to cast 4-6 oz live  bait, 17 lbs of drag while maintaining freespool..

Penn now makes their reels San Diego style in the factory, but in the olden days, anglers sent their reels to machine shops for enhancements.

[Marlinmate]

Very cool!

[Swami805]

I have a 16 tigra he did. It also has a baker topless frame. He did Very nice work