Gomexus 113HS Conversion

[Crab Pot]

So a good buddy of mine in Texas turned me on to this Gomexus frame and handle conversion.

And I'm super happy with it.

It's a nice Burgandy wine color, only color it comes in, with construction that'll rival Tiburon or Accurate.

The seat is held to the frame with four screws into the seat which has spacers built into it.

The kit also comes with a clamp.

The handle came preassembled, but be careful you don't throw out the box before looking into the void area. In that area are two styles of handle fasteners and a locking screw (which I almost threw away).

I took the 113 handle off and set the Gomexus handle, it fit like it should with zero play. I went to put the Gomexus handle fastener on and didn't like that it didn't have a oil port so I put the Penn one back on. Went to put the Penn locking screw on because I didn't like the one it came with and found out it was a different thread pattern. So I was forced to use the other. No big deal, just cosmetics.

After cleaning an lubircating the inner side plates I put the handle side on the frame. It went on like butter all eight screws fed as they should.

Put some lube on the Penn stock spool and had the same results with the clicker plate side.

Next was the free spool test and it was way better than it was on the Penn frame, however this reel needed a good cleaning and lube so I wouldn't read anything into that.

Engaged the eccentric lever and it spun like a dream. Engaged the clicker with the same results.

The frame was $59.00 and the handle was $25.00 shipped through Amazon.

If I ever get out Rock Cod Fishing again I'll have a field report for all'ya'all.

Steve

[thorhammer]

NIce!

[JasonGotaProblem]

I didn't even know that was a thing they were doing. But it's very wise of them to enter this market given their mass production capabilities.

[Gfish]

Relatively inexpensive but very nice looking, Steve. If it's made in China, or not, I'd like to hear about how it holds-up after some use. I have some their knobs, so far so good...

[Crab Pot]

Relatively inexpensive but very nice looking, Steve. If it's made in China, or not, I'd like to hear about how it holds-up after some use. I have some their knobs, so far so good...

Hope to have a report sooner than later Gfish.

I haven't been fishing since the AT Morro Bay Rock Cod Trip.

This reel would have been perfect because we fished DEEP!

Going to line it with 65 pound braid with a 30' 50 pound top shot.

[Christopher M Songer]

Hoping for a report on the Gromex frame. I have a 113H 4/0 with a Newell base/foot. Also an older 4/0 black that was all thin bars supports that I put 113H thick bars on for stability. This older black one has the upgraded drags stack. Should I leave my 113H with the Newell base as is or put the Gomexus full frame in it and move the Newll over to the older black 4/0 with the thicker bars? Clear as mud. Thanks for any input.

[jurelometer]

Hoping for a report on the Gromex frame. I have a 113H 4/0 with a Newell base/foot. Also an older 4/0 black that was all thin bars supports that I put 113H thick bars on for stability. This older black one has the upgraded drags stack. Should I leave my 113H with the Newell base as is or put the Gomexus full frame in it and move the Newll over to the older black 4/0 with the thicker bars? Clear as mud. Thanks for any input.

My (probably minority) opinion on frames:

The 113H was one of the most common reels used by local pangeros in the parts of Baja I fish.  Loaded up with 60 pound mono, drag tightened down to 11 with pair of pliers.  I have seen worn out eccentrics, rusted out bearings, the occasional bridge post coming loose  with shredded gears, and the handle/sleeve junction worn loose. But this is after more abuse than most others reels could handle.  I have not seen a frame failure, even with the old stock round posts.

So you are in good shape with what you have IMHO.  And the first step to strengthening the reel is probably a stainless gear sleeve.

A good quality solid aluminum frame with a PROPER clamp design will secure the reel more firmly to more reel seat styles - sometimes important.  The frame can also help keep the side plates better aligned, especially if you spend some time tweaking the positioning before locking down the sideplate screws, but since the 113H has spool ball bearings, it is already more forgiving when it comes to misalignment. This extra bit of freespool performance for this type of reel is not critical for the way that most people fish them, but it might be worth it for you.  A matter of personal preference.

Looking at the Gomexus frame:

1.  It has a crossbar at the top.  This makes it more rigid, but some folk prefer a topless model, especially for casting. A matter of personal preference here.

2. Gomexus doesn't describe the material used beyond aluminum.  You want 6061 alloy from bar or at least seamless tube stock for a combination of stiffness and corrosion resistance. 6061 is also a good alloy for anodizing.

3.  The concentration of load  on these large conventional reels is always  going to be levering and twisting at the reel foot.  Having a clamp that connects to the frame instead of to a foot that attaches to the frame will greatly improve the strength of the entire reel/reel seat assembly.  The Gomexus clamp connects to the foot (on spacers!) , so all the load is concentrated solely on those four foot screws.  It might not even be as strong as the stock design.  But probably a good chance that it will be strong enough.

4.  The foot itself is stamped metal (looks like stainless).  This presents more galvanic corrosion risk. A stamped metal foot can be plenty strong if it is stiff enough, but a properly designed aluminum foot is probably preferable.

5.  All anodizing is not the same.  Gomexus does not specify whether this is a type II or not, and type II anodizing and sealing is not all the same.  The sealing is very important, in that anodizing creates a corrosion resistant aluminum oxide skin, but the skin is more porous than the original surface.  If not sealed correctly, salt water corrosion travels through the pores and underneath the skin in an oxygen deprived environment that prevents aluminum oxide from forming to protect from further corrosion. It is also the pores that capture the dye, so a less successful sealing will also mean color fading happening sooner.

Steve found that the fit on his was good, which is a good sign.  These frames could work fine, but at a much lower price point, limited information from the manufacturer, and some cost cutting design tradeoffs, it is a bit of a gamble. But it is priced accordingly.

-J

[Christopher M Songer]

Thank you Jurelometer for the thoughtful post. The foot on the Gomexus was my primary concern. I will keep my 133HL as is. And look for a cheap Newell foot for the older black 4/0.

[Christopher M Songer]

Leonardo sent me a very nice private message, Thank you. Just a thought "Cortez Conversions" has a few Penn Reel Seat Upgrades for various Penn Senator and other models.

[Crab Pot]

Still haven't fished my build yet but I'm confident the seat will handle any fish in the 4/0 class.

Hope to have a report in the next couple of weeks. A buddy of mine who owns a boat said to get ready.