Mariner 49L Spools Questions

[MACflyer]

Looking for a 49L and have seen some with what looks like black plastic spools, 3 piece chrome plated spools, stainless? spools, and black aluminum spools. 49L should have an aluminum spool I believe. Are the aluminum spools only black? Saw one with a brushed silver look. Is that stainless? Thanks!

[Keta]

All of the 29L-49 spools I have seen were black.

[MACflyer]

Found and bought one with the black aluminum spool. There's quite a few out there with the plastic spools that look very close in pics. Probably put a 24-56 handle on it. Thanks again Lee for the great suggestion!

[Surfrat]

Yes. There are black plastic spool ones that look like aluminum and there are also painted black brass ones too.

[UKChris1]

The three-piece, chromed brass spools warp badly eventually whilst the black plastic ones just break. Go for the aluminium alloy 'L' variants if you can. Those I've only ever seen in black.
I've never seen a stainless steel spool for a 49 (or 149) but they may be out there, I don't know.

[Gfish]

Can't imagine why one would want a plastic spool on a Mariner? Weren't these used by some for wire line fishing? I can tell on the smaller Penn models which spools are aluminum vs black plastic even with line on them, by the sharper edge on the outside of the flange, when looking at pictures like you see on eBay.

[MACflyer]

Can't imagine why one would want a plastic spool on a Mariner? Weren't these used by some for wire line fishing? I can tell on the smaller Penn models which spools are aluminum vs black plastic even with line on them, by the sharper edge on the outside of the flange, when looking at pictures like you see on eBay.

Gregg, for future reference, do the aluminum spools have sharper edges or the plastic?

[Maxed Out]

 The 49 aluminum spool looks very much like a newell spool. How to tell the difference... The plastic 49 spool has no line tie post. The aluminum 49 spool does have a line tie post

 ...and yes, the 49 did come with brushed or polished stainless spool for a couple years. Easy to spot, cause its a 2 piece spool, with the adjoining spot directly in the middle of the arbor, and that arbor is extra large diameter

[MACflyer]

Thanks Ted.

[UKChris1]

Can't imagine why one would want a plastic spool on a Mariner? Weren't these used by some for wire line fishing? I can tell on the smaller Penn models which spools are aluminum vs black plastic even with line on them, by the sharper edge on the outside of the flange, when looking at pictures like you see on eBay.

Neither can I, but I guess some wanted the plastic spool.
Yes, the edges of the plastic spools were slightly rounded whereas the alloy ones have more or a shoulder. I think the alloy ones were a more recent addition to the list of standard spool options.

[Maxed Out]

Yes, penn aluminum spools have big squared shoulders on the flanges, except for the penn 49 spool, which has flat flanges with rounded edge, very similar to what newell aluminum spool looks like. Heres the 49 aluminum spool

[Gfish]

Ok. Was off on that one. Never had any Mariner models and was probably thinking about the smaller Penn's such as the Jigmaster. The aluminum spool "shoulder" on the smaller Penn's have a kinda sharp angle on the top of the flange—-not 90 degrees, more like 45...
If I can't see it in a picture(that's it's either metal or aluminum) I don't bother to buy.

[jgp12000]

Mine is aluminum according to the original owner that gifted me this nice one.