Alan - Thanks so much for this site! What a great way to meet out of the wind!
I've got a question regarding my Penn Super Mariners that I'd appreciate some help with.
I have four of these reels I've used for years for everything from salmon to (small) halibut to albies, but I'd like to upgrade the drags somehow so that I don't have to crank the star until it hurts my finger just to turn a tuna's head. All four have the stock drags in them. Is there a dry stack that applies more drag with less pressure? Thanks for your thoughts. :)
There really isn't much you can do other than use HT-100s and make sure the metal drag washers are absolutely flat. The 49 isn't much more than a 40# reel. Lots of people use straight80# spectra up here (Alaska) for halibut but pretty much fry their 49s after a big fish or two...
the 49 is another reel that greatly benefits from a stainless steel gear sleeve. otherwise, it's just upgrading to greased ht-100's. you will be amazed at the difference. alan
I'm also in the process of rebuilding a Penn #49 reel, and upgrading the drags.
It comes stock with the 3-drag system, but I've heard people can upgrade them to a 5-drag system. What parts would I need to do this? Can I use the same HT-100 #6-49 washers, or would I need something thiner since there will be more washers?
thanks, andy
I doubt it is possible to upgrade the drag on a 49 to a 5-stack system. The main gear simply isn't deep enough. With grease carbon fiber HT-100s and flat metal drag disks, you'll be able to get all the drag the reel can tolerate.
Hello, if you're looking for more drag you might want to consider the 113H or the Narrow 114H, which is similar to the 49 with just a little less speed but more power under the hood ;D. Get yourself the stainless steel gear sleeve from Alan and upgrade the 3 washers plus the one under the gear to HT100'S and you've got yourself a nice reel. I still use these today.
Hey Guys: I just bought and took apart a "Penn # 49 Deep Sea Reel." It does not say Mariner but the # 49L Mariner looks the same. It is a good looking reel and I would like to upgrade it to its max. Would the SS gear sleeve work in this reel? The main gear and pinion in my reel are SS. Here are some photos before I broke it down. It cleaned up pretty good. I have not put it back together until I figure out the replacement drags. Look at the chrome spool, its kind of handsome don't you think? Handsome? We are crazy, these are fishing reels... I'll post another picture when I button it up. The crud you see is all polished away. Dominick
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd459/lmdl4law/Penn%20Deep%20Sea%20Reel%2049/016.jpg)
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd459/lmdl4law/Penn%20Deep%20Sea%20Reel%2049/017.jpg)
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd459/lmdl4law/Penn%20Deep%20Sea%20Reel%2049/018.jpg)
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd459/lmdl4law/Penn%20Deep%20Sea%20Reel%2049/019.jpg)
Domenicuccio, that is a nice reel. I have a few and one of them is just like yours with the same spool, that reel appears to be from the silver anniversary, introduced in the 50's. As far as upgrading, just do as we mentioned here above, I think Alan has the ss sleeve, the HT100's are 6-49 and the metal if needed are 7-49. I've been installing the same HT100 drag stack washer for under the gear on a few of my reels without any problems, I leave that one up to you. Keep the gears to 1+3, that would be plenty for that reel and try to use it, you'll be amazed, I still use mine. I don't know if you have the box, the specs are as fallows: gear ratio 3.5-1 line capacity 300 yrds-30 lb. Hope this helps,take care bud.
Quote from: Alto Mare on June 27, 2011, 10:46:38 PM
Domenicuccio, that is a nice reel. I have a few and one of them is just like yours with the same spool, that reel appears to be from the silver anniversary, introduced in the 50's. As far as upgrading, just do as we mentioned here above, I think Alan has the ss sleeve, the HT100's are 6-49 and the metal if needed are 7-49. I've been installing the same HT100 drag stack washer for under the gear on a few of my reels without any problems, I leave that one up to you. Keep the gears to 1+3, that would be plenty for that reel and try to use it, you'll be amazed, I still use mine. I don't know if you have the box, the specs are as fallows: gear ratio 3.5-1 line capacity 300 yrds-30 lb. Hope this helps,take care bud.
Sal, thanks for that. So my 49 is the same as the Mariner 49, yes? Do you have any idea of the maximum drag I can get out of the reel. I will use it for Salmon and load it with 30lb. I would expect that I can get 10lbs of drag without changing the sleeve, although I will change it. Wait until you see how clean it came. By the way where did you get the history of the reel possibly being an anniversary reel? I tried to research it but Penn has a poorly organized web site. Also if it is an anniversary reel maybe I should just slap it back together and put it on the shelf as a collector's item. Maybe Dom will weigh in on this. I can always use the 113HL for Salmon.
Alan: Do you have the sleeve? If so, please send it to me with a PM for the price. Do you know why Photobucket deleted my photos? Dominick
Dominick, that reel is the same as the mariner, the only difference is the left side plate, yours has the nice etching on it the mariner doesn't. You should have no problem pushing it a little over 10lb. without changing the sleeve. I happen to catch one of your pix before they got deleted and the reel looks like one that came in one of my anniversay box, from the late 50's. The 49 was in production from 1941 to 2006, it had a plastic spool in the biginning, a chromed brass spool along the way and an aluminum spool towards the end. As far as putting it on a shelf, enjoy it and go fish, we only live once. ;)
Besides, I think AKFish has a few 49s that he is selling. So if you need replacements...
Yeah, he always has something for sale and always tells it like it is. Good guy to deal with! Keep up your great work Akfish. ;)
Yea, I do have a few 49s for sale in the shop. I usually get $50 - $60 for them depending on how they look. I also have 320s, 113Hs, 209s, 309s, 65s, 60s, 285s and more...
AKFish, if you send me pics of the reels you have for sale, I'll upload them for you.
If you like this reel and want more drag, then you will want to look for a penn 349.. pretty much the same size but the drags from 113H.
Also, later today I will document a upgrade that my dad originally did to his (now mine) penn 49. He used it for yo-yo jigging. The nice thing about the reel is the amount of line that it picks up.
Aaron
Aaron (aka ReelSpeed),
The 49L drags are also very similar in size to a 113H. Is the stock 349/349H a much more capable reel? Can they (the 349/349H) be upgraded to the 1+5 drag washers?
The stock 349H is a beefier reel, here is a thread with drag info: http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=746.0
If I remember right, the 349H had the main gear and sleeve of a 6/0, not a 4/0 like the 49 does. Which makes it MUCH stronger.
The 49 is still faster than all the reels mentioned here, retrieving over 3 feet of line per crank. I still enjoy using mine ;) The 113H are not the same size washers as the 49, but they can be used if you had to, the 49 washers are approximately 1/16 th larger and the inner diameter is approximately 1/16 th smaller.
Aaron, we already have the stainless steel gear sleeve, all we need from you are the stainless steel gears that will take the 1+5 gear configuration. Boy that would be a heck of a reel.
As you can see in the middle of the post there are some pictures of my Penn 49. Some of you may have viewed the post and did not see the photos of the reel. I had to go to PhotoBucket to find out why the pictures were removed. There was a glitch that was straightened out. They are very nice and kept after the problem until it was resolved. My social secretary just walked in to say we have to pick up the grand babies, so I will post a couple of more photos without the crud tomorrow or later tonight. It's a beauty. Dom has Big Red, and I have Black Beauty. Dominick
Here are some photos with the crud cleaned off.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd459/lmdl4law/Penn%20Deep%20Sea%20Reel%2049/BLACKBEAUTY003.jpg)
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd459/lmdl4law/Penn%20Deep%20Sea%20Reel%2049/BLACKBEAUTY002.jpg)
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd459/lmdl4law/Penn%20Deep%20Sea%20Reel%2049/BLACKBEAUTY001.jpg)
Very nice Dominick, I love those older reels. ;)
I took another look at the gear on the 49, and you're right, it doesn't look like it can take a 5 drag washer system. I'll be putting it back together tonight, and hopefully I'll get some pictures taken of my rebuild.
thanks, andy
Hmm, I wonder...Alan has a couple laying around. Let me measure them up and see if a 5+1 carbontex set (including SmoothDrag's metal washers) will fit. It'll probably be next week though.
Bryan don't spend too much time on it, I've been there already :-\
Hi, guys its me again 8)Have 3 49L's one is new, Planning to use two of them as teaser reels need help(as usual :- )I want to change the gears to stainless,Also want to keep the chromed spools.Need to know if I should use mono or dacron line like in a planner board reel and how much line will it hold in both mono and daron in the 200 lbs range.Have a good idea where I can get the gears,Correct me if I'm wrong ALAN.Need to up grade drags and handles.Thanks 8)
Getting stainless main gears will be tough; Penn hasn't made them for several years. But if you do find them, remember to add new pinion gears as well. The chromed brass spools are not nearly as strong as the newer aluminum spools. If you use the older spools, you'll have a better chance of keeping the spools round if you use Dacron; they don't tolerate mono well at all. But these are 30# class reels, so putting on 200# line will create all sorts of problems, at least it will if you fish it like 200# line. There's not much you can do to the drag other than install new HT-100 drag washers. A stainless steel gear sleeve is a good idea, especially if you install a new, high torque handle.
Hello, I would keep the gears unless they need to be replaced. I have seen these reels come with 5 different spools: plastic- 3 piece chromed brass- two piece chromed brass- one piece chromed brass and aluminum as you have. To me, the one piece brass spool is one of the best spool that you could get for that reel, the aluminum spool is preferred for casting, but the reel itself is too bulky and heavy for it.The aluminum spools that you have are good , just don't use them for trolling wire line, it will shred them to pieces. I would change the gear sleeve to stainless steel sleeve, carbon washers, even the one under the main gear, and load it with 300 yds. of 30 lb.mono, I wouldn't push that reel over 10 to 12 lb. Finally, forget about the 200 lb. range , you would fry your gears. Oh I forgot, a nice handle will also be good, Alan can set you up with all of those things. Good luck to you, Sal
Thank's Guy's for the input,but I think I was misunderstood.I'm not going to fish these,they are going to be used to control the teaser's that run from my outriggers,small dasiey chains of rubber squids and small plastic birds.I seen these reels used for years for this purpose.Need to use heavy line due to the forces put on the line while trolling at 6-8 knt's.I don't fish anything heavier than 80. 8)
Gotcha! I misunderstood your question. In that case you would be ok with the 200 lb. , I can't tell you how much line it will hold , I have never loaded mine that heavy. I'm surpriced that your 49L have the chromed brass spools, they only come with the aluminum spool unless you have an older model, the L on the newer models means that it comes with the aluminum spool, the L on earlier models meant that it was a left handed reel.
Keep the gears on those reels, replace all washers with HT100's, a stainless steel gear sleeve and a nice power handle and that's about it.
Nice catch, Pescachaser! Is that an unusual spool? I've only seen only one other like it.
To the members,
I have a 49 with a plastic spool. It has a steel main gear and I've replaced the drags with 1+3 HT100's, but I don't want to buy an aluminum spool. Is it suitable for bottom fishing with 30lb mono? Should I fish with it, or place it on the shelf?
George
I wouldn't fish it with a plastic spool and 30 pound line. 15 pound topshot over the 30 maybe. :-\ Just my opinion.
Rob
Dominick,
I love the look of those reels (mariner series), and black beauty is a fine example of that series. I especially love that vintage spool, it looks brand new, which I know isn't easy to come by.
Enjoy your baby,
Dom
Hi Pesca - love those reels and you're right with the retrieval - they are awesome. I mostly use mine landbased. Question: - where could I find a upgrade power handle for the 49's? Would love to be able to have a better grip when retrieving.(//)
I'm always glad to see the old Penns still in use. Often a change in grip is all you need for a great improvement in comfort. You can get the Penn power handles from www.mysticparts.com and better grips (Kolekar) from Alan. http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=158.0
And welcome aboard!
Rob
"Edited as per Moderators to correct Scott's Bait & Tackle over to their new store name Mystic Reel Parts / www.mysticparts.com"
Thanks Rob! ;D
Hi,Guy's it's me again 8).Have a question on my MARINERS ::) Just got my new HT100 Drag Washers ;) and new metal plates(from Scotties-of course).If you remember these reels are going to be used as TEASER REELS ;D.Need to know if the drag washers should be LUBED or left dry, Being(Hopefullythe fsh dosen't grab and hold on to long :P) the drags going to CRANKED DOWN.Any input would be greatly appericated :)
I would still grease the washers. Dry drags can result in jerky pulling and the first risk is a breakoff. if you lock the drag down and there is a strong enough pull, either the line will break or the spool will turn. The next thing to go will be the gears. I'll take a little slide on the drag any day as my first, second and third choices.
I have a old Penn 49. I changed the drag washers. I now have a problem with the drag. I have to tighten the star down ALL the way down to prevent slippage, plus the star seems to loosen on its own if you pull on the line. What i mean is if you loosen the star a little , so the drag isn't locked up, the star wheel will start turning backwards when line resistance is applied loosening the drag on its own. I haven't taken it apart yet to look a it, but was looking for a starting point. I thought it may be a missing washer? Any ideas will be appreciated.
sounds like the metal washers are out of order. they should look like this.....
(http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/500/medium/dragsetsm2.gif)
I will have to take it apart and check, but that doesn't sound like something i would do, but one never knows. That would be embarrassing :)
12-19-11 oooops - i took the reel apart, and i have to admit( how embarassing) that i put the washers back in the wrong order. As usual, thank you for your help Alan. jc.
it's not like any of us haven't made that mistake as well......
Don't feel bad. It's worse sitting in front of Alan and he takes a apart the reel and sees the drag washers are out of order. He give you that little smirk of his, and you feel sheepish.