Penn seaboy 185
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: T.A.S (Tackle Acquisition Syndrome)
Forum Description: The forum to discuss Tackle Aquisition Syndrome
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21183
Printed Date: 26 Jun 2026 at 4:57am
Topic: Penn seaboy 185
Posted By: blokhead
Subject: Penn seaboy 185
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2007 at 8:07pm
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Just picked up an old one of these in mint condition and was interested if any one is using them.
I have nice new modern reels but it would be a waste not to get into action. I know little about it so a little insight would be appreciated. I like to lite line it even though its a weighty reel, I'm sure someone will point me in right direction cheers BH |
Replies:
Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2007 at 8:43pm
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get hold of Leathal, i have video of him fishing with one with 10kg ine think the snap hegot was around 15+lb he used to sell em so he will point you in the right direction. ------------- Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland |
Posted By: Dead Ant
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2007 at 9:09pm
My Mother in law still uses one from around 40 years ago. Matched with a fibreglass broomstick it's a lethal weapon on snaps. A beautiful simple reel which can be rebuilt using spares from an FJ holden they're as solid as they come. I've tried converting here to the dark side with rods that actually bend and mono manufactured this century but she's attached to her museum piece. She's caught more fish on it than I've had hot dinners (made by her daughter) and it just won't die. To hear it singing when hauling in a ray is like listening to a gramaphone recording. A bygone era in terms of technology but one that should be appreciated. Cheers DA |
Posted By: blokhead
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2007 at 9:20pm
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i hear ya DA, lucky i live out west, be picking spare parts off the side of the road.
I guess i can use it as the back up of my back reel up when my back up reel needs a clean. cheers BH |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2007 at 12:02am
| BH I have 4 or 5 of them in the garage, they are simple and basic but still work ok. I wouldn't go too light on them as they (older models at least) tend to have big tolerances between the spool and side frame and like to swallow the line. Older ones had leather drag washers and you need to give the line a tweak every now and again to stop the drag from sticking. |
Posted By: Wefaknis
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2007 at 7:30am
here you go, right kinda reel :-)
 and here's when it caught Mr ray
 reel still has a smooth drag after all these years
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Posted By: JeffM
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2007 at 8:28am
| The 185 is a newer reel ( maybe out for 5 years) Perhaps you mean a Penn 85. The 185 has a higher gear ratio & not as long lasting as the origs. cheers Jeff |
Posted By: herby
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2007 at 7:15pm
| Haha Im no fisho so stupidly I put 24kg line on a really old one not knowing any better and went off to catch a kingy. Well I trolled a lure round for a while and bugger me, it got bit, and it got bit hard! I cranked the drag up and it still took line out like it was on freespool, eventually I got the kingy to the boat and it went 52 pounds and was foul hooked in the back, but I then went to try again to see if it wasnt a fluke and the reel was still hot, it was so hot that it had cracked the casing. |