penn fathom 15 v's penn mag 525 mk2

[onefortheroad]

whats the peoples views on castability of these 2 reels , given that one is magged and the other conventional .

I know the fathom can be magged , but im talking about out of the box , which is best ??

opinions please .

 

[cod magnet]

whats the peoples views on castability of these 2 reels , given that one is magged and the other conventional .

I know the fathom can be magged , but im talking about out of the box , which is best ??

opinions please .

out the box 525 mag 2, but the fathom is better once magged up

 

[deanwar]

whats the peoples views on castability of these 2 reels , given that one is magged and the other conventional .

I know the fathom can be magged , but im talking about out of the box , which is best ??

opinions please .

the 525 mag 2 is very poorly built imo, seen many returned after only a few weeks usage. (some with major failures) They have dropped dramatically in price which is a first for penn multipliers and says a lot about the reel
Penn did a silly thing bringing out the fathom 15 at around the same time as the mag2. They topped there best selling reel with another of there own of the same size with a much more solid full metal build and better drag
I found the fathom unmagged pretty ok to cast but i have 2 magged ones now and they make a very good reel a excellent reel if you dont mind losing the ratchet
If only penn had magged the fathom out of the box it would outsell most reels that size

 

[onefortheroad]

cheers lads , 2 views on the subject out of 137 , I guess not a lot own both reels so cant comment . I think I might wait for penn to mag the fathom , if they don't well its a job for someone I suppose andy ruherford will do this mod for me .

 

[dale19]

reels

reels

its good to have info on reels that members use and pass good info onto lads intending to purchase these reels , also some clever lads that can tune then up make a good reel even better well done lads.

 

[deanwar]

cheers lads , 2 views on the subject out of 137 , I guess not a lot own both reels so cant comment . I think I might wait for penn to mag the fathom , if they don't well its a job for someone I suppose andy ruherford will do this mod for me .

both my magged fathoms where from rutherfords
he usually has them in stock with the mod already done

 

[david.northeast]

Does these reels have to have the knob on the end plate and lose the ratchet ? I've just got myself one and find it far too slow with both sets of brakes in

 

[deanwar]

Does these reels have to have the knob on the end plate and lose the ratchet ? I've just got myself one and find it far too slow with both sets of brakes in

yes as far as i know, both mine have the ratchet removed
you can obviously reassemble the ratchet should you want to
Blacktog tackle used to mag reels by drilling the sideplate and retain the ratchet but i dont think they offer the service anymore
shame as they did a cracking job

 

[g-force]

Does these reels have to have the knob on the end plate and lose the ratchet ? I've just got myself one and find it far too slow with both sets of brakes in

Chris Macey does the best conversions I've seen for these reels - a nice small mag-adjuster and retains the ratchet, think it costs about £30 to get done. A lot of those DIY kits are thoroughly nasty.

Gary

 

[david.northeast]

Chris Macey does the best conversions I've seen for these reels - a nice small mag-adjuster and retains the ratchet, think it costs about £30 to get done. A lot of those DIY kits are thoroughly nasty.

Gary

Aye Gary I've got my slosh magged with the DIY kit and i just don't want another reel without the ratchet. The main reason I got the fathom was for to have a reel with a ratchet. I think ill just stick with the brake blocks but reduce a couple of them out.

 

[Motorhead]

I can't really see the point in getting fathoms magged, you may as well get a 515 or a 525?

 

[steesh]

Chris Macey just magged my fathom cost 30 pound. Keeps the ratchet and does a top job. Reel casts ten times better

 

[g-force]

I can't really see the point in getting fathoms magged, you may as well get a 515 or a 525?

The trouble I've heard from a few lads with the Fathoms is that the brakes either engage themselves (they're supposed to lock out of place when not required, but they don't always, apparently!) or if they do work they burn out & disintegrate after one or two sessions. What's otherwise not a bad reel is let down by cheese-o brakes, and while I'm not a fan of magging reels in general, if I were to get a Fathom I'd probably get one of the Macey-jobs done. Much prefer the Saltists though & think I'll be sticking with them, they've never let me down for around 4 years.

Gary

 

[Motorhead]

The trouble I've heard from a few lads with the Fathoms is that the brakes either engage themselves (they're supposed to lock out of place when not required, but they don't always, apparently!) or if they do work they burn out & disintegrate after one or two sessions. What's otherwise not a bad reel is let down by cheese-o brakes, and while I'm not a fan of magging reels in general, if I were to get a Fathom I'd probably get one of the Macey-jobs done. Much prefer the Saltists though & think I'll be sticking with them, they've never let me down for around 4 years.

Gary

I've actually heard of the centrifugal brake plates having re-engaging bb problems from a half decent chuck the snap function to disengage the bb's is too weak to hold it in place getting rid of the bb's is the best solution, i'm the same i'm not a one for magging reels, but as I said lads are buying fathom 12's and 15's and getting them magged, may as well just buy a 515 or a 525, pretty much identical reels imo save the bother of getting it magged

 

[david.northeast]

I've actually heard of the centrifugal brake plates having re-engaging bb problems from a half decent chuck the snap function to disengage the bb's is too weak to hold it in place getting rid of the bb's is the best solution, i'm the same i'm not a one for magging reels, but as I said lads are buying fathom 12's and 15's and getting them magged, may as well just buy a 515 or a 525, pretty much identical reels imo save the bother of getting it magged

The fathoms have a much better drag system and a free floating spool when not in gear

 

[g-force]

The fathoms have a much better drag system and a free floating spool when not in gear

Main difference I noticed was that the Fathoms have an all metal cage (like the Saltists) as opposed to the plastic ones of the 525s. I had many issues with the old 525s & a 535 (cage broke first time I used it!) which put me off the Penns and tbh neither of the new models really appeal either.

Gary

 

[jonesey]

Just ordered 4 fathoms so better not be crap Probably mag them if any problems develop but certainly wasn't going to get 525mag2 as virtually everyone i know with them have had problems with them from the mounting plate coming loose to binding issues etc. Found the 525 mag1 spot on but did have one end plate crack.

 

[stephie1]

Main difference I noticed was that the Fathoms have an all metal cage (like the Saltists) as opposed to the plastic ones of the 525s. I had many issues with the old 525s & a 535 (cage broke first time I used it!) which put me off the Penns and tbh neither of the new models really appeal either.

Gary

525s have aluminium spools m8 not plastic. Ive got a mag2 and so far no problems with it. And i do put it under pressure when casting but do generally look after me gear. Wish the spool held a bit more 18lb line though lol. Guess ya either get a goodun or a pig.!!

 

[deanwar]

Just ordered 4 fathoms so better not be crap Probably mag them if any problems develop but certainly wasn't going to get 525mag2 as virtually everyone i know with them have had problems with them from the mounting plate coming loose to binding issues etc. Found the 525 mag1 spot on but did have one end plate crack.

You wont be disappointed with them, i replaced my silver saltists with them and never looked back
a friend of mine had 2 of the mounting plates come loose on 2 525mag 2s in the space of 7 weeks. I Wouldnt go near them after i had seen that
i have kept hold of 2 usa built 525 slidey mags though, wouldnt part with them, great little reels

 

[deanwar]

525s have aluminium spools m8 not plastic. Ive got a mag2 and so far no problems with it. And i do put it under pressure when casting but do generally look after me gear. Wish the spool held a bit more 18lb line though lol. Guess ya either get a goodun or a pig.!!

he didnt say the spool was plastic mate! really dont think it would last long if it was, the reel cage is plastic the same as the original 525mag the fathom is full metal body