Marryat Plus

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

Hello everyone!

By way of introduction, my name is Rick Heider and I am one of the owners of Angler Sport Group. ASG is a US fly fishing distributor to over 1000 fly shops (and others) including products like Marryat, Daiichi and Wheatley. We also distribute over 400 varieties of fly boxes. You can find out more about us at [url=http://www.anglersportgroup.com.:afd75]www.anglersportgroup.com.[/url:afd75]

I am joining the forum today to help explain one of the features of the Marryat Plus fly reel. You might have noted that it is offered this month in the free drawing. The Marryat Plus is a revolutionary concept in fly fishing reels in that a drag control is located in the winding handle. This feature set a new standard in fly reel technology and facilitates a different way to fish for larger fish. By ?larger fish? I mean both fresh and saltwater fish such as steelhead, salmon, bonefish, tarpon, etc. When I demoed the reel at the FFR Trade Show in Denver in September, some dealers understood the concept immediately. Some others needed an explanation. Still others needed to experience a hands-on demo by the inventor, Roger Ritter, of Marryat. As a result, I thought it might be helpful to try to explain the operation and intent of the winding handle drag system and answer any questions.

The Marryat section of the FAOL website covers the features of the reel so I won?t repeat that now. You might want to check it out first so you can follow along. I recommend doing that right after registering for the drawing!

First of all, the Marryat Plus is an anti-reverse reel. Therefore, the winding handle does not spin backward. If a large fish is taking line off the reel, the handle remains stationary. For large fish, this means you can easily find/grab the winding handle and the operation won?t become a knuckle-buster. Also, you don?t need to apply pressure on the handle to keep it from spinning. This is important later in my discussion.

Like other reels the Marryat Plus has a drag control located on the side of the frame opposite the side that has the winding handle. Marryat drags are very smooth, linear, and have little start-up inertia. The drag operates as in other reels. You can crank the winding handle and the reel will retrieve unless the tension on the line is greater than the drag setting. The retrieval rate is proportional to the difference between the line tension and the drag setting. Nothing is different here as long as you don?t squeeze the two pads in the winding handle.

Squeezing the pads in the winding handle will cause the drag to increase linearly from the drag setting on the side of the reel to full direct drive. The harder you squeeze the more drag you get. If you squeeze hard enough to get full direct drive you can retrieve line at the rate at which you wind. When you let go of the pads, the drag reverts to the drag setting on the side of the reel. This control of the drag setting is a major difference between normal anti-reverse/ direct drive (dual mode) reels and the Marryat Plus. Typically, in most dual mode reels you don?t have finger-tip control of the drag for this amount of dynamic range. Another feature you get with this system is that it allows greater protection of thin leaders/tippets. You can set the side drag to levels lower than normal given you have a second drag control in the winding handle.

While the winding handle drag system could be revolutionary itself, one of the outcomes of this system is the way it can be used to fish. The Marryat Plus allows you total concentration on the fish, not the reel. Imagine a large fish stripping line off your reel faster than you can believe and heading for some sanctuary. The anti-reverse feature lets you find and grab the handle. The winding handle drag feature lets you vary the amount of drag to control the fish and retrieve when you want to. Just a little squeeze turns the fish. Squeeze and pump the rod to bring the fish in. There?s no palming, there?s no fiddling with the drag wheel, there?s no switching hands and fumbling. Just you and the fish!

Well, anyway, that?s the intent and purpose. Now, let the discussion begin. Have fun, good fishing…

Best regards,

Rick Heider
ASG

PS: I?ll check the forum daily for a while. You can ask any questions you have here, or email me @ rick@anglersportgroup.com or call 585-757-9958.

Features of the Marryat Plus:

Anti-reverse/direct drive (dual mode)
Large Arbor spool
Hard anodized coating for fresh or salt water
Heat resistant hi-tech Teflon drag (self-lubricating)
Quick spool change / Cost-friendly extra spool
Main components are sealed and protected against sand and saltwater
No special tools needed
Made in Switzerland
Capacity: 200yds 20lbs + WF9F or 350yds 30lbs GSP backing
Weight: 191g
Color: cage grey, Spool titan
Easy change R/L; flip the cassette
Quick spool change
Discrete clicker

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Hi Rick,

Thank you for the introduction and explanation. The concept of a stationary handle controlling an angler operated, real-time switch between Direct-Drive and Anti-Reverse works and works very well indeed. I know because I have been using LAW Anti-Reverse reels since 1990, reels which have the features and benefits you have so eloquently described.

Roger Ritter has designed a very elegant path to arrive at a feature set seen as desirable, in much the same manner as the LAW reel designer has done. Are there differences in the finer points of the design? Of course there are, just as there are more roads which all end up in Rome. The Marryat Plus is one such road.

The Marryat Plus fly reel is no doubt a fine, fine product. Where I have my hesitations is on the qualifications ‘sets new standards’ and ‘revolutionary’ though, in the light of what has preceeded it by a decade and a half

Does the above meet your expectations on “Let the discussions begin?” I do hope so, and in this light I hope and expect it to be read.

Best regards,
Hans W

=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier

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Sir:

Welcome to FAOL, and thank you for becoming a Sponsor of FAOL. Companies like you make this wonderful site possible!

I have been reading the weekly issues of FAOL, since October 1997. I have had the pleasure to meet some of the Sponsors of FAOL, at our Annual FAOL Fish-In’s. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you, at a FAOL Fish-In, some day!

Parnelli

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Hi Hans,

Thanks for your reply.

You are one lucky guy to be fishing with one of Mr. Waldron’s reels. They are very fine products. As I mentioned, I was hoping for discussion among forum members and I am willing to answer any questions about the Marryat Plus. Perhaps you’d be willing to share your experience with the LAW.

Mr. Ritter’s design qualified for a US patent so in that sense the design is a new concept. Knowing about the LAW (and others), I stated, “While the winding handle drag system could be revolutionary itself, one of the outcomes of this system is the way it can be used to fish.” And that was my major point. The combination of anti-reverse and “on-line” adjustable drag allows you to concentrate on the fish (implementations may vary). As you so aptly point out, you have used this technique since 1990 and endorse it’s effectiveness. There are quite a few people who have not used this technique as evidenced by the experience I described at the FFR Trade Show. Quite frankly, I was surprised at some of the “enlightenments”.

Best regards,

Rick Heider

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Hi Steven,

Deanna has just recently reminded us of the Fish-In and we are looking at possiblities on who we could send. It sounds like fun.

Best regards,

Rick Heider

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Rick,

Perhaps you’d be willing to share your experience with the LAW.

Sure. I will be more than happy to field any question thrown at me on the reel design and usage.

For starters I have been wondering ever since I started using Lawrence’s reels (first some prototypes, and then from 1990 onwards the ‘mature’ product) why for most of the anglers who are considering the use, or have in actual use, of Anti-Reverse reels as the domain of big powerful fish, more often than not in salt water.

My own fishing only touches on salt water occasionally, and the number of truly serious fish in size or power I engage in are sadly lacking… but this is not the area where I experience the most benefit from my LAW reels. Most of my fishing is for trout and grayling. While sometimes the absolute control over the drag setting at any given moment during the paying of the fish is a bonus, and the fact that my winding hand knuckles are safe, it is on tippet protection where these anti-reverse reels truly shine.

On my 4wt and 6wt outfits these A/R designs have saved me many fish landed, where most likely my own mistakes during the play of the fish would otherwise have resulted in broken tippets and “I could kick myself now” types of frustration. My LAW A/R reels… I love 'm!

Cheers,
Hans W

PS Please pass on my regards to Roger when next you have contact. It has been a while since he and I exchanged emails and opinions on reel and drag design. I did enjoy that sparring

=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier

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PS Please pass on my regards to Roger when next you have contact…

Will do. I will see him next at EFTTEX in Europe. Thanks for your commments.

Best regards,

Rick Heider

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I hope you do well with your new product. I’m afraid it is not however a reel for this retired school teacher. $950 is a lot of money.

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Is this the same concept as the discontinued Regal reel? Alec

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Sawkill: I hope you do well with your new product. I’m afraid it is not however a reel for this retired school teacher. $950 is a lot of money.

Not if you win!

11

Is this the same concept as the discontinued Regal reel? Alec

Hi Alec,

Which one, the Regal spinning reel?

Best regards,

Rick

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Rick, I have question about the reel. If I understand correctly, there are two “buttons” on either side of the handle that you squeeze to activate the drag.

It looks like the handle is round. Doesn’t a round handle make it harder to place your fingers on the buttons quickly? Wouldn’t a “paddle” style handle, similar to those of casting reel, be easier to use than the round handle?

My concern is that when I have a fish on the line, I want to be able to grab the handle without having to think about how my fingers are positioned. How easy is your handle design to use?

Gee, that was a long post just to ask about the ergonomics of the design.

Thanks,
Rex

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Rex: It looks like the handle is round. Doesn’t a round handle make it harder to place your fingers on the buttons quickly? Wouldn’t a “paddle” style handle, similar to those of casting reel, be easier to use than the round handle?

Hi Rex,

That’s a great question. There are times that you don’t want to press the pads and times when you do. My experience has been that upon initially grabbing the winding handle (assuming your hand’s not already there), you tend to roll the handle in your fingers to either press between the pads or on the pads depending on what you want to do. As you play the fish, you could roll back and forth, on and off the pads, easily. Alternatively, you could just stay on the pads, but it would be difficult to wind the reel without some pressing on the pads, and the pads are sensitive in that they add drag quickly, more than you would think. It’s an effective mechanism.

I think your question is a good one and it shows that there is some learning experience in using the pads correctly. Probably not any different than other new adaptations to technology. One thing for sure, the engineering in the pad mechanism is wonderful (I am an engineer by training) so the implementation can be used effectively. It’s sure, quick and reliable. I would guess that once you get used to using this reel, that your actions would be very subtle to others and not detected by someone less knowledgeable. It also might be that not everyone uses the pad mechanism in the same manner.

Another thought I had, is that if you wanted to use the reel in the conventional manner (no added drag beyond the setting on the side of the reel) it would be easy to do so. In that case, you would squeeze between the pads (90 degrees from direct contact). That seems to be easy to accomplish and doesn’t press on the pads at all. You might start out this way until you get used to the mechanism or develop confidence in the mechanism.

Adaptation to technology can be difficult. My wife’s a PhD nurse and lectures in this area. OTOH, technology, when applied correctly, can be a wonderful thing. I think this is what Mr. Ritter had in mind with his invention.

Best regards,

Rick Heider
ASG

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Hi Rick - No, the Regal reel is a fly reel manufactured by the same folks that brought us the Regal vise. Reading further on this thread I understand the differences now - the Regal allows the angler to apply additional pressure to the spool by pressing against the handle assembly, which applies additional pressure like a caliper brake. It appears with the Marryat you are actually squeezing pads withing the actual handle with your finger tips… Is there a schematic posted anywhere that one could see? Thanks - Alec

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Thanks Rick, the ability to “roll” the handle does make sense.

Interesting reel design, good luck with it!

Rex