Super User Big Bait Fishing Posted September 10, 2015 Super User Posted September 10, 2015 You'll get a mixed bunch of opinions depending on what they have !! My opinion is that they are both good and that the difference is miniscule .... Quote
poisonokie Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 I have both, and like both. I think the kattobi starts faster, better for lighter baits, and is definitely quieter. Bocas are louder, but still an excellent upgrade that will greatly improve casting distance. Quote
a1712 Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 I have both, and like both. I think the kattobi starts faster, better for lighter baits, and is definitely quieter. Bocas are louder, but still an excellent upgrade that will greatly improve casting distance. Define Greatly Improve, as in exact distance over a flushed and reoiled factory bearing? Brian. Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted September 10, 2015 Super User Posted September 10, 2015 Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly. 2 Quote
Super User Montanaro Posted September 10, 2015 Super User Posted September 10, 2015 I'd only consider upgrading for my t3 1016 so I can toss lighter rigs. Otherwise abec5s get the nod. Quote
PitchinJigz Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly.Why are they free? Quote
PitchinJigz Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly.Why are they free? Quote
Super User Big Bait Fishing Posted September 10, 2015 Super User Posted September 10, 2015 i use Boca ABEC 5's with the metal shields , they work great and i don't feel the need to go to ABEC 7 or ABEC 9 bearings Quote
poisonokie Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Dude, if they start faster and spin easier, they'll cast further. Period. I easily got a good 20-30 extra feet casting 1/2 oz lipless with my cranking rod by switching to kattobis, and without having to shotgun them out there. Just dial your spool tension and brakes in and you'll see benefits. 1 Quote
Super User deaknh03 Posted September 11, 2015 Super User Posted September 11, 2015 Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly. If you achieve the same distance with less effort, wouldnt more effort get you more distance? Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted September 11, 2015 Super User Posted September 11, 2015 A bearing that has a better startup allows you to use less brakes than you normally would. So an easier cast results in the same distance. If you try to cast harder with less brakes it usually doesn't turn out well for the user. My spool tension is on the loose side of things and my brakes are generally on 3-4 depending on what's tied on, and sometimes less depending on the reel. I have my mag brakes on 1 when using my Steez. Daiwa uses different braking profiles depending on the spool. SV spools need very little braking. I can spool my Alphas Sv down to the arbor knot with the right bait. I'm not saying increased distance can't happen, but it shouldn't be expected just from a bearing swap. Maybe Mike 'DVT' will chime in and make it a bit more clear for interested parties. Accuracy > distance anyhow for most. PitchinJigz - Boca sends them to me. Quote
Stapsy Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 I haven't tried the Boca but I like the ZR better than the Kattobi unless you are going pure finesse. ZRs are cheaper, quieter, and will spin for days as long as you keep them clean and lightly oiled. I found the Kattobi to be more finicky with maintenance as well so I decided to stick with ZR. Edit: sorry I assumed you meant the kattobi air, the ZR is still a Kattobi Quote
Super User QUAKEnSHAKE Posted September 11, 2015 Super User Posted September 11, 2015 Dude, if they start faster and spin easier, they'll cast further. Period. I easily got a good 20-30 extra feet casting 1/2 oz lipless with my cranking rod by switching to kattobis, and without having to shotgun them out there. Just dial your spool tension and brakes in and you'll see benefits. x2 I notice these gains on my Core50 very well cleaned stock bearings with one drop of REM oil vs boca7. Reaching areas of the lake not reachable prior to switch. They spin much more easily so a persons abilities will show more or less the advantages gained. If abec5 work the same not sure haven't used them but the 7's made a difference no doubt. 1 Quote
Hogsticker Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 Both are better than most stock bearings so it's an upgrade imo. A flushed stock bearing is going to work better than out of the box of course. As alreaalready mentioned, better start up and easier casts is what to expect from after market bearings. I wouldn't expect greatly improved casting distance, but it can be noticeable if paying attention. The majority of my gear is between 3/16 and 5/8. I've found I like the Air and ZR bearings best simply because they are a little less noisy. None the less I also use 7's and find them both to be money well spent. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly. True. I'm a Boca dealer and got flamed on another venue for calling out another shop force feeding the bearing sale. They accused me of not being a very good dealer. Well my loyalty is first and foremost to my customers not not to any one vendor. Boca is a a good company with good products I readily recommend WHERE APPROPRIATE. ABEC5 hybrids are an upgrade over most stockers but modestly over properly treated ones. 1 Quote
hummbug Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 I am surprised, the point of durability never came up. Stainless steel is a very mellow steel and undergoes a lot of wear. I read that the life-span of a hybrid-ceramic is about 10 times the life of a SS bearing. I greatly enjoy your forum and normally I am a more avid reader than writer 1 Quote
poisonokie Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 Well, since bocas and kattobis are both ceramic, i didn't feel the need to point it out, but you're absolutely right. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 There are different grades of SS and the "ceramics" are technically hybrids: ceramic balls in stainless races. The ceramic balls are rounder and harder hence the faster speeds and longer life. Durability typically takes a back seat when looking at high performance parts. 1 Quote
hummbug Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 Sorrym my mistake. Please consider that down here is a different world and some subjects or proprietry names or gadgets we have never heard about. Sorry, won´t happen again. Good fishing Quote
poisonokie Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 There are different grades of SS and the "ceramics" are technically hybrids: ceramic balls in stainless races. The ceramic balls are rounder and harder hence the faster speeds and longer life. Durability typically takes a back seat when looking at high performance parts. That's true. Can't wait to try out a 100% Al oxide or SiC bearing! Those would absolutely spin and last forever. Quote
poisonokie Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 Sorrym my mistake. Please consider that down here is a different world and some subjects or proprietry names or gadgets we have never heard about. Sorry, won´t happen again. Good fishing I wasn't knocking you or anything. I just figured that bocas and hedgehog bearings being superior was the one thing that everyone could agree on. Your comment just made the argument all the more concrete. Tight lines to you, sir. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted September 12, 2015 Posted September 12, 2015 A single 100% ceramic bearing costs more than some reels. Plus a bait of a given weight, mass and profile will only fly so far. There's nothing to be gained on the water with anything more than is available now. Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted September 12, 2015 Super User Posted September 12, 2015 A single 100% ceramic bearing costs more than some reels. Plus a bait of a given weight, mass and profile will only fly so far. There's nothing to be gained on the water with anything more than is available now. Combine some Abec 7's with Daiwas T wing and I bet you'd gain 60ft on a cast. Quote
Super User QUAKEnSHAKE Posted September 12, 2015 Super User Posted September 12, 2015 Combine some Abec 7's with Daiwas T wing and I bet you'd gain 60ft on a cast. 63' if rod is spiral wrapped as well Quote
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