How to maintain saltwater reels?

[Distraction]

I keep having to replace my saltwater reels.

Probably because I was never taught how to properly care for them after a trip and over the winter.

What is your "maintenance plan" for your reels?

I'm thinking something like:

hose them off with fresh water at the end of the trip
spray them with {insert name of spray} to prevent corrosion

...etc.

Thanks for your advice!

[Tom Powers]

First buy quality reels. Make sure that they are rated for saltwater use. I have good luck with Penn SS series spinning reels. There are other quality saltwater reels out there.

I generally just hose them off with fresh water on a spray setting each and every time I use them. I have buddies that wash them down with soapy water after each use. The key is don't use a sharp stream to wash them down as it will tend to drive salt into the inner workings of the reel.

I sometimes will wipe them down with a rag that has WD40 on it. I do this on my (1) calcutta reel on a regular basis. I avoid spraying the line with WD40 as it can not be any good for the line.

Once a season take them apart and grease them up. I am a 10 to 15 trips a year kind of guy and have different rods for different kind of fishing. So I guess that if you go way lots, that this would translate to every 10 to 20 uses consider breaking them down, inspecting them and apply appropriate lubricant to the gears, etc.

If a reel takes a swim in saltwater or lands in the sand it is in for a breakdown and clean before the week is out.

[BlueMarlin84]

Like stated above, first make sure you're using saltwater rated reels. Tighten drags and spray with fresh water, then spray Penn Rod/Reel cleaner on a cloth and wipe down reels and rods, then loosen drags and store indoors.

[wino]

Spray reel with fresh water wipe dry spray on any of the good lubricants that drive water out and lubricate at the same time. I also check my line for knicks and other problems. Once a year they get broken down and lubed internally.

[pipewrench]

Avet will go through their reels and slicker em up for $38.00 plus shipping. Just got one of my SX reels back, took em 6 days to send it back, they replaced ALL bearings and a couple of other parts, buffed it up, man, is it slick now! Check out Alan Tani's post and web site, guarantee you'll learn some good stuff.

[Fishman]

Cant go wrong with a lite spray of fresh water and the let them air dry.

[TautLines]

I definatly believe you should service your reels 3 to 4 times year. I just like to go through them and grease my bearings lube gears and just get the grime off of them. I have yet to have a serious break down or problem

[rickhoffer]

If you need a professional cleaning check out http://www.dominiontackle.com/

Located in Springfield VA, great service and pricing. You can ship your reel(s) using the form on the website

[IClaudius7]

I saw a product advertised recently that I will use in the future. It's called "Corrosion Block" and is the civilian equivalent
of the military stuff to prevent salt water corrosion. A tube costs about $10 at West Marine. Put the name into a Google
search and look at what the stuff does. It comes in various forms (spray can about $20, tub and tube). I figure a two
ounce tube should last years if you only use it on saltwater reels.

[Gotta Gaff 'Em]

This is something we do with all reels from our speck stuff to run penn internationals. At the end of each trip lock down the drags on the reels and rinse with fresh water. Then take a bucket of water and add a splash of simple green, doesn't take much. Take a rag and wash rod from top to bottom making sure to get the reel in all places. Then rinse gently with a shower stream. Never use high pressure because it can push salt into the reel. Once rinsed either dry with a Shammy or let air dry. Before you store your reels back the drags off completely and if you have it some reel spray. Reel magic works well on mono but do not use it on braid