Reel Comparison: Penn, Avet, Okuma

[Tower Todd]

I just received my new Christmas present to myself, a New Penn 16VSX Two Speed Reel. Just for something to do, I borrowed Marlin Mike's Blue Avet Pro EXW 4/02 and set them both up next to a Okuma Titus Gold TG-15S that I had for a comparison. I hope you enjoy.

Penn 16VSX Specs:
Capacity: 450/80# Spectra 50yds 60# Top Shot
High Speed: 4.25:1
Low Speed: 1:74:1
Max Drag At Strike: 28#
Weight in Ounces: 41
Retail Price: $499.99

Avet Pro EXW 4/02 Specs:
430yds 50# Mono
High Speed: 4:1
Low Speed 2.0:1
Max Strike Drag 20lbs
Max Full Drag 35lbs
Retail Price: $379.99


Okuma TG-15S Specs:
Capacity:550/20, 410/25, 310/30#
High Speed: 6.2:1
Weight: 29.5 Ounces
Drag Information Not Found
Retail Price: $299.99




Side By Side Comparison, Avet L, Penn M, Okuma R

The Okuma is a tad smaller than the Avet & Penn.


Side Plate View:

Notice what's missing on the Penn? No clicker. It has been moved to the right side. Also the Penn is using 3 Torx Head Screws on the side plate. The Avet uses 8 Allen Head Screws and the Okuma uses 4 Allen Head Screws.



Handle Side View:

The Avet Uses a "T" Style Handle, while Penn and Okuma use the "Knob" style handle. The Avet & Penn come standard with harness lugs, the Okuma does not offer them in this size reel. The Penn also comes with blanking plugs to install, if you don't want to use the lugs. The Penn clicker is visible in this picture.



Bottom & Clamp View:

The Avet & Penn both come with a safety line attachment point, the Okuma doesn't offer it. The Avet clamp looks machined and is anodized (but doesn't match the reel body perfectly). The Penn clamp looks like it is cast and is silver in color. Both the Avet and Penn clamp studs can be installed from the bottom of the reel with line on the reel. The studs on the Okuma must be installed prior to filling the spool with line. I learned this the hard way.



Avet Shifter View:

To shift the Avet into low gear, you simply push in the little button. To shift to high speed, you flip the small switch shown between my forefinger and thumb. To do this while fighting a fish, it is easier to reach if the handle is in the down or coming slightly toward you.



Penn Shifter Engage:

To shift the Penn into low gear, push in the big black button.



Penn Shifter Disengage:

To shift the Penn to high speed, you turn the knurled knob slightly and the big black button pops back out. It is easy to reach from several handle positions.



Handle Close-up Shot:

The Avet and Okuma have a very slightly longer handle arm than the Penn. The Handle on the Avet is Offset slightly to give better ergonomics. The Knob on the Penn is slightly longer than the Okuma.



Penn, Avet Size Comparison:

The Penn spool is slightly wider than the Avet. The Avet spool looks a tiny bit taller than the Penn.



Penn, Avet Size Comparison, Side View:

Very close in size by looking at the end caps. You can see how many screws are used. There are less places for seawater to get into the Penn.



My Conclusion:

The prices that were quoted were taken off of a retail tackle shop's website. I checked Ebay quickly and see you could probably get a new Okuma for $175 + Shipping. I have owned two of these for 2 seasons and they are O.K. They are not the quality of the either the Penn or Avet.

The things like about the Penn over the Avet:

The Penn has the loudest clicker I have ever heard on a reel. If you happen to dose off when this thing gets bit you will KNOW IT FOR SURE! It will probably scare the guy in the cabin who is napping. I like the fact that I can control the clicker on this reel. The Avet clicker self disengages when you turn the handle (the new 3/0 version has corrected this, I am told).
I like the shifter better than the Avet. I like the "Knob" style handle better than the Avet, but that is a personal preference. Some may like the "T" bar style better.
The drag Preset is better. On the Penn, you push it in and then turn it (a safety feature). The Avet just turns - can be bumped and drag setting changed.
More Drag without losing freespool - I'm not sure I care about this too much, but it the rage right now. The Penn has a lower low gear that will be noce for winching in the sea monsters. It also has a minamally faster high speed.

The things like about the Avet over the Penn:

I like the clicker located on the left side plate. The Penn clicker on the right side seems un-natural to me. I like the machined clamp better than Penn's cast clamp - looks nicer. The Avet freespools out of the box better than the Penn. I like the longer handle arm on the Avet, but like the Penn knob better (personal preference). I like the price better than the Penn for sure. The Penn's are very new and it is hard to find anyone to sell you one at a discount. There are better deals on the Avet's out there.
There is a new Avet out that I haven't been able to really look at closely. It is the Pro EX wide 3/02 and it is supposed to have 35# of drag without losing freespool.

Okuma Thoughts:
These are good reels for the money. I could almost get THREE of these reels for the price of one Penn 16VSX. The 15S Okuma is single speed, but a fast single speed. These reels work great on our Albacore. I have landed many with this reel. They need TLC to keep working. I take mine apart and squirt Corrosion X in them a couple times a year. If you don't the will sieze up.

This was really meant to be a Penn / Avet side by side. I threw the Okuma in there just beacuse I had it. I don't really think you can go wrong with either the Penn or Avet reel. I personally like the new Penn and think it will be a huge hit. I can't wait to hook into something with it and hear that clicker scream!

Cheers,
Tower Todd

[Bait O' Eggs]

Originally Posted by Tower Todd

Very close in size by looking at the end caps. You can see how many screws are used. There are less places for seawater to get into the Penn.

I am not sure I would agree with that statement right off seems to me the more screws the tighter the end plate would be to the body hence less water intrusion into the reel. I guess it depends if water gets thru by going around the the screws or where the end cap fits against the body.

I would be interested in AlanTani's opinion on this.

Nice report though

[Tower Todd]

B.O.E.,

The reason I stated this, is that earlier in the week I took the Avet apart to clean it. There were 3 screws that had a spot of corrosion inside. You may be right however, I am not an expert like Alan. I can tell you, when I took the side plate off of the Penn last night (I didn't take a picture), it was smothered in grease. I was happy that it was sent pre-lubed. I will look take a look at the end of the next season and see for sure.
Either way, they are both great reels and either one will land fish and you can't go wrong either way (in my humble opinion).
Tower Todd

[Bendman]

Thanks for the comparison TT. All very fine reels. By the way, congratulations on the new real. Very nice I'm jealous.

[fyshndad]

I can't wait til my youngest leaves the nest so I can afford a few of these awesome reels

This ADDICTION is very expen$ive indeed

[Marlin Mike]

Just remember TT that Avet likes the right corner, sure would hate to lose its place in the line up with the new toys.

Marlin mike

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

I liked Penn better than Avets, until Josh Temple explained and showed me in person that when live bait fishing, the Avet goes from free-spool to 2-5lbs of drag, whereas the Penn goes from freespool to 10-15lbs of drag.

My favorite reel is the Accurate 50wide, it has amazingly smooth torque and cranking power. Just too many drags to fiddle with..

[Tower Todd]

I like the Accurate also, but too much $$$ until I hit the jackpot.

[Hanapa'a Time]

Nice comparison TT

The only thing I will add is that the older Avets should be greased inside like Alan suggested, the newer ones should already be that way.

Another thing is the drag preset knob on the Avet is not easy to accidently move on the EX 4/0 and larger reels, then again, I haven't had that problem either with my LX/JX or MX reels either.

[Sailfish]

Nice side by side. Appreciate the info and drag specs. My two$ worth is that the penn is a better reel that will offset the price with its longevity. Personaly while I enjoy the lever drag for larger fish, I have found that a quality star drag reel is almost ideal for the size of our albies up here. I have fished a shimano trinidad 30 for the last three years and it has proved to be a great reel spooled with 30# although the clicker is a bit quiet. No snoozin in the cockpit. I am looking forward to seeing the new penn torque reels. Like a Trinidad but a Penn. If I owned a Cabo I'm sure I would just go with Accurate boss reels, but that pesky mortgage is a real hinderance.

[srupp]

once you have tried how butter smooth the drag is, and how effective the TWIN DRAG is and the fit and finish..= tight tolerences..the Accurate is the best way to go...recently while playing BIG sturgeon I was thinking how unfair these reels are to the fish...

The boss magnums are a great reel for med fish salmon etc...halibut sturgeon...

tHE TWIN drag of the bigger reels is as good as it can get...

Steven

[fishindude]

very good comparison. Thanks for taking the time.

[Reel Obsession]

Thanks Tower Todd, good comparison. Like fyshndad said, maybe when I kick my third and last of three out and finish paying for 3 college educations, I can upgrade my personal arsenal.

Speaking of which, thank you for throwing in the Okuma. Am I the only one that finds my self buying 4 or 5 of every weight and configuration of rod, real and tackle? With a fishing wife and 3 daughters, and 2 sons-in-law, I just can't buy top shelf gear for everyone. I find I'm always trying to balance decent gear, vs what I really want and could afford if I was buying for one. Just one more reason why I like to see the side by side with the Okuma.

[stream]

Thanks for the post I am getting ready to buy new reels and this post will help pulse the advice I have been getting from others

[HOGGEMIN]

Great report TT. yes the new Avet Pro 30 has 35lbs of drag and I can hot rod them to 40 plus with out losing freespool. also they corrected the clicker disengage to a lever not turning the handel. also they increased the clicker sound level to make it louder more like the Penns.

Who would not want to sport a full quiver of accurates, After I will the lottery or find a rich girlfriend then look out all my calstars will be sporting a Accurate........................

[StickFish]

When the clicker kicked off on my pro 30 it scared poor BOE - rattled the whole cabin of his boat and he cam flying out of the cabin - "What the Heck Was THAT!" Pretty funny.

Bead of grease all around the end caps and no leaky

[tracker]

Can I have your pretty purple avets then Mike! Would not want them to go to waste!