The Model OC: Changes and Upgrades
“I THINK WE LIVE FOR A SPORT THAT IS RICH WITH HISTORY...
Our knowledge in catching fish and our understanding of the sport is of greater significance than the quantity of fish we catch and the efficiency with which we catch them. However, there are some new developments that have happened that add value and should be incorporated to handle big fish or saltwater fish. The OC is a bow to the original Ocean City Reel company that were made for the working man prior to World War 2. We had a similar design philosophy in mind. Make the reel strong and versatile at a reasonable price. The new OC has a stronger drag and completely sealed in a CNC'd hub for fishing saltwater. It has a very strong un-ported reel design, and a full cage so that you can use it with thin running lines, mono (euro dudes) or double hand rods. We maintained the aesthetic of a traditional fly reel from the era of the original Ocean City. “
- Sam Wike
Below is a detailed list of the changes from our Product Designer, Rob Bolke.
CAPACITY - We increased the width of the spool, increased the overall spool diameter or height, and decreased the arbor diameter slightly. We also made the adjustments a little greater on the larger two sizes. It accommodates for large spey heads, and a ton of backing for Fred when he goes to chase sharks in the keys.
DRAG - We had a drag well suited for most trout applications but didn't feel it had the stopping power we needed for some other pursuits. We added more discs to the drag system, more than doubling the drag force on most of the models, but nearly 5x on the larger reels. A bit excessive maybe, but we were given the challenge to have a bomb proof drag, and we set out to accomplish that (we did). We are confident in saying that we have one of the strongest drags on the market. Fully sealed, and ready for any saltwater application.
DESIGN - We loved the minimalist, vintage, industrial look of our original OC. We didn't want to stray too far from that design. However, we added a bit more porting on the spool, and a vinyl record inspired design on the outside frame. All parts are anodized to provide protection from corrosion. Even the silver aluminum parts, although they look like raw aluminum, they are also anodized for additional protection.
SIZING - We changed to a numerical sizing system on all our new reels. Size 1 through 5. Our size 1 reels are designed for 3wt or similar sized rods, while our size 5 reels are perfect for 9wt or larger rods. The size 5 reel also offers ample capacity for hundreds of yards of backing or the larger spey heads. We felt that due to the many types of lines that exist today, single hand vs. double hand for instance, it wasn't entirely fair to identify each reel by the line weight. It also greatly depends on the amount of backing one chooses to use and how they wish to balance the rod they pair it up with. For those reasons, we felt it best to size our reels of the overall capacity and size of each reel. Our new size 4 OC for instance can easily be spooled with 300 yards of 65lb Fly Project Top Shelf 8 Strand backing, and any 8wt WF line of your choice. We've also used this same size 4 reel with a 10wt WF line, and closer to 230 yards of the same 8 strand backing.
RUGGED DEPENDABILITY - The original OC was already a rugged and simple design. With a full cage frame and limited porting, the OC could always take a beating. We continued that with the new model but put extra effort into the machined design to make sure it can handle the torque of large saltwater predators. The OC’s design ensures that it is fully sealed and protected in all areas that could see water penetration. Don't get us wrong, the original OC could handle many large fish over the years and has escaped some nasty environments flawlessly. BUT we felt we could do better, and we wanted to make sure we improved in any small area that we could. Most of these enhancements will never be noticed, but rest assured, the care and attention were there to find ways to improve the overall dependability of the reel.
SPOOL CAP - If there was one weakness on the original OC, it was that the spool cap could sometimes loosen up on its own after a long day of fishing or bouncing in the boat rod holder. It generally just required an occasional check throughout the day and a quick tighten with your hand. We redesigned the new spool cap so that it is far less likely to ever come loose. We also added a heavier O-ring for water protection and tighter tolerances for an extra snug fit. Finally, every reel comes with two spool caps. An original custom brass cap (that classic look we want) and an aluminum cap that cleans up and doesn’t require maintenance. The brass cap will get some patina after being exposed to oxygen, and especially will tarnish with sometime in the salt. It is up to you how often you wish to clean it or polish it, but we recommend a light rinse after each use. If you'd prefer the no-hassle approach of aluminum, we have you covered.
- TFP
