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MAKO by Charlton Reels
 The new MAKO by Jack Chalton reels are now available, and many are in stock so there is no wait. Essentially, there are four sizes of reels, the 9500, 9550, 9600, and 9700. The first two have both a mid arbor and a large arbor spool available. The 9600 and 9700 will be available in both a B and an S version. The B is designed for bluewater fishing with a very strong drag, a beefed up spool, and heavy duty spindle/bearing assembly. The S version is intended more for spey fishing and will feature a drag with less top end and a spool allowing for every bit as much capacity as is possible. The reels are available with type II anodizing (colors) and can be ordered in combinations of black, gold, or platinum finish (any two of those---see photos.) Plus, you can still get the same incredible porcelain-like type III anodizing that the Signature Series reels had. The drag is a multi-disc carbon fiber setup and is incredibly smooth and strong. The dragknob is set in a bearing and is the smoothest operating knob I think I've ever used. Jack refers to it as "power steering." He has also incorporated what he calls his Taperloc Quick-change spool system. And it doesn't cost extra. More information will be added to the table below as it becomes available.
Jack is also working on a lightweight reel, which he is referring to as a 6/7/8 model. He hopes to bring this one in at about 8oz or so, so it could make a terrific bonefish or striper reel. I'll let you know when I can accept orders for this reel though a few customers have already put their names on an unofficial list to be notified when they become available. Jack will have this reel in prototype this fall so I doubt we'll see production reels available until the first of the year. I'll update the table below when I have more concrete information.
2010 pricing is now on the table below.
I currently have a sizeable inventory
of Mako reels in stock. In fact, as of 8/31/10 I had at least one of each model in stock in Type III including both LH and RH retrieve models. That varies by the day, of course. I'm also starting to accumulate a fair number of spare spools in the inventory, and I'm trying to stay caught up so that I have at least one of each SKU around. As tough as they were to get for awhile, I'm especially happy to have a fair number of 9600S, 9700S, and even 9700B reels in stock. If you've been thinking about one of those for awhile, but the long wait that was true until recently discouraged you from pursuing it, now is the time to latch onto one. That's especially true since it's considered to be quite likely that there wll be a price increase on all the Makos for 2011.
Model |
Dia. |
Wd. |
Wt. |
Capacity |
Price |
Spool |
9500 8S |
4.0 |
1.2 |
11.7 |
WF8F&200yds of 20# |
$895.00 |
$348.00 |
9500 810 |
4.0 |
1.2 |
11.7 |
WF10F&260yds of 50# GSP |
$895.00 |
$348.00 |
9550 810 |
4.5 |
1.2 |
13.8 |
WF8F&220yds of 30# |
$995.00 |
$398.00 |
9550 1012 |
4.5 |
1.2 |
13.8 |
WF12F&300yds of 50#GSP |
$995.00 |
$398.00 |
9600S (Spey) |
5.0 |
1.2 |
13.8 |
WFF10/11/12 & 150yds of 30# |
$1190.00 |
$453.00 |
9600B (Bluewater) |
5.0 |
1.2 |
15.2 |
WF12F &350yds of 30#
ST14 & 500+yds of 50# GSP
|
$1190.00 |
$453.00 |
9700S (Spey) |
5.5 |
1.2 |
14.9 |
PowerSpey 10/11 & 250yds of 30# |
$1450.00 |
$537.00 |
9700B (Bluewater) |
5.5 |
1.2 |
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Shooting head/running line & 600yds+ 50# GSP |
$1695.00 |
$628.00 |
These capacities are conservative as most reel companies overstate the capacity and even Jack's original reels were somewhat overstated on some models. So much depends on the line and brand of backing you're using, and on how tightly the backing is packed. When I tested the 9550 1012 Beta model I had a Rio WF11 Intermediate Striper line on it (a 100' line with a 40' head) and about 275yds of 30# Scientific Anglers white backing. Showing capacities for spey lines can be near impossible. The 9600S should hold at least 150yds of 30# Dacron with about any long bellied line you can buy. It'll hold a lot more backing than that for almost any other type of speyline (Rio Windcutter, Airflo Delta, etc.) I can't imagine finding any speyline that wouldn't work on the 9700S without at least 250yds of 30# Dacron. My personal 9600B is set up with a WF12F Airflo RidgeTarpon line and almost exactly 300yds of white 30# Scientific Anglers System backing. That would mean that Jack's specs above are very close to being right on the mark.
Once again---the 9600B and S models and the 9700B and S models are significantly different reels, but the spools are interchageable between the B and S models.
Some of you have seen a Mako photo floating around on the internet that shows a matte finish, and frankly it looks gorgeous. Jack has said he's willing to do these on a special order basis. The charge is $200.00 for a reel and $100.00 for a spare spool. He calls it the Stealth finish. It is an additional process done after all the polishing and buffing on a Type III finish. See the photo of the Stealth finish below.
Platinum on Gold
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Type III Black
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 Black on Platinum
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Black on Gold
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Mako drag
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Mako
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Stealth Finish
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