It's kind of risky knowing me, I got wind of someone who bought himself a new Squall. Before he even had a chance to put line on it, I was there asking to take it apart. Okay everyone you have been warned, tell me about your new reel at your own risk.
Penn has made a couple of reels for deep water small fish. I say that because they had a lot of line capacity but only 11 lbs. of drag.
From the late 80s to 2008 the Penn built the GTI and from 2008 until the Fall 2013 the GT2. The one thing these reels had in common was size. 310, 320, 330 etc. I hope you didn't like them because they are gone but in their place is the Penn Squall.
The Squall is built with the same spool capacities as it's Predecessors meaning. The 15 is replacing the 310, the 20 is replacing the 320, the 30 is replacing the 330 and the 50 is replacing the 40 & 45. That is where the similarities end. Anything that looked like the old reels was thrown out and in it's place is a reel that looks like the Fathom's little brother. It can do anything the old reels can do and on top of that it's going to make a nice catfish reel.
Tear Down and Inspection
In order to keep the price down below the Fathoms the Squall is built with a graphite frame and side plates. There are several things I noticed when the right side plate was pulled off, none of which I was expecting. There is a lack of plastic in the mechanism, it's stainless steel. There is also an audible clicker on the drag star and tension cap.
The Squall's spool shaft is supported by the frame on the drive side and the non handle side plate. Moving the drive side spool bearing in board off the side plate, adds rigidity to the spool shaft and gear set. The area where the reel foot is riveted on is thicker than the GTI's. The Squall also has 2 additional braces on the back of the frame to help keep frame flex to a minimum.
It's an easy reel to tear down for maintenance with no hidden surprises like springs that fly off, never to be seen again.
Gear Set
Where the old 310GTi used a brass drive shaft the Squall uses stainless steel. The 310GTi used brass main and pinion gears, the Squall is upgraded with a stainless pinion and bronze alloy main gear. Compare the gears side by side with the 7000C gears and you will find the Squall gears are larger. Another welcome upgrade, on the GTi the gears are supported by the right side plate and held together by a bridge assembly and 4 screws. Good enough for a reel with 11 lbs of drag. On the Squall the gears are supported by the frame and side plate, which is a much stronger system.
Squall and 7000C gears compared
Squall gear set
GTI gear set
Line Recovery and Capacity.
The 15 size is about the same size as the 7000i HSN, the 20 is comparable to a 7000i. Move up to the 30 and 50 size and you get a larger frame and gear set, as well as 20 lbs of drag. Something Penn has done different on this reel is to add a knurled section to the center of the spool to keep the line from slipping. Line capacity rings are also on the spool to show when you have 1/3rd, 2/3rd, or a full spool of line.
One advantage of the new off set gear sets is a manufacturer can use larger gears in a lower stronger ratio and still have a fast line recovery rate. The 4.9:1 ratio in the Squall has the same line recovery as the rate as the Abu 7000I HSN does with a 5.3:1 ratio.
Click on picture below for full size view.
Clicker
The clicker is the only carry over from the old Gti series, it's loud and strong. It is different from the Fathom in that it uses two spring plungers to provide tension to the click arm. It makes servicing the non handle side easier because you don't have to remove the click spring to access the idler gear.
Anti-reverse
As all reels should the Squall has two anti-reverse systems an instant anti-reverse bearing and a back up anti-reverse dog.
Casting
The Squall's spool is engaged and disengaged with the lever, which works just fine on a bait reel.
This reel was set up with 50 lb Suffix 832 and a 5oz bank sinker. I set the reel up with a little side to side play and on the first cast the line was wanting to float off the spool a bit. So I tightened the cap down just to that point where I could no longer feel any side to side play. This time the line came off the spool as it should. This reel tied the Tekota TEK 500 in casting distance.
Drag
The drag stack is made up of 3 carbon fiber drag washers backed up by two drag springs. Unlike most reels where the metal washer is keyed to the main gear. This reel has it's Carbon fiber washers keyed to the main gear. In the same fashion as the Fathom.
I zip tied my spring scales to the boat trailer and made a few 30 ft pulls until I hit 15 ½ lbs, so far the drag has been nice and smooth. I am going to do something I never recommend anyone doing, remember this reel is rated at 15 lbs. A little more drag and one more pull. This time 18 ½ lbs, the drag stayed smooth with no visible signs of damage.
Caution never exceed the factory recommended drag settings on this or any reel.
Conclusion
I tried to go into this review with an open mind but in all honesty I had a lot of misgivings about the outcome. I like reels made of brass, aluminum, and stainless steel, just like guns should be steel and or aluminum. Don't need no plastic pistol, or graphite reel. Some times you just have to admit you are wrong and by the way I hate doing that.
The Penn GTI and GT2 were famous for stripping gears, in fact Penn is out of gears. The Squall is a welcome and much needed upgrade to the Penn line.
The 15 and 20 size offer a great lower dollar alternative to the Abu 7000i HCN and 7000i C3's. In the 30 and 50 size an even larger alternative with 20 lbs of drag. In the 15 size it will also make a nice reel for those folks who are seriously over working the 6000 class reels.
Squall 15 compared to a 6500 inshore.
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