X2, Plus you should answer some questions at least for yourself, no matter what rod or manufacturer you go with.

You say you fish up to 4 oz. but is that jigging? Plugs?
What will you be using the rod for? Is it for the canal only, or mostly canal and some other locations? Rock hopping?
Do you have other rods to fit other slots or will this be your one and only rod to do it all?
What are you currently fishing now? What do you like about it? and what don't you like about it?
What other rods have you fished? What did you like/dislike about them?
Do you like your rods to be more parabolic or less?
I’d also look into things like:
What is the warranty? How have things been handled by them in the past?
Are you looking for a 1 piece or 2 piece, or could you care less?
How do the rods cast, and how do they fight fish?
Do you need a custom or would a factory be fine for you?

There are a lot of things to think about. Good luck in your search, and don't rush into anything. There are a lot of helpful people on the site and if there is a rod you are considering, I am sure someone would let you try it out.

People who fish the Canal heavily tend to blow up rods. I've seen as many Lamiglas rods break as any other brand. I can't count the number of Super Surf 11' MH rods I've seen break in the same area, about a foot above the reel. I've even seen guys break Harnells back in the day. Even the fabled, revered GSB blanks can break.

You could also ask a couple of local shops that build hundreds a rods a year about dealing with Lamiglas on warranty coverage.

How many guys blow up rods by trying to snap a jig loose from a snag, instead of pointing the tip at it and pulling straight back? How many break them by snap casting a high modulus, fast taper rod? How many break them by catching their lure on a rock or brush on their backswing? How many drop the rod on the rocks, causing a small, unseen crack?

Are the Century rods that are breaking the original HJ 1327s, which weren't autoclaved, or the newer Slingshot autoclaved versions?

I only know of two CTS pro staffers, and both are very experienced, hard-core guys.

thin wall = snap

^^^ simple, precise, eloquent. :rotf2:

People asked for link of broken Centuries. Not too good at that stuff. Part of RI show thread. Been informed by knowledgeable person that the negative comments may not be objective. More independent info is probably called for in this case.
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Excellent advise fishbones! I personally witnessed a new century rod snap off the top 6" of the tip while casting a 2 and a half oz pencil at the canal. It sounded like a shotgun going off! If it snaps during a cast, what happens fighting a 30+lb fish in a swift current? I personally use an arra 1322. Casts a mile and has a solid backbone. Super happy with that purchase from CMS.
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I unhooked them and released them.. without any problems.
Not arguing here, just countering and answering your question with experienced facts. Can we drop this now?
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Hard part about any rod that breaks is not knowing what type of pounding it has taken. The wrong impact on any rod will create a weak point that will fail under the right conditions. I've been a custom rod builder longer than most on this site have been around let alone fishing and have seen just about every make n model of rod broken one way or other.About the only one I've never seen broke is the old Lami bts 120 6m. An old Hatteras heaver from the 60's. Probably one of the original canal sticks and was only a limited run.A few broken rods means hard fishing and probably banging off rocks when slipping an falling. A lot means a flaw.
Thin walled blanks will never take the same beating as heavier rods.It doesn't mean they're not a good rod. I've broken 3 of the new rods myself so far. A CTS at Rissa a couple yrs ago,aslingshot 120 from a plug slamming into it and and a 1327 slingshot that I'm still not sure why she failed. Before this I've broken fenwick 136m,lami 1322 Arra and Gsb and a few 8 an 9 ftrs. I still use another one of the rods that I broke because they do the job I want not because they're bad rods.Bad blanks show up quick because you don't see a couple broke here n there you see a lot. Look at the ist run ARRA 9 ft 2 peice. If you break one send it back.

if a rod is junk you will see a few custom builders an some shops on here talking about them. Ron

If u want to test a rod put it in my hands. For free that is. :). I will test it to its fullest potential and give it back. I only give honest feedback. :uhuh:

I'm just sharing what I witnessed and my experience with a product I am pleased with. I think some folks will become very brand loyal once they commit to a particular product. My father-in-law for instance will only buy Chevy cars. Chevy could produce cars that had their wheels fall off after 15 miles and he would still find a way to defend their superiority as an auto manufacturer. I am not immune to brand loyalty either and I am not claiming that century produces an inferior product. Yes, we can drop it now. Lol.
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Yeah, and some guys shave their legs.
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If I shave my legs, will it keep my rods from breaking? :rotf2:

I blew up a Century 2X they handed me a brand new Stealth S2 rod so i can't say anything bad about them. The rod was still great broken i used it all season still PB on it too of 43#/48". All rods break imo jst depends what type of abuse u put on them. The canal alone beats the ish out of all gear. I broke a Rainshadow 1265 as well but it was cow after cow for hours so I'd imagine that abuse alone weakens a rod. CMS gladly replaced it for me.
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Every rod line has some breaks and if the truth be known they almost always involve some kind of initial ding from user abuse. Yes rods should take some abuse but any rod can break after it gets nicked. Secondly , as Subsurface points out , if you break a Century in normal use , you get a new one. Can anyone deny that? If you step on it or break it in a car door , etc well that's not their fault. I know of no one who was ever denied a warrantee claim by Century.IMO they are the best available blanks right now . Yes I still like Lami's and all stars and some other brands and in fact mostly fish the canal with an XRA 1205 but if that ever breaks it will be replaced with the best suited Century at the time or whatever "new" rod brand that might come along to displace it.

The canal is a rediculously perilous environment for both the rod and the fisherman. How many people , much less their rods get all banged up there. The difference is rods don't heal. You ding your rod and thats a permanent potential failure initiation site.

Lastly , I have seen guys break every big brand name rod out there. When it has happened when I was watching , it was always operator error. If a rod breaks on your first or second day out , the rod had a defect.A defective rod will break on the first big fish or the first few casts after a big fish. If the rod breaks after 20 or 40 fishing days or two years of use , its because it got damaged during use. We are lucky to have a company like Century that is so reliable about honoring their warrantee. Many of the "lifetime warrantee" companies of the past and some new comers now regularly turn down warrantee claims siting high sticking or some other unproveable cause as their reason for denying a claim. Some people just don't know when they have it good!

I don't think I'd ever sell a GLoomis unless I could trade it for a GSB 120 1M or an Allstar 1088 (don't hear about many of those breaking). I don't know anything about the newer rods and that is only because I am comfortable with the companies I use, and currently have no reason to look elsewhere. If that changes, well then, I will look to another company. But I agree with statements made in other posts and on other sites. The rod wars are friggin' pathetic and childish. The agendas of most people are so transparent, it's almost like an insult to one's intelligence. Why would anyone care what other people fish? Build a good rod and let your reputation/work/customer service speak for itself . I, too, am not talking about anyone in particular nor do I have any affiliation with any company (wish i was that good :) ). Just wanted to make that clear...

I built a century 1327 for morning plugging and metal at the canal. They really are amazing rods. You won't go wrong with it for that purpose. FWIW, I have had two lamis break. I closed the door on an 8fter and blew up a 1081m after i bounced the top guide off of the canal road. With my clumsiness, they won't be the last.

I really think this summarizes it all, and is of course not limited to
the canal. Goes for using it as a wading stick, dropping it from the
car, dropping gear on it, accidentally getting it jammed in the
bushes or the ground as you are walking, and most of all falling on
the sucker.

Its sort of human nature to pass the blame or forget things like
how used your rod on the rocks to prevent a face plant when you
tripped. Last season, I did that with a brand new rod....landed the
full 210# of falling weight, bracing the rod on the corner of a
rock....on the banks of the canal. I am just waiting for it to talk
back....amazing it hasn't.

If I break a rod, i just eat the cost if there is any reasonable doubt
that I may have caused the issue. I have only redeemed warranty
on one rod where I broke the rule....and it was earlier in my
surfcasting career, before I knew it was a no-no to high stick.
Believe me...I know I am broken, and I wish I could just demand
replacements like everyone else.

There is something about graphite or carbon fiber that gets jacked
if hit on the perpendicular. Permanent weak spot. I have had more failures
with early fresh water graphite rods in this way. I remember the
impact....followed soon with a failure. Sometimes after an impact it
would look fine, but all you would need to do is touch it and the rod
tip would fall off like a dead leaf.

Its really a testament to the advances in technology that these
rods can really stand up to considerable abuse. I don't know much
about the technology, but there is a lot of talk of these stronger
resins. I guess the industry is motivated to protect themselves
from warranty claims. On second thought perhaps bogus warranty
claims are a good thing! Never mind! We do demand better rods! We want progress!