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The 400Te is more reel than you need for plugging from a boat or sand beaches. The 400/400b are plenty of reel and simpler inside than the TE's and a lot cheaper and easier to work on. Better ergonomics, too. Certainly for boat plugging they are one of the best options out there. I can't speak for sand exposure (I mostly fish in rocks) but I've not had trouble with them when I am on sand. From a boat/rocks the levelwind is worth it and has not given me trouble.
I will say that I find I have to tear them down about twice a season, even from the boat. Conventional reels spray saltwater when you cast them and eventually this gets inside. I probably replace one bearing (usually the right side) every year or two, clean the drag 1-2x a season, and need to replace the anti-reverse bearing every 3 years or so. To me this seems normal.
I will say that my experience with levelwind reels on 11 ft rods has been humbling. If you are throwing hard for distance, any flaw in your cast will cause a few line loops. With non levelwind reels these spin out, but with levelwinds they snag the loop and cost you a plug. Shorter rods don't generate the spool velocity to make this such an issue.
Working on your reels is pretty easy and, I think, an absolute necessity if you fish often.
Last edited by numbskull; 01-20-2010 at 07:36 AM..
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