You guys are such a bad influence. This thread prompted me to seek out a Penn for my old Fenwick. .
I'd say I was a good influence. That reel will keep fishing longer than you. As far as smoothness and reliability, Penn Spinfishers are the best fishing reels ever made - they simply do not have a weak point.
I've fished through Mitchells (Made in France). By the time I was 20, my 6-y-o Mitchell 300 (on Berkley Tri-sport glass rod) had cried Uncle catching Spanish macs, a few big reds and one really big spec. The nylon main gear brinnelled, and clicks every contact point now, making it sound a bit like a train. Same part in a Penn is bronze, and that won't happen.
I'm in the process of staging gear for the upcoming coast kayak trip (still a month away) - new stern light - checking boat boxes for completeness, removing surplus gear from travel bags, will eventually get around to waxing the boats and Boeshield on the fasteners...
Reels need lube, maybe minor cleaning from storage, new Boeshield. Found my 35-year old fly fishing fanny pack has frozen solid zippers, and I'll be replacing it (had to cut it open to recover leaders and tippet - salt tackle lives a rough life - even YKK zippers).
I'll be loaning my daughter's rigged boat, and some of my tackle.
As I'm going through my gear a little bit every evening, one other reel shines - my old Penn 4x00SS spinners, which are over 30 years old.
At first picking one up, they wind stiff. One drop of oil on each side of the main bushing, handle, one on the spool shaft, and they're spinning like tops. My Penn 4400SS has fished thousands of miles, thousands of fish - landed big kings and jacks, and just won't quit. The 4200SS UL has landed 30" reds, and here's my daughter horsing big sheepshead on the flats.
My old guide buddy at the coast fished his Penns, propped them in the garage, and took them out again without even rinsing them. The only reel ever made that can be ridden hard, put away wet, and keeps going.
I don't treat them this way - all my tackle gets a bath after a coast trip.
Don't have a 4x00SS photo to show, but here's a beauty 716.
In my book, these count as the smoothest and most reliable spinning reels ever made, though Tommy has a great argument with his ABU/Zebco.
I'll also add my top-line Tica Cetus XUL has held up so well for salt pier fishing, I've added a medium Tica Libra to break-in on this trip. I'll have a fishing report late next month - they're a really good buy.
BTW Jon, the reason this is a salt topic for me, I very rarely use anything but fly tackle in freshwater.
In the salt, fly fishing is best reserved for sight-fishing, and conventional tackle takes over for most blind-fishing, such as drifting a kayak.