Boca Bearings

jprism · January 08, 2016, 10:00:09 AM

I currently have 3 older Shimano Curado CU-201's and am toying with replacing the bearings this winter with the ceramic Boca's as opposed to the stock ones. Does anyone have any experience with doing this good or bad?

Thanks, Jim

Dfiene1 · January 08, 2016, 12:29:06 PM

I have experience with the Boca's and the hedgehog's. I prefer the hedgehog studios hands down. The hedgehog AIR would be my choice.

LgMouthGambler · January 08, 2016, 12:43:29 PM

Quote from: Dfiene1 on January 08, 2016, 12:29:06 PM
I have experience with the Boca's and the hedgehog's. I prefer the hedgehog studios hands down. The hedgehog AIR would be my choice.

I agree with the HH bearings, but Air is more geared to lighter baits and finesse. I would go with the ZR bearings personally. I have them in a few reels, and they are just killer.

OkobojiEagle · January 08, 2016, 02:32:39 PM

Why Hedgehog over Boca?

oe

LgMouthGambler · January 08, 2016, 02:58:10 PM

Quote from: OkobojiEagle on January 08, 2016, 02:32:39 PM
Why Hedgehog over Boca?

oe

I think they perform better, and arent noisy.

Tavery5 · January 08, 2016, 03:30:30 PM

Quote from: jprism on January 08, 2016, 10:00:09 AM
I currently have 3 older Shimano Curado CU-201's and am toying with replacing the bearings this winter with the ceramic Boca's as opposed to the stock ones. Does anyone have any experience with doing this good or bad?

Thanks, Jim

This is my opinion so take it for what it is worth. I have serviced and repaired reels for years, in my experience an ABEC 5 SS bearing when properly cleaned and lubed performs as well in most fishing reels as the ABEC 7 Ceramic Hybrid. Ceramic Hybrids perform at their peak when run dry, and they can be noisy to some people when run in this manner, to quiet them you must lube them, and then you loose almost any performance gain that you may have recognized.

My advice is go with SS ABEC 5's, properly clean and lube, save yourself some money and you will be very impressed with the performance.

Dfiene1 · January 08, 2016, 04:23:09 PM

Quote from: LgMouthGambler on January 08, 2016, 12:43:29 PM
I agree with the HH bearings, but Air is more geared to lighter baits and finesse. I would go with the ZR bearings personally. I have them in a few reels, and they are just killer.

The AIR are rated up to 1 oz. so I wouldnt shy way from them for standard duty. The ZR's are rated higher but the AIR are more than capable.

Mike Cork · January 09, 2016, 11:07:51 AM

Quote from: Tavery5 on January 08, 2016, 03:30:30 PM
This is my opinion so take it for what it is worth. I have serviced and repaired reels for years, in my experience an ABEC 5 SS bearing when properly cleaned and lubed performs as well in most fishing reels as the ABEC 7 Ceramic Hybrid. Ceramic Hybrids perform at their peak when run dry, and they can be noisy to some people when run in this manner, to quiet them you must lube them, and then you loose almost any performance gain that you may have recognized.

My advice is go with SS ABEC 5's, properly clean and lube, save yourself some money and you will be very impressed with the performance.

Exactly...

I have had this battle with many customers. Many just have to have ceramics. To add to your points Tavery, I'd say that most anglers do not have the casting ability to recognize the difference.

LgMouthGambler, you obviously do and can see that you're getting a couple feet more. But to the average angler this is not worth the cost.

When customers want Ceramics I recommend the Smooth Drag bearings. They are not "special" sealed. I'm sure they are someone else's bearing that they've repackaged just not sure who's?

jprism · January 09, 2016, 11:10:06 AM

Hedgehog are shipped from overseas just for your information

LgMouthGambler · January 09, 2016, 01:18:03 PM

I can get the HH ZR bearings to my door for less than a set of Boca 7s and 5s. For me its worth it. But yes Mike, most can get the best results with a set of 5s from Boca.

blkfalc4 · January 09, 2016, 07:15:46 PM

Quote from: jprism on January 09, 2016, 11:10:06 AM
Hedgehog are shipped from overseas just for your information

Depends.....tackletrap has them in stock.

jsparky93 · January 24, 2016, 01:10:42 AM

In my own personal experience, I have found ceramics to be over rated & I just couldn't get used to the noise & the way they felt. I have since switched to abec 7 SS bearing's from Hp reel bearings & Big Green Fish. I have found them to perform just as well as the ceramics at a fraction of the price. Plus, they are smooth & quiet.

Dark3 · January 24, 2016, 07:51:38 AM

You can actually get the same exact bearings "boca" abec 7 for much cheaper of you do your homework. Last I checked, boca doesnt make bearings

Mike Bush · January 24, 2016, 01:14:57 PM

I will chime in here as well. I work on plenty of reels and have put in about every type of bearing someone has asked for. Ive even rebuilt bearings.

A good SS bearing that has been opened up and is properly maintained is all you really need. The performance gain of this is significant over a sealed stock bearing (most companies).

HH makes a great bearing for light bait applications. These are total overkill for the normal guy. Most guys I do reel work for having plenty of setups and plenty of cash tied up in their gear. Its a new disease of bass fishing within itself.

Bocas are nice..very nice. HH are as well. Both of them will serve anyone well that wants the ceramic bearing benefits. Is it needed though? NO....not at all. Ceramics are different than a full SS setup. They are noisy when dry, but perform the best that way. Will you ever see the full benefit of a ceramic bearing in bass fishing...NO...cant spool up a reel fast enough. Is it just as easy to buy some ceramics and get some serious performance gain...YES. Very easy. But...you must maintain the whole reel with them. Bearings alone wont do the trick. Those bearings come with the need to maintain them for optimal performance too. Not a "set it and forget it" type of thing.

Just like all cool things and high end bass stuff, you must maintain it. It can be time consuming...and not for the average guy to mess with all the time.

Some reels respond to tuning better than others. Not saying those are worse out of the box...just that some brands seem to have limitations on speed and casting ability.

I do not run stock reels. Just FYI...I tune every reel I get. Only time a stock reel hits the water is for a side by side comparison of the tuned version. Lots of benefits for me to tune my reels...and those who do them or have them done know the difference. Just remember, in the end...no matter what you do with bearings, its better than stock.

jprism · January 24, 2016, 03:20:59 PM

Quote from: Mike Bush on January 24, 2016, 01:14:57 PM
I will chime in here as well. I work on plenty of reels and have put in about every type of bearing someone has asked for. Ive even rebuilt bearings.

A good SS bearing that has been opened up and is properly maintained is all you really need. The performance gain of this is significant over a sealed stock bearing (most companies).

HH makes a great bearing for light bait applications. These are total overkill for the normal guy. Most guys I do reel work for having plenty of setups and plenty of cash tied up in their gear. Its a new disease of bass fishing within itself.

Bocas are nice..very nice. HH are as well. Both of them will serve anyone well that wants the ceramic bearing benefits. Is it needed though? NO....not at all. Ceramics are different than a full SS setup. They are noisy when dry, but perform the best that way. Will you ever see the full benefit of a ceramic bearing in bass fishing...NO...cant spool up a reel fast enough. Is it just as easy to buy some ceramics and get some serious performance gain...YES. Very easy. But...you must maintain the whole reel with them. Bearings alone wont do the trick. Those bearings come with the need to maintain them for optimal performance too. Not a "set it and forget it" type of thing.

Just like all cool things and high end bass stuff, you must maintain it. It can be time consuming...and not for the average guy to mess with all the time.

Some reels respond to tuning better than others. Not saying those are worse out of the box...just that some brands seem to have limitations on speed and casting ability.

I do not run stock reels. Just FYI...I tune every reel I get. Only time a stock reel hits the water is for a side by side comparison of the tuned version. Lots of benefits for me to tune my reels...and those who do them or have them done know the difference. Just remember, in the end...no matter what you do with bearings, its better than stock.

Hey Mike. I currently own three Shimano reels 2000+ vintage. 1 is a CU-201BSF and 2 are CU-201. If I were to send you the 3 reels this week, what would approx cost be to clean/replace bearings with stainless and tune the reels. I live in Nashville TN.

OkobojiEagle · January 25, 2016, 01:35:12 PM

While I would agree that hybrid ceramic bearings don't necessarily amplify the performance of the average bass reel, I do find that their quicker starts allow for easier and thus more accurate casting. Also, when lightly lubricated with TSI 321 oil, the metal races are protected from corrosion while not affecting the performance of the ceramic balls for pretty much the entire open water season.

oe