Steve is off to PNG I think, he helped us fine tune the drag 6 months ago when it was fresh. He told me he should come back with footage of 200 or so Doggie hook ups.
He's also testing out the current handles, on this trip
He would be the fussiest guy I've spoken to in Australia (after all he sells the best Japanese rods) but the torture he put us through on drag testing was worth the end result (38kg dead smooth)
But then again, Mark at Just tackle in Karatha, tested it by skull dragging a 200kg Tiger shark up to the boat and 2 guys holding him, and was happy with the standard wet drag. Ph 0891441166
Everyone has a different style and expectation I suppose.
I spoke to a pro jigger is SA, and I explained I had 2 confirmed cases, of the handles being folded, and I couldn't see how it could happen, when it can take 20kg of side load, and 80kg of push load.
This guy then showed me, how handles get broken on game spin reels.
(When some people get tired they pull back on the handles as well as the rod)
I know this puts a massive fulkrum load on the joint at the bend, and the shear load on the knob shaft.
Which explains how it is possible. depending on the style of operator.
(designed to be pushed not pulled)
So anyway, there is a new one that takes both directional loads up to 200kg, before it breaks.
If you have a handle and you pull on the handle to retrieve, send in the handle and we'll modify it the same day.