JP Ross begins selling Galvan Fly Reels

About 3 weeks ago I had a great conversation with the owner of Galvan Reels, Boni Galvan. 

As the owner of JP Ross I wanted to team up with a Reel Company.  I wanted the reel to be a reflection of my style.  I did not want to have a reel made to my specifications, because I am not a mechanical engineer and I am not sure how to manipulate Aluminum. 

I also was completely against getting a reel made for me in Asia as so many people are now doing.  Want to know if your reel was made overseas and is probably worth less than the great deal you paid for it.  Take a look at the anodization, take a look at the tolerances on the reel, take a look on the internet and see how many other companies have the same looking reel as you do.  Thats how you know. 

I did not want that. 

I wanted to get to know the company I was going to do business with.  After about 30 minutes on the phone I new that Gavan was the Reel Company I wanted to start with.  Here is a taste of what is to come from JP Ross and Galvan. 

I am grateful that they want to do business with us.  They are family owned as we are too.

You will find these reels on our store.  But if you have immediate questions, please call me or email me.

Over the past 15 years, Galvan Fly Reels have established a well-earned reputation for quality, smoothness, and reliability. Bonifacio Galvan continues to strive to produce reels of exceptional value and quality that have garnered a growing following among dedicated fly anglers. Mixing classic styling with contemporary design and materials, Galvan Fly Reels Inc. are helping to redefine modern fly reel construction.

Galvan Fly Reels are 100% designed, manufactured and assembled in the USA by the Galvan Family.

Torque Reels:  go to online store.

As the premier reel in the Galvan series, the truly unique Torque Large Arbor reel contains all the hallmarks of the Galvan tradition: function, quality, dependability, durability, distinctive style and striking good looks, plus the following features:

• Innovative, ultra smooth compression disc drag system
• Large arbor design
• Ported to the maximum, strength-weight-ratio
• Very low start-up inertia
• De-tented drag knob for precision settings
• Handle is large and easy to grip
• Spool release mechanism is easy, no tools necessary
• Easily interchangeable from right to left hand retrieve
• Seven sizes: from 2 wt. through 12 wt. lines
• Fully machined from 6061 bar-stock aluminum
• Corrosion resistant and saltwater safe
• Available in Bronze, Green, Clear, and Black, anodized finishes
• 100% designed, manufactured and assembled in the USA by the Galvan Family 

Rush Series of Reels go to online store now.

Superb quality, ruggedness and the same ultra-smooth innovative drag system as the Torque series, The Rush Large Arbor reel was designed with the budget-conscious angler in mind. This high value mid-price large arbor reel has all the hallmarks of it's counterpart the Torque but with a more basic spool and frame design, and offers the following:

• Innovative, ultra smooth compression disc drag system
• Large arbor design
• Simpler, more basic spool and frame design
• Very low start-up inertia
• De-tented drag knob for precision settings
• Handle is large and easy to grip
• Spool release mechanism is easy, no tools necessary
• Easily interchangeable from right to left hand retrieve
• Seven sizes: from 2 wt. through 12 wt. lines
• Fully machined from 6061 bar-stock
  aluminum
• Corrosion resistant and saltwater safe
• Available in a Black anodized finish
• 100% designed, manufactured and assembled in the USA by the Galvan Family

Galvan Spoke Large Arbor Reel series  go to online store now.

Is the most unique and lightest reel. Function, quality, dependability, durability, distinctive colored spokes are unsurpassed for good looks and color choices, plus the following features:

• Innovative, ultra smooth compression disc drag system
• Large arbor design
• Ported to the maximum, strength-to-weight ratio
• Very low start-up inertia
• Spool release mechanism is easy, no tools necessary
• De-tented drag knob for precision settings
• Easily interchangeable from right to left hand retrieve
• From 2 wt. through 8 wt. lines
• Fully machined from 6061 bar-stock aluminum
• Available in a black finish with: blue, green or clear spoke color choices
• 100% designed, manufactured and assembled in the USA by the Galvan Family

Our assessment of Galvan Reels, by JP Ross

Well it is easy to say you are going to sell someones reel on your web site and then just take a bunch of photos from their catalog and post them on your site and hope for the best... but that is not what Galvan Reels and I discussed when we started our campaign.

Our first order of Galvan's recently came in, and after I write this posting I have to email them for our second order. 

I wanted to give you my full assessment of what I believe makes them a quality product. 

Anodization:  Aluminum will easily corrode, so anodizing a reel is important to the life of the tool.  The anodization of the Galvan Reels is very consistent and very bright in color.  Shown here is the copper anodization that we recently shipped out to a customer.  I also received black and green, which also was equality of the same quality.

 Handle:  On the torque series I especially liked the texture and fit and finish of the handle.  The handle is slightly tapered and also has a few grooves machined into it to help give you more purchase when grabbing it.  Rather than just going smooth like most reels, Galvan put some extra time into their design to make it attractive and provide some utility to the design. 

Attention to detail:  If you ever have talked to a machine shop and learned about the equipment that makes a reel, you will learn quickly about how many axis the system can move on.  You also will learn that making 90 degree angles is a lot easier than making curves.  The spokes on the Galvan reels are curved and machined to very tight tolerances.  Also, you will see in the attached pictures, that almost every surface that could be bored or machined out to make the reel more lighter without sacrificing structural rigidity was done.  I love nice rims on a car, especially the European Super Cars.  The look of the Galvan Reel reminds me of something I would see on a $100,000 super car.  And the best part is, there is a reason for the look of the reel. 

You also will notice the very simple right hand to left hand conversions.  A simple flip of the pawl spring and you have gone from left hand to right hand.  What a great design.

Notice the counter balance that is used on the Torque Series.  A round counter balance would look wrong on such a design.  So Galvan has chosen to go with a design reminiscent of their shape.  This would easily be over looked on a designer trying to cut costs.  It was a great decision to go with a shape like this, it really makes the face of the reel stand out.

Made in USA:  Is cleanly visible on the back of the large drag knob.  I am turned off by the funky star patterns and over done shapes of some of todays drag knobs on modern reel designs.  A drag knob should be easily found, and easy to understand with your sense of touch.  The simplicity of the drag knob on the Galvan reels reminds me of that of a dash board of a 911 Porcshe.  Simple and functional.  If you have ever sat in the driver seat of a 911, you wil notice that the tachometer is front and center and easy to read.  The speedometer is off to the side and smaller.  The designers knew it was more important to know when to shift rather than how fast you are going.  I suppose Galvan thought the same thing... when you need to adjust your drag.. just do it, dont think about it.  Again, a great design.