Century Stealth Graphere Reinforced Rods
We give you a live demo on Century’s Stealth Graphene Reinforced rods thanks to long-range casting pro, Dave Springall…
Last month we were treated to a sneak preview of the new Stealth Graphene Reinforced carp rods from Century. These looked more than a little interesting to say the least so we decided to nip out this month and catch up with Dave Springall to put them through their paces and see what they are really all about. This is what Dave had to tell us about this exciting new flagship rod…
“I don’t think there is a rod on the market today that is crammed with as many key features as the the new Stealth and it’s sometimes difficult to know where to start when I’m asked about it. We have been questioned a lot on social media and at the recent shows about Graphene itself, as a material, as it will be its first outing into the world of carp fishing.
“To keep it simple, Graphene is a carbon which won the the Nobel Prize in Chemistry back in 2004. I think I’m right in saying that it is currently the strongest material on the planet. At production level, the Graphene is added to the resin matrix which not only makes this rod easily the strongest on the market but also far less susceptible to cracking within the resin system and of course the dreaded ‘test curve decay’. Not only that, but the weight reduction is nothing short of jaw-dropping, making this the lightest blank that we have ever produced, even lighter than the C2.
“Secondly we have the guide options. There are two choice types of guides, with this new rod with the first being something pretty special. After months of testing we have managed to have our classic Century SiC guides manufactured from PVD-coated black titanium which gives them a stunning gun-smoke finish and of course much like the new addition to the resin, they strip a huge amount of weight from the rod. At a slightly lower price point we also have a new lightweight black steel ringing option which again offers a decent reduction in weight over the existing steel games rings.
“The 1k-1k woven finish on the exterior of the blank is also new and improved. For the Stealth we have used an ultra lightweight material which has again offered such a saving in overall weight that we have been able to continue the weave all the way to the tip ring without the usual problem off additional weight being added to the tip giving the rod a fantastic finish without sacrificing performance at any level.
“Accuracy has also been improved beyond belief with the inclusion of a further enhanced version of our Anti Twist Technology. AT-T is basically a manufacturing technique where the fibres in the tip section are laid down at specific angles in a very specific way. The result is a vast increase in resistance to torsional load and overall twisting or cork screwing in the tip section. This is a huge cause of inaccuracy, especially when casting at range and more often than not the main culprit for poor guide alignment and unwanted increases in line friction. The new product overview video really shows this improvement in detail.
“The custom black ALPS reel seat, smart black and steel grey detailing, Autoclave curing and PTFE low-scratch finish also all come as standard, making this quite simply the best rod we have ever produced.
“The range is pretty comprehensive too, with 12ft options in 2.5lb, 3lb, 3.25lb, 3.5lb, 3.75lb TC, and a 13ft 3.5lber for those who prefer a longer rod.”
“GIMME”: From £489; centurycarp.co.uk