I'm going to be building rods for some kids this summer and would like to set them up for spincasting reels, just for ease of use. Will the Zebco work if I rinse it off after each use?

The Zebco is just like any other reel that you use in saltwater. If you take care and clean it after use and wipe it down with WD40 it should last a long time. I have some Zebcos that are over 20 years old that my kids fished with and are still usable.

You used them in the salt?

Spiral Wrapped? - With a Bumper Wrap on them, those rods will be the talk of the School Yard and the Local Bait & Tackle Shops.

No salt or fresh water species, big or small, will be safe when those kids get near the water with your Spiral rods. And the kids will have a much easier time landing whatever comes their way.

"What a WOPPER! - It was easy, Daddy, with this new pole Mr. Martin made for me. You should get one, too !!!" ... Your phone will soon be ringing off the hook with order requests for more." ...

"WOM - Word-of-Mouth". The best advertising ever !
Have fun, Marty !!! ... LOL, -Cliff Hall+++, Gainesville, FL-USA*****

Just as Ellis said....I have some that my grandfather used many years ago that still work fine....give them the proper care after being in the salt and they'll be fine.

"Spiral Wrapped? - With a Bumper Wrap on them, those rods will be the talk of the School Yard and the Local Bait & Tackle Shops. "

That's the plan to spiral wrap. I'm also going to use the loudest gaudiest colors of thread I can find. I've thought about painting the blank some hi-vis color but am not sure I can find a paint that will hold up.

I agree with them all.....I took some old blanks and spiral wrapped them and made them into five and one half foot kids rods to fish off my dock...........One word " Corrosion X"

Big John
Rio Hondo, Texas
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting

Marty,
Madeira has som of the wildest colors, including flourescent, that would be perfect!!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

You are right John,
Corrosion X is also a great product. By the way, the biggest speckled trout that I have caught to date is an 8 1/4 lb. caught on an ABU Matic 150 reel.

Back in the day I use to use an ugly-stik and a zebco button reel on the pier
in Venice, CA for bait and bonito. Tried real hard to ruin them dang Zebcos
but as long as I cleaned them up afterwords they were better than a Timex
watch! Took a licking!! Try tying a spinner on and pulling it back like a sling
shot and let it fly at the same time hit the button! zooooom! the kids with
bow to your supreme technique!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..