Century Kevlar Nor'Easter

Moderate action. Kevlar & Graphene reinforced. The eel and metal-lip rod.

The Century Kevlar Nor'Easter is the custom-built local surf rod for anglers throwing live eels, metal-lip swimmers, and bait. The moderate action is the key — it loads slow and unloads slow, which is exactly what you want when working an eel on the swing or when a metal-lip needs a gentle hand to keep its action. Century's Graphene blank technology pairs with a thicker-walled Kevlar-reinforced butt section to give you a rod that holds up to a season of getting beat on the rocks without going soft. Built one at a time right down the street from the shop by Aquidneck Island Rod Builders.

Key Features

• Moderate action — loads and unloads slowly, perfect for eels, metal-lips, and bait
• Thick-walled blank reinforced at the butt section for extreme durability
• Graphene reinforcement throughout the blank for strength without dead weight
• Kevlar reinforcement adds impact resistance at high-stress points
• American Tackle TiForaged 316SS Snagless Guides — reduced weight, extreme strength, distance
• Fuji reel seat accommodates a wide range of reel feet
• Shrink tubing throughout fore-grip and rear grip — durable, grippy when wet
• Built up at the butt section and reel seat for hand support during casting; tapered between to reduce weight
• Built one at a time by Aquidneck Island Rod Builders (Newport, RI)

Specs

Rigging & Use

• 10' (1265): shorter Northeast beaches, jetty work, eels at close-to-medium range — 5000-6000 class reel
• 11' (1326): long open beach work, distance bait casting, heavier rigs — 6000-8000 class reel
• The moderate action shines with eels — the rod absorbs the surge instead of ripping the hook
• Throws metal-lip swimmers without killing their action — many fast-action rods do
• Run 30-50 lb braid and a 50 lb fluoro shock leader for surf work

Why We Like It

This is the rod for the surfcaster who has graduated past production rods and wants something custom. The moderate action is increasingly rare — the industry has gone fast on most surf rods, and a lot of anglers throwing eels and metal-lips have lost what made those techniques work in the first place. Century built this blank knowing exactly that, and AIRB finishes it with components that last a decade. We sell every Nor'Easter that comes off the bench, often before it ships.