Not all pin are created equal....hence the price. My first pin was an Aventa. I was very satisfied with it but it was sold as an entry level centerpin by Okuma and they have a much better Sheffield centerpin for $240 (at the time) So that ignited the ego that while fishing a decent pin, it is labelled "entry level" and an upgrade might just be a bit better with all the promise of - a better drift and catching more fish....guess what? when I purchased the sheffield, it never made me a better angler catching more fish, but it fed my ego that I now have a good centerpin and no longer an "entry level" then came the raw2...better start up. yes. compared to the sheffield, it does run better (because it's new). I got it for $189 (employee discount availed by my wife) again, didn't make me a better anger...only experience makes you a better angler. but I now have 2 good centerpins that me and son can use. One thing I can say is that, I have accidentally dropped my reels on water and concrete multiple times, lots of dings and scratches...still runs good, fights the baddest meanest salmons on the water without hiccups.
If you're going half-assed on centerpin, don't put all your chips because float fishing just might not be the style for you. shop what you can afford and always put $100 on top of the reel & rod because that's about the amount of money you will need for your backing, main line, leaders, split shots, hooks, beads, roe & flies - ON THE FIRST SEASON.