Im the guy with the perfect. I feel compelled to jump into the fray.
Just a quick note about resolving the issue with oversized reel foots for new conventional rods. It is true that Archuleta will indeed fashion a new foot for the older Perfects. He does not alter the original foot but instead makes a completely new one. It is time consuming for him and I dont think he really enjoys doing it, so he charges $250.00....ouch!
The question is then what is the prudent thing to do inorder to fish these wonderful old reels? If the Perfect is considered collectable (pre war, circular writing, line gaurd, unmolested foot and so on...) you surely dont want to have the original foot altered, for you will devalue the reel considerably. (This can certainly be done guilt free if the Perfect is post-1960.)
One chose you have, which I believe to be the best, is to keep the existing foot on the reel and use this as an excuse to custom build a new rod. If you are into building rods you know how fun and easy this is to do, perhaps you are money ahead as well. Another option is to cut the crap and step up to a Burkheimer! If you know, and I mean really know, what it feels like to dig deep into the butt section of these rods and feel these things unload on you, .....well, its pretty awsome. Infact it might be better than sex!
Having cast many of these rods over the years I can honestly say that Carry B. has hit on the secret for developing perharps the best casting rod, not to mention the attention to detail. Dana's review is "spot-on". Oh, and they fish pretty well too.
Less is more,
Mr. Mcsquidly