"New for 2009, the Stella Saltwater range has been awarded ICAST and AFTA's best saltwater reel category. The culmination of years of research and Shimano’s latest in advanced reel technology - the Stella Saltwater (SW) series raises and once again sets the benchmark for quality in the high end spinning reel market." - extract from Shimano Fishing. -
Finally a new addition to the Stella Family!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!! One of the definite improvements of the 2008 lineups is definitely the reduction in weight, and another being the Propulsion Spool Lip; which is a common feature in all new Shimano lineups. Another obvious change is the carbon grip, which is supposedly ultra light.
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Here's a list of the features that most of which, I don't really understand... :-p
Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement with Low Wear Rate Pinion Gear
Propulsion Line Management System: Propulsion Spool Lip, SR One-Piece Bail Wire, Power Roller IV Oversized Roller with Overflange for the Ultimate in Line Protection, Redesigned Bail Trip, S-Arm Cam
Aero Wrap II Oscillation
Cold Forged Aluminum Spool: Proprietary Coating on Spool Lip is harder than a Ti coated Stainless Steel Spool Lip, Ceramic Coating on entire spool for extreme corrosion resistance
Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) Coating on Line Roller
SW Concept: Sw-Water Resistant Body, SW-Hyper Disk Drag, SW-Water Proof Drag, SW-Lightweight Ergonomic Handle Grips prevent premature bail trip
SR Concept: SR-Balanced Body, SR-Slider, SR-3BB Oscillation, SR-Handle, SR-3-D Gear Design, SR-Floating Shaft, SR-Rigid Support System
S Concept: S-Rotor, S-Guard, S-Shield Roller Clutch, S-Arm Cam
S A-RB Bearings (Shielded A-RB)
Twin Bearing Drag
Super Stopper II
Stopperless Design (No Anti-Reverse Switch)
Ultra light carbon grip
Direct Drive Mechanism (Thread-In Handle Attachment)
Fluidrive II
Maintenance Port
Aluminum Frame, Sideplate & Rotor
Dyna-Balance
There's a nice pictorial description for these features at Anglers Pro. And here's the official page from Shimano.
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Improved pouch with multiple openings.


Propulsion Spool Lip
Ultra Light Carbon Grip




