Vintage conventional reel - partial spooling

Maybe it's because I'm the last of a generation that had to learn calculus without computers, but I like to learn a new skill by refurbishing vintage equipment that won't do me any favors.  In this case, for my first conventional reel I picked up a Penn 155 Beachmaster and I'm replacing the drag washers and lubing it up.  I know it'll probably be a matter of months if not weeks before I want to switch to something lighter that has a levelwind.  Because of that, I'd rather not spool it up to full capacity.  It holds A LOT of line and I'm on a small kayak in pretty shallow water.

Question is - what are the drawbacks to partially spooling a conventional wheel?  On my spinning reels, I had to learn the hard way that a partially spooled wheel will ruin my casting distance.  I found this thread, but it only covers preferences and not any details on why it would make a difference.  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=51060.msg568960#msg568960

Ha!  I bet they do but I'm at a loss trying to find the right search words that don't bury the post I want underneath 100 unrelated posts.  The words are too generic...

Maybe it's because I'm the last of a generation that had to learn calculus without computers, but I like to learn a new skill by refurbishing vintage equipment that won't do me any favors.  In this case, for my first conventional reel I picked up a Penn 155 Beachmaster and I'm replacing the drag washers and lubing it up.  I know it'll probably be a matter of months if not weeks before I want to switch to something lighter that has a levelwind.  Because of that, I'd rather not spool it up to full capacity.  It holds A LOT of line and I'm on a small kayak in pretty shallow water.

Question is - what are the drawbacks to partially spooling a conventional wheel?  On my spinning reels, I had to learn the hard way that a partially spooled wheel will ruin my casting distance.  I found this thread, but it only covers preferences and not any details on why it would make a difference.  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=51060.msg568960#msg568960

A full spool will retrieve more line per handle crank. Other than that, no difference on a revolving spool reel.

Maybe it's because I'm the last of a generation that had to learn calculus without computers, but I like to learn a new skill by refurbishing vintage equipment that won't do me any favors.  In this case, for my first conventional reel I picked up a Penn 155 Beachmaster and I'm replacing the drag washers and lubing it up.  I know it'll probably be a matter of months if not weeks before I want to switch to something lighter that has a levelwind.  Because of that, I'd rather not spool it up to full capacity.  It holds A LOT of line and I'm on a small kayak in pretty shallow water.

Question is - what are the drawbacks to partially spooling a conventional wheel?  On my spinning reels, I had to learn the hard way that a partially spooled wheel will ruin my casting distance.  I found this thread, but it only covers preferences and not any details on why it would make a difference.  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=51060.msg568960#msg568960

A full spool will retrieve more line per handle crank. Other than that, no difference on a revolving spool reel.

With less line is it true that the drag is less accurate than when it's full.  Say, 7lbs at full spool, at half spool it could be 8 or even 9?

If you don't want to fill the spool with new line, just back it with old line, or even packing foam or neoprene scraps covered in masking tape. That will bulk up the spool and then allow you to run a smaller amount of line with no drawbacks.
Lots of braid users do this to some extent.
I have a spool of old heavy mono that I've used as backing on my go-to reels that have braid on them.

With less line is it true that the drag is less accurate than when it's full.  Say, 7lbs at full spool, at half spool it could be 8 or even 9?

True if you start with a full spool and a fish strips you off to half spool.  At a half spool, supposedly your drag is twice as much as it was at a full spool.  Now, if you start with a half spool, and set the drag there, then the drag is "correct".  You will be on a different part of the drag curve than if you set it at full spool, and depending on the characteristics of the curve, the drag may be more (or less) "touchy".

-Allen

I still love using my vintage penns for rockfishing and halibut.  Easy to service and can take a beating.  I lay a few wraps of tape on the spool, then a heavy mono like 40#, then braid.  Only thing to watch out for is that thinner diameter lines (15# mono or thinner) tend to get eaten up by the gap between the spool and frame.