Have any of you guys had any expirience with or heard anything about the Black Diamond saltwater series?
Im thinking of building The 9'6" 15-40 as a cobe rod.
They are pretty pricey but seem pretty light and thin for their rating.

Its a very nice rod, and new to the east coast. Its very new but gaining popularity on the west coast, with many of the calstar, gusa, and super seeker owners selling off all thier rods and getting all phenix hybrids. Check out bloodydecks, its littered with calstars gusas and superseekrs, and ask them why they are selling the rods off. Make sure you get the new hybrid series, as if you get the older graphite ones regular black diamond's you'll learn later about the hybrids and regret not buying one in the first place. If you want to actually feel one, right now im getting one built by Juanito, over at Anglers Bait and Tackle, off Diania Beach Blvd.
What makes these rods special is its all Kevlar and Carbonfiber weave blank with tons of backbone, a fast taper, and light as a feather.

It really feels half as heavy s a comparable calstar blank. Im getting all SIC guides on mine with a perfection reel seat and a poodle butt. Mines going to be a 7'6 30-80lb XH blank, I'm makinga spinner out of it and putting it on my Cabo 80, running 80lb JB Hallowcore on it.

You buy a high end rod to put a low end reel. Great combination.

last time I checked cabo isn't a low end reel, its a mid level reel. No money atm for a saltiga or van staal or stella. The cabo has more then enough drag, and a great customer service, should I ever damage the reel fishing it hard.

for anyone who doesn't believe the hype on phenix go check it out at anglers bait and tackle before I pick it up and bring it to orlando with me

Give it time and you will be calling their customer service.

I already bent the shaft on my 80 before with my drag locked down fishing AJ. I broke the IGFA delph 20-30lb heavy action spinner from bass pro rod as well. I'm not too friendly with cheap products but I won't ever go heavier then 30lbs drag anymore and mostly fish 15lbs unless I start getting rocked by big grouper.