Offshore Angler - Tightline - 3000......oooops, now I see......

Did the exact same thing with the Penn battle. Bought a 3000 and a 2000 took em to bolivar fishing the 1st gut with my son. Could hardly turn either reel after 30 min. Luckily I had an old Sahara, it saved the day.

Wouldn't fish the salt without a bottle of Salt X handy. Between sand in surf and dried salt residue from line spray, even some of the better reels can lock up.

I have used slatwater and freshwater reels in the salt. I don't dunk them, but sometimes they get dunked. My Battle 6000, Shimano 300 carbomatic, Daiwa Samurai and plain ones, are still going ok. All get rinsed with freshwater after a day on the beach or out.
My son's rod and reel were $9, 2 years ago at Walmart and it has been going well with some minor issues, but never stuck (I glued the toggle switch, so it is perpetual antireverse). Got them when he was 2.5yo and have caught some nice whiting, sand trouts, a few rat reds. I do take it apart after outings, as he gets cover by waves easily when on the 1st bar.
I have no brand loyalty and I get what is decent and does what I need at the time. Penn, Shimano, Okuma, Daiwa, Abu, have all been good to me. I want to try a Fin-Nor at some point, and Van Staal, but won't need/want to drop the coin.

I have 2 Shimano Spheros for saltwater that I found good deals on the Internet. Dependable, sealed drag system and the Shimano's patented line propulsion management system. Fish instead of fooling with your gear.