The chamberlain releases are great. Also the romer to stack.
I use a 10 lb. weight on my manual Canons.
I recommend you add to the cable a braided downrigger line. It is great and eliminates the noise.
Cannot use this with electric downriggers.
I've used them all, Round ones, Fish type Balls, Panckaes, and others, right now I use G2 Jig Balls and they have their own release, neat set up.
Prior to that for releases I've used Blacks and Roemers and Chamberlain,etc. I think the Chamberlain are the best hands down. With the Chamberlains I used the Scotty pinch pads fot stacking, super set up, but Chamberlain now has a stacker too, I saw them at the Gathering and they look super.
If you stick with traditional downrigger balls, make sure you use attractors/blades, I highly recomend the Dave Davis 48" horizontal blades, AJ has em.
Good luck cranking them manuals up and down, ugh. You will find plenty of electric on here for sale as guys upgrade to Digitrol IV's etc. Stay off Squam with manuals, Old Fisherman uses them still and hasn't lost a ball in 50 years, has a bult in sonar/gps in his head.
Thanks guys.
I will just have to make a decision and go with it. Once a get a larger boat maybe some electronic riggers are in the picture but this will do wonders for the tin can for now.