In the pursuit of catching fish, I have never found it necessary or even helpful to throw a hand ful of wet sand over my reel, or to submerge it under water.
Reggy maate! Don't tell me that when surf fishing up to your balls in swirling sandy water and 20 knot southeaster you never get tip wrapped! With an Alvey you just put her down in the suds, clear up the tip and cast out again. You've usually bagged a few tailor while the blokes with the fiddly reels run for the rod holders up the beach.