I've just be given an old Grice & Young 'Avon Crown' centrepin-it belonged to my late father-in-law. I quite like the idea of using it for occasional stalking/margin float fishing for carp coupled with an 11ft 1.5lb test rod. Would it be suitable to use with braid in these circumstances (a la John Hoftgartner) and if so, how best to spool up-Ive only ever used fixed spool reels before?

I don't like the idea of braid for margin fishing as the only bit of give is your rod. Tooooo risky.