Peter, I think you need to bear in mind that the wheels on a rotary mower sink into the grass, while a roller-type reel mower spreads its weight over the whole width of the front and rear rollers. You may find that there is a difference between the mowing height measurements that are relevant to the two types of machine. Why not try your SB45 at its maximum height setting on a small area of your Palmetto, and see how it compares with what other people are mowing Palmetto to? My guess would be that your result will be comparable with a rotary mower set somewhat higher - probably at least 30 mm with a 25 mm setting. Of course there is not a simple, fixed relationship between the two mowing styles. If you've ever tried to mow thatched kikuyu with a rotary mower, you'll notice that the effective mowing height depends to a considerable extent on how fast the mower is kept moving: let it stop for a moment, and it sinks in, creating instant scalping. My long ago experience with reel mowing did not produce that result as readily as a rotary does.
