I am considering purchasing a new reel and would love that confident feeling of owning something as well engineered as a van stahl or zeebaas. does anyone own one or have any opinions? was looking for something to go with a 10' St Croix medium heavy surf rod.
zeebaas
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Van Staal / ZeeBaas
I was just turned on to surf fishing 4 or 5 years ago, as i grew up enjoying fresh water fishing, but since i was introduced i was hooked. Last November i was allowed (have to love that) to buy a new 11' surf rod from the guys at Rock Point Fishing Stop as well as a new real. I purchased the VS250 and used it for the last few weeks of the bass season. The VS250 feels very strong but the chunky feeling of grinding coffee beans was not floating my boat so to say as i have been using the Sustains from Shimano. Then i felt a ZeeBaas and was very impressed with the feel. Felt Strong and much smoother, so back to the honey i went asking permission to buy one. When i told her the cost she almost fell off the couch but said "go for it". Without hesitation i contacted Rob K. @ ZeeBaas, http://www.zeebaas.com/ and inquired about the ZX27RD. Was informed should be shipping in January and i should contact my local B&T shop. I did so and they received (1) in March. Good thing i left a deposit as they contacted me and asked if i still wanted it before they started calling the list of others. All i can say so far is that the VS250 is still sitting on the shelf and has not been out this season yet. I keep telling myself (even though it is only 4 weeks)to put in on the pole and switch it up to see what i like more and have yet to do so. I am happy with the feel and power behind it, altho no Bass yet plenty of 4 to 8 lbs blues which were a ton of fun. The only thing i have a problem with so far is trying to get the power handle (as seen in the image @ http://www.zeebaas.com/shop.html ) and the smaller spool as they keep giving dates that come and go although this post just made me call Rob again and he has asked that i call and speak to Wendy tomorrow as he believe they have both in stock Once i can confirm that i can call the guys at J&H in Oakdale and have they request it again
I was just turned on to surf fishing 4 or 5 years ago, as i grew up enjoying fresh water fishing, but since i was introduced i was hooked. Last November i was allowed (have to love that) to buy a new 11' surf rod from the guys at Rock Point Fishing Stop as well as a new real. I purchased the VS250 and used it for the last few weeks of the bass season. The VS250 feels very strong but the chunky feeling of grinding coffee beans was not floating my boat so to say as i have been using the Sustains from Shimano. Then i felt a ZeeBaas and was very impressed with the feel. Felt Strong and much smoother, so back to the honey i went asking permission to buy one. When i told her the cost she almost fell off the couch but said "go for it". Without hesitation i contacted Rob K. @ ZeeBaas, http://www.zeebaas.com/ and inquired about the ZX27RD. Was informed should be shipping in January and i should contact my local B&T shop. I did so and they received (1) in March. Good thing i left a deposit as they contacted me and asked if i still wanted it before they started calling the list of others. All i can say so far is that the VS250 is still sitting on the shelf and has not been out this season yet. I keep telling myself (even though it is only 4 weeks)to put in on the pole and switch it up to see what i like more and have yet to do so. I am happy with the feel and power behind it, altho no Bass yet plenty of 4 to 8 lbs blues which were a ton of fun. The only thing i have a problem with so far is trying to get the power handle (as seen in the image @ http://www.zeebaas.com/shop.html ) and the smaller spool as they keep giving dates that come and go although this post just made me call Rob again and he has asked that i call and speak to Wendy tomorrow as he believe they have both in stock Once i can confirm that i can call the guys at J&H in Oakdale and have they request it again
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Oswald wrote:
dude, get a 704z screw that overpriced crap.
704z can definetly hold its own...if you dunk it in the water its fine...but if theres sand mixed with that water its a coffee grinder...
i own a 250 reel is nuts absolutely love it...i think they have come down in price to...the zeebaas is a great reel one of the benefits is you can service it yourself and the rotors and spools are interchangable... i dunk my 250 all the time and you woundn't even notice a difference wet or dry..i do however feel that the drag is better on a zee..
This post edited by toyotaoffroad91 09:04 AM 05/14/2008
dude, get a 704z screw that overpriced crap.
704z can definetly hold its own...if you dunk it in the water its fine...but if theres sand mixed with that water its a coffee grinder...
i own a 250 reel is nuts absolutely love it...i think they have come down in price to...the zeebaas is a great reel one of the benefits is you can service it yourself and the rotors and spools are interchangable... i dunk my 250 all the time and you woundn't even notice a difference wet or dry..i do however feel that the drag is better on a zee..
This post edited by toyotaoffroad91 09:04 AM 05/14/2008
OSWALD THAT STATEMENT IS LIKE YO GET THE HONDA CIVIC THAT FERRARRI IS AN OVERPRICED PIECE OF CRAP
SILLY STATEMENT
THE PENN WILL DO THE JOB BUT THE ZEE IS A A WELL MANUFACTURED LUXURY REEL
NOT FOR EVERYONE BUT THE DISCERNING
PARDON DO YOU HAVE ANY GREY POUPON
MIKEYREEF
SILLY STATEMENT
THE PENN WILL DO THE JOB BUT THE ZEE IS A A WELL MANUFACTURED LUXURY REEL
NOT FOR EVERYONE BUT THE DISCERNING
PARDON DO YOU HAVE ANY GREY POUPON
MIKEYREEF
I have a couple of penns 704z and 850ssm. Good reels just can't stand the clicker on the Z and premature bail trips on the SSM are annoying. Don't know if I have unrealistic expectations but the zeebaas seems to be a no comprise solution. Seems to be the type of purchase that would be passed down to my son in 20 years.
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VS is made in China, getting it serviced is joke, and the price has never gone down on these reels, only up. I have one, its nice until winter time when you send it in. I'll keep my fingers crossed though and see if they get service shops going, people take forever. For annual service and shipping the reel to VS your looking at around $85 from LI, insured, per year (only gona go up as well), not including "additional parts".
For the record Penn Z's will last a lifetime with a service every once in a while (even being dunked all the time), with a few cheap parts. The clicker can also be silenced. Look that one up if it bothers you so much.
This post edited by johnmlodynia 10:43 PM 05/14/2008
For the record Penn Z's will last a lifetime with a service every once in a while (even being dunked all the time), with a few cheap parts. The clicker can also be silenced. Look that one up if it bothers you so much.
This post edited by johnmlodynia 10:43 PM 05/14/2008
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17,340 Posts
I have a 704 and 706 both over 20 years old.. on the 704 push the mechanism into the bail before casting, it'll never trip.. the 706 of course is bailless.. I heard they moved the VS to china, and Penn discontinuing the 704/6 is an unwise move as well as those cheap chinese knock offs at the same price.. if I were to buy now I'd by a US made zeebaas...
20 yrs later still using the same two 704's And never lost a fish because it didn't have 40 lbs of drag and always seviced it myself.Never any major parts replaced.Huge mistake by Penn to discontinue these reels.The main reason is they never needed to be replaced because they held up so well.That has to tell you something???.And still under $150.00.
This post edited by calfarmli 06:18 AM 05/16/2008
This post edited by calfarmli 06:18 AM 05/16/2008
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26 Posts
All the z series reels from penn are discontinued.
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444 Posts
Penn Z series are discontinued but still available.
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You must also think about parts. If the reel breaks down parts arent easy to get.
Been fishing the waters of Montauk for years with the 704's right next too guys with VS's.Never a problem.They will take water and if your negligent and don't rinse it, it will jam up in time.20min in the camper or in my garage fixed for another day.Loose the tiny springs under the drag washer on the ZB and kiss the reel goodbye till you order new ones.
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