I started this reply last night but the fire at the Canal Power Plant saved you from that one so I will start my re-rant now. Anyone who bought a VS was duped. Duped by slick advertising and the subliminal message that if you don't have one you are A) a loser, B) a poor excuse for a fisherman, C) a member of a lower class and shouldn't be even talked to on the beach D) not worthy C) an insignificant piece of whale dung floating aimlessly in the water, E) your income must be less than 100k a year and therefore you have no class whatsoever, F) you have no clue of the solid value in this reel. Well, I don't have one, never wanted one and always thought they were never ever worth the money. The technology in the design is outdated ( a cupped spool ?) there is a lot of machining but only to lessen the weight because if it was one piece it would weigh as much as a Penn 80lb class Senator. When it is very cold the oil turns to sludge and the reel turns roughly. This reel was aimed at yuppies and wannabees who hit the beach and want to look the part or send the message "hey look at me, I got a VS! And you should see my SUV!
Did this reel make you any better of an angler? No. If you were on a trip and needed parts could you go to the local tackle shop and get them or have the reel repaired? No. Hype my boys, all hype. The sooner they go down the better. Say what you want, I will match my take with anyone and I love my Penns, my Daiwas and my Shimano's. 90.00 bucks for a tune-up kit? PLEASE! 200.00 plus for a pair of pliers? P.T. Barnum said there is a sucker born every minute and he was right, the Van Stal Company proved it. Van Stal, Van Zebco and soon I hope, Van Gone. One thing is for sure they will become collectors items and the price will go up then and some clown will pay it, it's human nature only it's the weak side of human nature, the side that prevents us from evolving into a more intelligent species as living beings and as fisherman as well. They suck.
