[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Van Staal's yearly service program is often a bit tough to interpret (both for owners and those selling them...) so I just talked to Craig about it since the news of the updated price of servicing has just recently hit the public.

Reels DO NOT need to go back every year. The idea of required yearly service is a hangover from the CT days, and hasn't been in effect for quite a while. It is recommended, if you regularly and completely submerge the reel, that you do so. If you're just getting splashed, it is unlikely you would want or need to send it back. If you have several reels (many VS owners do) and one spends all it's time as a back up or sees minimal service it's really pointless to send it back every year. If your main reel is running flawlessly at the end of the season, rinse it off and put it in storage and wait for spring. Sending it back isn't required.

If you do wait 5 years and you fish the reel senseless, there is the possibility that you'll have to pay for parts outside the normal line roller, drag washers, and o-rings. Whether a yearly servicing or waiting 5, 7 or 10 years makes more sense financially for you is your call.

Any additional questions can be posted here (and I'll do my best to answer them) or even better send them directly to the source, Craig Cantelmo at ccantelmo@vanstaal.com

Pete, I am a bit confused by this. Does not sending it back every year change in any way what will be serviced/replaced for free, or at least above and beyond the now $50 fee I have sent my 250 in every year since I got it. Each time it has come back with a bag of parts that were replaced at only the service charge. Let's say I feel the reel is working fine at the end of this season, but then halfway through next season it siezes up. Would they charge me any additional fee when I send it back since it has been over a year since the last time I sent it in? If there is no requirement to send it in, why not wait until it craps out to return it? Do they have it in writing somewhere stating you no longer need to send it in every year? I have had my 250 last anywhere from 1 month to over a season between emergency repairs.