i just picked up a zeebaas rough after speaking with rob koelwyn on the phone.
at a lower price point, the temptation was just too overpowering to resist. from a purely financial perspective, the zeebaas at $900 vs. a VS at $700 is a no-brainer.
of course, i also purchased it based on favorable feedback from other users.
the one really nice thing that Rob K told me about the reel was that even though the Rough is a VS200ish-sized reel, a larger spool and rotor assembly add-on module (approaching the size of a VS 250 reel) will be available this fall. I like the concept of a modular reel!
the drag is getting rave reviews.
one nit mentioned by a zb user here: it doesn't seem to like mono. but that's not an issue for me.
anyways, as i had posted over SOL - rob told me that the basic differences between the regular ZB and the rough boil down to three features:
1) the rough doesn't have as many polished parts.
2) the rough doesn't have the "textured" finish that some of the regular ZB's have.
3) the rough doesn't have titanium nitride rollers like the regular model does.
and...the rough doesn't come with the $150 box or the takedown tools.
HOWEVER - Rob mentioned you can get your own tools at Home Depot for about $20.
so, we shall see how this goes .
just an fyi - i'm evaluating some third party options for extreme environment finishes for the reel body (have to get some more skinny from rob on how the zb is finished ... is it anodized aluminum, etc).
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