Zee Baas, are they worth the money?

[fishpoopoo]

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).

[JohnR]

I am great full to many of the S-B folks that pitched in last year and gave me a ZB as a gift.

I have not fished it as much as I though I would have as I'm still more prone to grab a conventional but when spinning I've used it and I like it.

(Steve - if you want to try one out )

The drag is sweet, the entire reel is solid and smooth, Mercedes like in its precision.

My only complaints are capacity - which looks like that is being resolved with modular options (pretty cool) and in limited experience, wasn't as mono friendly as I would have liked.

This "Rough" seems like a worthy option to check out.

Casting Zs - I believe you are missing a few VS company owners in the history between RobK & VZ/VS. Van Staal was not purchased from Rob. VS had 2 (I think) owners after Rob & before Zebco... That said, he does have a certain pedigree when it comes to reel design

[ThrowingTimber]

Do they come in mens sizes yet??

[reelecstasy]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

Do they come in mens sizes yet??

Doh!