Zee Baas, are they worth the money?

[bassbudda]

you noted you've had five VS failures. Were your reels mfgd in Stratford Ct? or were they MA or OK variants.?
I have two 100's,two 150's and two 200's. two are still in the original boxes.
all were stratford ct reels, never a problem , never sent back. jason and ron worked on all of them.
i'd be interested in your response.

gw

Originally Posted by Casting Z's

Yes-!! They are more fishable than fashionable believe it or not?
A new rough version is now available at $850-900.

Been using this reel now for two months without any problems what so ever. It is mounted to my walking/wading stick, I use to guide my way through 4' of water, as I climb over 3' boulders. I rarely rinse it and find it's performance to be light years ahead of VS and yet, as consistently smooth as a Stella. The crank power is like nothing before it. The drag adjustment is flawless with a precise liner control that prevents the accidental, over tightened drag, that leads to line break.
At this time last year, two separate VS's failed with basket bearings froze with rust from saltwater intrusion. Apples to apples! In total for this past year, that makes 5 VS's that I have held in my hands, that have failed for one reason or another and all where used in the exact same manor. VS"s are tough, but they are not ZB's

I'm not associated with ZB in any way except that I meet the owner of one of the few truly american made fishing products still available to us. You all wonder why everything is being made in China and hate it. But ZB is a reflection of what top quality products truly cost to design and build here in the good old USA. I support this man for his determination to deliver without compromise a product that will perform and outlast several generations just as old reels like Penn once did and to keep it here at home. Rob, the creator of VS sold the company only to start ZB. He doesn't come across as a wealthy person who just sold a company, even though we all might think he should be. My impression is that what ever he made from that transaction, is being dumped into his new product and at great risk as production cost in America put these reels just out of reach to most fishermen and therefore the risk is even greater.
No one here seems to have any problem dishing out $20 per wooden plug that is built in the USA. But that's what it takes for an individual to afford a meager livelihood in America these days. We must all do our part to support our local gear builders and lovers of our sport who are at risk.
So save any bashing for a more worthy cause, Please?

[Casting Z's]

Originally Posted by bassbudda

you noted you've had five VS failures. Were your reels mfgd in Stratford Ct? or were they MA or OK variants.?
I have two 100's,two 150's and two 200's. two are still in the original boxes.
all were stratford ct reels, never a problem , never sent back. jason and ron worked on all of them.
i'd be interested in your response.

gw

I have no idea where my reels where actually made. It shouldn't be long before they're made in China.
I do know they cost a lot of cash.
Three reels, 2-150 and a 250 took on water and seized the bearing under the basket. A 100 stripped its gears. A 250 developed spool to basket contact at the top of the spools ocilation.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by Casting Z's

It shouldn't be long before they're made in China.

It shouldn't be long before more VS owners become ZeeBaas users, at least in the Northeast.

I've made several calls to several dealers.

Anecdotally, they can't keep ZeeBaas' on the shelves. Not that there are that many to start with.

Hope this reel performs as many say it is.