Revamping the VS

[stickbom!]

I'm happy to see an upgrade in the anti reverse but the bail arm really spoils the retro loook

http://www.stripersonline.com/ubb547...c/1/39361.html

[DaFrogman]

Hmmm,

I wonder why the posters on the forum are so up in arms over the changes. Ok, the original VS was a serious overbuilt basic reel, with great tolerances and titanium in all the right places, but the new version looks real functional and WHAT is their problem with a bail arm?..... with most everybody using braid, I reckon a bail arm becomes more important than ever to keep your fingertips whole.

Regards,

DFM

[Makaira]

Originally Posted by DaFrogman

I wonder why the posters on the forum are so up in arms over the changes. DFM

Lots of people live in a well .. don't you know?? I for one would finally consider a VS if / when it comes to this part of the world. In this case, for Zebco who now owns the brand, function overtakes form & survival in the competitive fishing industry takes priority

[DaFrogman]

Mak,

Yeah, the "well" analogy is a good one, for us it would be the "frog under the coconut shell". Am still waiting for you to get both the VS and the Twinspin, so that I can get an opinion on both... was considering a Stella after the Torsa, but budget wise, might get bludgeoned by the Admiral.

Ya reckon Zebco will be able to get more competitive pricing over the Twinspin?, after all they will be the only 2 spinning reels in the market with fully machined bodies...

Regards,

Saimee

[stickbom!]

Yo guys, I think the VS is no where near a Penn SS in terms of durability. I've used both reels before so this isn't some "hear say" thing. Personally I'll use a VS if the fishing concerned requires some serious dunking in saltwater. No reel, not even the super tough SS, can withstand dunking in salt and not getting any treatment/lubrication for a week.

Next point to note, having a bail arm is indeed useful BUT that would mean a lot more moving parts for sand/salt crystals to get trapped in. Well if you're looking for a reel to fish dry conditions, there's many other reels on the market to choose from actually... cheaper and tougher anyday.

Last point, not sure if I'm the only one who noticed, there seems to be two rotors. One was where the original fixed bail sits on and the other with the new arm mechanism. Doesn't that mean added weight/more moving parts for saltwater to mess up?

[Makaira]

Originally Posted by stickbom!

Last point, not sure if I'm the only one who noticed, there seems to be two rotors.

Not too sure what you are referring to, but these pictures sure look good to me

http://www.fishingkaki.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5108

IMHO, if I want to compare a Van Staal with other reel, the analogy would be perhaps a $2 pilot pen; to say, a Mont Blanc pen. One is functional, practical & very affordable; the other just as functional, not that practical or affordable, but a work of art & a joy to use (for those inclined to indulge in such luxuries).

Would I buy a Van Staal should it be available in Singapore, I probably would if I am happy with it after fiddling with it & the price is not too outrageous. Under normal cricumstances, a Penn SS may well do the job just as well or even better, but a Van Staal may well be more satisfying ....... don't you think? Practicality (and sanity) is usually thrown out the window when it comes to such luxuries

Best regards,
Makaira

[DaFrogman]

Stickbom,

You lucky bugger to have fished both the VS and the Penn SS.

I dunno dude, I have owned and used the 7500SS, 8500SS and of course the 9500SS. Of the three, only the 9500SS really came through to me as a "tough" reel. The 7500 and 8500 both seemed less robust with tolerances in the gears kinda suspect. Additionally, the Penn cast alloy bodies were pretty susceptible to corrosion issues on the outside, where exposed areas that got scratched seemed to corrode into "powder" much faster than machined aluminium bodies. That said, markets like OZ, where they have pretty tough conditions and tough fish, do love the SS series for its durability so I guess the SS is still pretty much an iconic reel in the spinning department.

Point taken on additional moving parts in the bail arm, but with enough titanium, I reckon many corrosion and wear issues get reduced substantially, but I have no idea if titanium is used extensively in the VS bail mechanism.

Value for money, hands down, the SS series does rock. But with the newer midrange and flagship spinning contenders from Shimano and Daiwa, spinning reel technology seems to have moved on. I guess the jury is still out on the longevity and durability of the VS, but I gotta agree with Mak that some reels are just works of art and fishing them is like a bonus....and sanity can go out the window.....arghhhhh!!!! where's my brain gone.....

Y'all stay safe out there.

Regards,

DFM

[stickbom!]

yo yo... nice input from everyone. When comparing the SS to VS, I was mainly talking about the larger VS300 and SS9500, loaded with heavy braid, fighting biggies out at sea. Sorry for not making myself clear. I had a VS300 and two VS100 before. Personally I liked the smaller VS because its compact and holds A LOT of line and it's built rather tough for a reel its size. The VS300 was a let down though... big like a tank but soft internally. It's not the lack of exotic materials used, just poor engineering. They actually had the anti reverse placed on the handle spindle and not on its main shaft. This causes a lot of flex, warping on the rotor when fishing braids over the 50lb range (the VS300 is a perfectly fine reel for fishing 30-40lb nylon lines)

Now that I'm into lure casting and wading flats (dunking my reels good and proper) it's high time for me to get another VS, this time in the chrome finish

Oh by the way, the VS I had were older models and had lots of rotor wobble. Newer ones found locally are much better, because of a counter balance weight