Going down a rabbit hole 🐇 abel $1300 for a cool looking one and it's got cork drag washers,,,,, :o van staal is discontinued good prices so I got a 5to7wt with sa mpx line,,,, >:( I had to upgrade because cutting corners was a problem for this rainbow,,,,,, ;D
Nice! A very light reel for the size.
I'd check with Van Staal about getting some backup seals - the bottom one too, not just the o-ring. This is what eventually fails on these "sealed"reels with a one way bearing. These reels were made in China for Van Staal for just a couple years, and no schematic, or even product mention on their web site, so finding parts might get tricky as time passes. Freshwater only use should get you a longer lifespan on these reels.
You can see the seals in this video:
https://bearsden.com/blogs/how-to/how-to-change-the-retrieve-on-a-van-staal-vf-series-reel (https://bearsden.com/blogs/how-to/how-to-change-the-retrieve-on-a-van-staal-vf-series-reel)
Personally, I'd take the Abel, but not at that price either. Simple cork drag designs don't get the respect they deserve.
Now go out a catch another slab! With the crowds you are drawing, I expect that you will be attracting some tackle company sponsors soon. ;D
-J