How long does a reel manufacturer offer support in terms of parts availability for their reels once a model has been discontinued?
The answers vary, depending on who you ask. The reps from a major reel company have stated recently that roughly 3 years of support will be standard from this point forward, for discontinued models. Other manufacturers state 5-7 years.
The bottom line is: in these uncertain times, parts are getting harder and harder to come by. That is why Ben’s Reel Service stocks many common current and discontinued parts. As always, contact us first with the make and model of your reel to determine if parts are available.
Rule of Thumb
The rule of thumb is, if your reel is approaching 7-10 years old, the likelihood of obtaining parts is slim. If it’s over 10 years old, it might be time to think about retiring it and buying new.