[Rhodes22-list] Proof of authenticity (STAN SPITZER I DO NOT OWN A "RIG" RATHER A 71 RHODES CONTINENTAL)
Todd Tavares
sprocket80 at mail.com
Tue Sep 1 00:12:27 EDT 2009
John,
You certainly have stepped into a bear trap with this one. I was once
in your exact position so I know how it feels. First of all, what
Michael (MJM) has
written is spot on. And Stan did not even make the boat you have.
Better said, he did not make the hull...it was made by a subcontractor,
and GB fitted it out (IIRC).
GB does not make money by selling parts. GB is not obligated by law or
conscience to do business with any person or entity. Keep this in mind.
Stan would
rather spend his time and efforts making and recycling boats for sale,
than helping an aftermarket buyer with a problem boat or trailer. The
profit margin is just not there.
So, when he does take his time to try to meet you half way, it seems
ungrateful for you to fire off a rant. It is always mis-read and taken
out of context anyway. I know.
I did it about 5 years ago before I knew how everything related, and was
met with a hail storm of hate e-mail and automatically generated
complaint letters.
This "owner's" list board and server is run (administrated, owned,
etc.) by guys and gals who are friends as well as customers of Stan and
GB. He is just a friendly
kind of guy. His attention and level of customer service and support for
his sailboat BUYERS is found no where else in the new sailboat
marketplace. Few have reason and
even fewer dare to publicly badmouth him. He even thinks he is the "tail
that wags this dog" (the list), so it is truly not even an owner's list,
but more a buyers list.
What follows is my opinion and observations as far as the Rhodes 22 list
bulletin board is concerned.
MY GUESS,
(stress on my guess), and from what I have learned here in 4+ yrs, both
from public and private e-mails is that the list is split roughly into
three major groups. The largest
group, about 60%, (mostly new and recycled boat buyers) -- are die hard
GB/Stan fanatics and would do anything for him.... even willing to send
him a check for more
than the sales tax or what they pay their own state to register the boat.
In this group are the folks I mentioned above who hold ownership of the
list, the software, and
even the servers it is housed on. Another 25% or so (a mix of new,
recycled, and used boat buyers) are people who realize the exceptional CS
they get and how
much Stan goes out of his way to help them. They do not want to offend
him and get on his bad side lest they lose his support and/or access to
the unique parts he supplies.
That would mean finding their own solutions and getting their hands
dirty. The last 15% or so do their own thing, fix their own boats and
trailers while enjoying the list
to exchange ideas and experiences and could care less about the politics
and cliques. You need to find where you fit in-- if you choose to. If
not, you need to go your own
way, or buy different or better boat, one worth putting $5K into 38 year
old boat, like a Cape Dory. Some of the best minds didn't have the
stomach for the BS
and have chosen to take their talents and expertise on to different
environments (Roger Philaja is a prime example).
As far as patents or property rights go, you can make anything you
want, almost up to an entire boat or trailer without violating any
patents or intellectual property rights.
You can even make exact duplicate "replacement" parts; whether the OEM
still offers them for sale or not and sell them here or anywhere else.
Ford has been fighting
this battle in court for almost 50 years. In fact, there is a bill in
Congress now, which already passed the House and is waiting for Senate
approval, modifying US Code to
make it completely legal. So it is up to you to bow to threats of
litigation or "attempts at extortion". IMHO of course, but consult your
attorney first.
Relax and do your own thing. Get what info you can by asking the list,
searching the archives and reading the blew skies site info. You will
usually get help
whether on the open list or back-channel. You will feel better giving you
money to local businesses in you neighborhood anyway. Feel free to
contact me privately.
Todd T.
are friends
----- Original Message -----
From: "michael meltzer"
To: "'The Rhodes 22 Email List'"
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Proof of authenticity (STAN SPITZER I DO
NOT OWN A "RIG" RATHER A 71 RHODES CONTINENTAL)
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:00:56 -0400
Ok, I do not get it(maybe I like watching car weacks).
1)you buy a boat/trailer without a good title? and it stans fault.
2)if the trailer that old pretty sure it would have been a
trailmaster, so
michael fault, he trida(btw he out of bussness)
3)$5500+ into a 38 year old boat (read that some where), that a labor
of
love, and questionable sanity and if that the raw martial cost, O-Boy
what
do you really think the "commercial price" would be, seems like my
auto
mechanic is always double the parts cost, guessing 100-200 hours you
put in,
at 65$ an hour.....
4)pick your favorite sailing joke, "what is sail like, standing in a
cold
shower fully clothed ripping up 100$ bills"
5)remember the boat is 38 years old, who in their right mind would
want to
get their finger prints on it, it looks you are ready to kill stan as
is and
he helpped with a centerboard/trunk(and you got off light and you do
not
know it), both stan and michael know the issue(night mares)with
anything
that age and once they start they are forever dragged in.
6)if it help you feel better, I just ripped for a $1500 rudder. A
very
pretty and heavy stainless steel build out had salt water destroy the
welds
(non rhodes22), yard bills suck
-mjm
-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of John Shulick
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 9:07 PM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Proof of authenticity (STAN SPITZER I DO NOT
OWN A
"RIG" RATHER A 71 RHODES CONTINENTAL)
Sir,
Now you've really ticked me off with your insinuations that I don't
really
own a Rhodes rather a cheep knockoff of some sort. Enclosed are the
original
documents that the previous owner was kind enough to give me.
http://www.nabble.com/file/p25232842/Boat.jpeg
Also for the trailer
http://www.nabble.com/file/p25232842/Trailer.jpeg
If you would like I also have the 6 page hand typed version of your
assembly
and rigging instructions. I sincerely hope this will put an end to
this
ridiculous banter about the authenticity of my boat. As I will be
documenting the complete restoration of both my RHODES CONTINENTAL
and
trailer including links to all suppliers for parts if you could be so
kind
as to list any US or foreign patents you have regarding the 71 Rhodes
Continental and or the uni / matic RC trailer with a brief
description next
to the appropriate patent number I will refrain from posting any
sensitive
or proprietary info. Otherwise go pound salt. When and/or if I sell
my
Rhodes the new owner will need nothing from you or your company as
the boat
will be completely restored rendering your attempts at extortion for
service
moot.
John Shulick
--
View this message in context:
http://www.nabble.com/Proof-of-authenticity-%28STAN-SPITZER-I-DO-NOT-OWN-A-%
22RIG%22-RATHER-A-71-RHODES-CONTINENTAL%29-tp25232842p25232842.html
Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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