[Rhodes22-list] Beginning of the End - Parts

[Goodness]

I am confused Stan.  Sounds like GB is for sale.  I am sure there are some Rhodies who would partner to carry on your legacy!
So you are operational? That is great!
Good to know we can still order parts!
Sounds like it's for sale too.
What is the price of the business, rights, molds, inventory etc?


> On May 30, 2017, at 6:26 AM, Stan Spitzer <stan at rhodes22.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Dear Rhodies:
> 
> I don't know what the word "retire" means so I doubt I used it in my GB farewell address.  Yet I did notice "my retiring" popping up often in the follow up chat as the reason for GB's ending.  All those who automatically inserted "retiring" into my e-mail were simply inserting themselves being in that scenario.  I am not the marrying or retiring kind.  I've always viewed those as one time celebrations that ended when it all ended.
> 
> Your concerns re parts are premature.  That e-mail merely said that for those who elected not to be part of the C of S community, the parts window was the first casualty; for all others we were honoring our commitments and parts continuity as long as we can.  We appreciate that, with the exception of our few exceptionally driven Canadian Rhodies, few of us in the US Republic would fare too well making replacement parts.  In the plant is everything: The two part molds, material, know how, yet even GB can hardly make centerboards.  Yes, the IMF mast is ours but even if we donated our costly dies to a Rhodie in need of a mast replacement, to enlist an extruder he or she would have to be prepared to buy lots and lots of mast sections at one shot.  And of course they are worthless without the IMF's component GB made internal furling assemblies.  The "in production" aspect of the Rhodes has been a strong component of the Rhodes hi resale value. (You can get a used Venture 22 for peanuts. We have a San Juan on our lot you can have for organic peanuts.)
> 
> The attempt to make the logical distinctions between the used car vs the used boat markets case in our C of S link page on our used Rhodes web site, had only moderate success.  Short sighted, narrowly focused used Rhodes buyers and sellers often chose to ignore tomorrows and logic.  Without being at the table, GB's contribution in making their transactions work in the first place, became the easy last minute save the deal negotiating drop out at the closing's end.
> 
> What our e-mail did say is that without the help of Rose and Elton, single handing GB had come to be unrealistic for me and needed partnering for continuing.  I did get a few long distance inquiries on that front re what they could do from afar.  Manufacturing can be anywhere, but for me, at this stage, partnering has to be daily hands on.   We have started a few preliminary selling talks but need buyers who recognize and value GB's great intangible assets that only come with such a long run.  Having earned the best Annapolis Show space location is one of them.  Failing an active partnership or worth while sale, closing down General Boasts and selling our nine industrial acreage to Warren Buffet, our neighbor on our North boundary, seems the practical move.
> 
> Meantime no need for immediate parts panic.  We now take credit cards.
> 
> stan
> 
> 
> On 5/29/17 5:24 PM, Peter Nyberg wrote:
>>> On May 28, 2017, at 6:27 PM, Goodness<spreadgoodnews at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>> 
>>> I would sure like to know who is getting the inventory.  A shame we cant order parts anymore.
>>> 
>> I think the subject of parts for Rhodes 22’s is one that merits some discussion here on the list.
>> 
>> With Stan’s imminent retirement, we Rhodies are apparently on the verge becoming owners of ‘orphaned’ boats.  Nothing Stan has said to us gives me any reason to think that there’s anyone who will be ‘getting the inventory’ (however much may exist). My guess is that going forward, we are going to be on our own.  This will mean finding alternates sources, or in some cases perhaps making our own parts.
>> 
>> In some cases, the sources are already well known.  You could buy sails from Stan, which many people have done to help support the company, but I’m pretty sure that people have also been buying Rhodes specific sails directly from Doyle.  Similarly, we know that Triad makes the Rhodes 22 trailer.  Since the design of the Rhodes specific features of the trailer came from Stan, Triad agreed to only sell Rhodes trailers to GB.  If GB is no longer in the trailer business, hopefully Triad will be willing and able to sell Rhodes trailers to the general public.
>> 
>> The IMF mast is probably a much more complicated situation.  My recollection from my strolls through the list archives is that the mast is made by Dwyer, but the die for the extrusion is owned by Stan.  If Dwyer happens to be in possession of the die, would they be willing and able to use it to create a new IMF mast?  The odds don’t strike me as good.  But I suppose if I found for some reason that I had no option but to downgrade my boat to a standard mast and mainsail, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
>> 
>> There are a few parts on the boat that it seems pretty clear are manufactured by General Boats.  I have in mind things that slide on the IMF mast and boom.  I haven’t looked at any of these things very closely, but my impression is that they are made from Starboard and aluminum with some off-the-shelf stainless steel bits and pieces.  Starboard and aluminum are probably being used because they can be cut and shaped by woodworking tools.  As it happens, I have some woodworking tools, and would probably be willing to attempt to fabricate some of these parts.
>> 
>> That said, I think an outboard motor lift is well beyond my capabilities, so you should hope your’s doesn’t break.
>> 
>> Hopefully, other people have thoughts on this subject.
>> 
>> Peter Nyberg
>> Coventry, CT
>> s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)
>> 
>> 
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