[Rhodes22-list] storm clouds

[Shawn Boles]

Alex:

Well said. I too will stick with Stan as long as my certificate of support
functions. I willingly put up with communication difficulties because Stan
has always come through for me.

Stan, pay attention to Alex's analysis - it comports with the realities we
face.

Chris, I intend to keep Stan's wonderful boat in good condition. When  I
need anything from you I can't get from GB I'll let you know. Thanks for
providing options.


Bless Da List and all who care about the R22.


Cheers,

Shawn

s/v Sweet Baboo









 2019, 7:45 PM S/V Lark <Colealexander at hotmail.com> wrote:

> It is with sorrow I have read Da List.  I hesitate to open my
> often-undiplomatic mouth.
>
> Stan, I have the greatest respect for you and the boat you build.   I will
> continue to be a loyal customer as long as my certificate of support is
> honored.   You have never let me down.     Please allow me to share some
> concerns.    Not only is the webpage ancient, email intermittent, the
> e-store imaginary, but even the 19th century standby, the telephone, is
> unreliable.    In a next day Amazon world contacting you can take days (but
> you went above and beyond to get me the loner tiller while you replaced the
> failed one).   The age and unassuming atmosphere of your facility caused me
> concern when first met you.    I relied heavily on the reputation you had
> with your owners.   Quite frankly, I had the nagging pause when making the
> deposit that I might have a devil of a time getting any money back if you
> were incapacitated before delivery.
>
> Your asset is the real estate and its potential for a future developer.
> A
> business is worth assets or production (blue sky).  No bank would loan
> enough money to even move stockpiled materials and molds to a cheaper
> location, let alone buy the plant at the price the property is reportedly
> worth.    Any bank loan would be to haul the factory to the dump allowing
> redevelopment.    Molds of several good boats sit molding around the
> country, of no value to anyone.
>
> I am at a loss on how the refit franchise would be of benefit to existing
> shops.    Aside from the availability of custom components, if Stan’s phone
> works, what is in it for them that they couldn’t do anyway?   How many
> referrals could an interested shop expect per month?   How would Stan
> maintain quality control?   I could see a future successor, with or without
> Stan’s blessing, offering lessons, sales and refit services for a handful
> of
> designs, hopefully including the R-22 as a crown jewel in its midsize
> tailorable range.    On demand builds would be a dream come true, like
> WIndrider does in the dinghy market.   Stan’s choice of location, protected
> water near a ramp and marina but where hurricanes are rare, was brilliant.
> Perhaps the gentrified US market has evolved beyond industrial use of
> property near water, except in the rustbelt.
>
> We all know the saying that the easiest way to make a small fortune in the
> sailboat business is to start with a large fortune.   The middle class
> leisure sailing market has sailed.   Gunboat failed to find profit in the
> high end market.    I see no likely way for this business to long survive
> Stan in its present form.    I understand the risks a business owner
> undertakes, the hours and burden of responsibility it entails.  I have no
> doubt that Stan was the last to get paid in bad times.  He put his heart
> and
> engineering brain into every custom detail that makes this design so
> special.    I am not an engineer and have no expertise in the sailing
> industry.   In my own field I have accepted the staggering debt, liability
> and responsibility for others’ paychecks, with the uncertainty of eventual
> resale in a corporate dominated world should I live to retire.
>
> This 1960’s design has aged well.    To my knowledge there isn’t a similar
> couples pocket cruiser / convenience oriented day sailor on the market.
> That isn’t to say that new European designs don’t offer vastly increased
> performance or that far more luxury isn’t available if you don’t desire a
> trailer launchable.    Aside from the experimental Catalina 25 conversion
> project (done I suspect without the blessing of Catalina Yachts), the
> recent
> energy of GB has been largely concentrated on its more trendy organic
> agriculture division.    I fear the buggy whip division has folded
> entirely.
>
> I may not be aware of exactly what Chris has done, but based on prior
> conversation I believe his vision is to keep as many boats on the water as
> possible in coming decades.   He  didn’t choose R-22 parts out of greed.
>  I
> don’t have a dog in this fight.   I would applaud any way for this great
> design to still be sailing when the Lark finally sees an estate sale.
>
> Alex Cole DVM
>
>
>
>
> -----
> Alex Cole
> S/V Lark
> --
> Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/
>