Conference unifix::sailing

462.0. "Hood Sails Info" by PHENIX::JSTONE () Mon Jan 12 1987 12:27

    
      I was in Marblehead this weekend at the BoatsNortheast yard which
    is located behind the building which was Hood's loft and spar mfg.
    facility.  As has been mentioned in other notes, the sail division
    has been sold off from the spars and systems division.  We happened
    to see a couple of Hood vans parked down by the Elks building and
    stopped in.  Sure enough, this is where the loft has moved to. 
    We were able to meet the new owner who spent a considerable length
    of time with us.  He showed us some of their cad tools as well as
    the cutting floor.  Here's some bullits:
    
    1.  Hood sails will continue to be in Marblehead.  They have signed
         5yr lease with the Elks for the building.
    
    2.  Hood Spars is moving to Rhode Island.
    
    3.  Hood is making sails.  There were about a dozen head and main
         sails on the floor when we were there.  Hood still has their
         cad system and their lasar cutter.
    
    4.  Most of the production people have been retained.  Many of the
         administrative people have been let go.  The sales force has
         been changed a little, but not too much.
    
    5.  Interresting feedback on sailmakers' involvement with "big time"
         racing, ie America's Cup, SORC, etc.  The overhead expenses
         in a sailmaker's involvement are such that most sailmakers
         are lucky just to break even.  Hood had sails on Heart of 
         America.  Look for more Hood sails on SORC boats.  
    
    6.  Kevlar is a major disappointment in sail material.  Most racers
         are getting one season out of their sails vs. the 3 seasons
         that most sailmakers were advertising.  (Some sails wore out
         after 1/2 a season).  Look for a swing back to some exotic
         mylars as well as various alternatives (such as spectra).
    
    7.  Hood is pushing the Spectra 1000 as the alternative to kevlar.
         The 1000 is quite different than the disasterous 900 that they
         were selling last year.  Hood has purchased all the available
         Spectra 1000 for the next 6 months.  Look for other sailmakers
         to experiment with it during the summer.
    
    8.  They are very aware of the lack of customer acceptance to the
         Spectra.  To increase its attractiveness, they are offering
         a conditional warranty.  If you are not happy with the perform-
         ance or have a breakdown with the spectra, they'll replace
         the sail with mylar or mylar/kevlar.
    
    9.  Sail costs:  Traditional Dacron   25% material 25% design 50%mfg
                                 Mylar    30% material 25% design 45%mfg
                                 Kevlar   50% material 25% design 25%mfg
    
    All in all, I really enjoyed the hour or so spent there.  They are
    not what they used to be, however, I left with the feeling that
    they really plan on setting the business back on course.  Given
    what I learned, I would say the the reports of Hood's death are
    premature.
    
    I hope that this was of some interest.
    
    Joe