Conference unifix::sailing

    Paul,
    
    Are there any TARTAN dealers around your area?  If there is a dealer
    around, somebody there may know what's going on.
    
    All of my phone books are packed away for a move, so I can't answer my
    own question.
    
    djc

    Either Cruising World or Sail, in the last month or so, indicated
    that Tartan was not out of business but was ramping down production
    significantly.
    
    Cape Dory hasn't answered the phone in over a month either.
    
    Rick

    
    	I heard that Cape Dory was closing down for some period during
    	the year: I guess they are just going to work the sailing season
    	(early spring - fall?).
    
    	Last winter's Boston boat show didn't have any sailboats at the
    	Cape Dory booth.  The salesman said the demand wasn't there for
    	their sailboats so they weren't bringing them (apparently that
    	implied they still had demand for their giant motor cruisers
    	which were present).
    
    	Remember, this is just an "economic downturn", not a recession! :)
    	
    	Tom--

    Spoke to someone this aft that remembers an article in Soundings
    that stated Tartan was going Chap 11. Not good times at all!!
    
    OK, new question. Is anybody familiar with any Tartan owners
    associations that are still alive. When I asked the folks at Tartan
    (when they still answered the phone) they were not aware of any
    organizations. The original owner was a member of the Chesapeake
    Tartan 30 Association. I should start by trying to find if they
    still exist. Any chance any of you know any other Tartan organizations
    out there?

    
   Paul

At the Newport Boat Show in September, Tartan had the last boats that they 
were planning to build.  As of now, they have ceased operations.

C&C is in receivership.  They are selling off all assets.  Last I heard the 
molds were being sent to Mexico.

Earlier this week, International Marine (the parent company of
Kenyan/Sparcraft & Barient) puchased Lewimar, B&G and Navtec from Benjamin
Priest. 

Maybe we should try to get Edson DeCastro to go into the marine industry.

    I don't think boat builders are like car manufacturers who maintain
    parts inventories for 10 years.  Most parts used are off-the-shelf and
    available through the usual catalogs or the salvagers like Marine
    Exchange or Marine Speculator.  If the part is glass you can probably
    make it yourself.  If it's metal, a welder or machine shop can probably
    do what has to be done.  It's amazing what can be done with just a
    drill press and grinding wheel.
    
    If it's info you need, another owner may be your best source.  Some one
    with access to the local PHRF roster can probably help you by picking
    out all the T-30 owners.  Maybe it's worth a call to John Collins or
    the C-fleet captain.  Some one in this notes file has their phone
    numbers.  There are also some Tartan owners in the company.  Perhaps
    you could post your specific request.
    
    - gene

    
    	This time of year, John may be in head-biting mode >8^{ with all
    the new boats & reratings.... but give it a shot, I guess...
    Wasn't there talk of a Tartan/Express union on the west coast??
    
    Anywho, there are no active Tartan 30's in either Hingham Bay or Boston
    PHRF fleets as of this past (1990) season. A friend of mine does race
    his Tartan 33 (a bit different; chunky frac) and I'll ask him if he
    knows anything.
    
    I also looked at a few Tartan 30's, as well as a Tartan 3000 (taller;
    9 PHRF seconds faster) and found them good tough construction and 
    enough of them around so I could pick and choose. Nice easy to deal
    with interior, logical cockpit.
    
    I'll write if I find anything.
    Good Luck!
    Scott.
    
    

    Hmm...  I wonder what's going to happen to Thomas's T-35, which was
    supposed to be built by Tartan?  Kinda liked the looks of that one.
    
    There are many Tartan Tens still racing one-design in Chicago.
    Unfortunately, I haven't the foggiest how to contact the association. 
    Perhaps try contacting, say, Chicago or Columbia Yacht club and pull
    the carrot from there. 
         
    Steph

    The economic black hole is swallowing quite a few of the local marine
    businesses.  I was surprised to learn last night at an E-22 owners
    meeting that Mark Lindsay, the custom IMS purveyor, has closed up shop. 
    At least one of his employees will try to regroup in a smaller setting
    in Marblehead but it'll be mostly a small boat operation.  Hood and
    Doyle sails are running on the fumes as far as working capital is
    concerned, even after some painful layoffs.  The principal financial
    backer of Hood has been pouring $$$$ into the operation to avoid seeing
    his investment completly disappear.  Wells Yachts is no more.  The
    local boatyard tanked itself when it raised prices and ended up hauling
    120 fewer boats than last year.  Looks like Marblehead is turning into
    the yachting capital of the *third* world.
    
    In the long term most of the people involved in these enterprises will
    probably reestablish themselves (all compulsive boat people).  But the
    coming season is shaping up to be a quiet one.
    
    Back on the Tartan question, I think Plymouth Marine is a Tartan dealer
    who may be able to help, assuming they're still in business.  
    
    I was surprised to learn that Navtec, the backtay and rod rigging
    people, are focusing their sales efforts on the construction industry. 
    They supply reinforcing members for steel frame buildings and bridges. 
    It's the same stuff that's used on boats but bigger.  Unfortunately,
    building and boating tend to follow the same economic cycles.
    
    - gene

    Europe has been impacted by a falling market in the upto 40ft range.
    Above 40ft apparantly are selling well ie those with money for those
    boats have it to spend regardless whereas upto 40ft tend to beg borrow
    the cash etc. Does this mean I wonder that in 5years time that the US
    market will be dominated by European and Japanese builders?
    
    Pete

About 5 years ago, Navtec was purchased, along with B&G and Lewimar, by the 
Benjimin Priest Group, a British public company.  During that time, Navtec was 
working with I.M.Pei (sic) on the design of the Louvre pyramid in Paris.  
Navtec supplied stainless rod rigging, turnbuckles, etc. for holding all the 
sections of glass together.  After the purchase, the president left and 
started a separate business, primarily targeted to the architectural 
construction industry.  The only association of Navtec with the new company 
was as a vendor.  Last year, Navtec sold its turnbuckle business, so they deal 
with rod rigging and hydrolics only.

The largest segment of their business is semi-custom - stuff for very large
yachts.  Business is good now, because of the America's Cup frenzy.

The combination of Lewimar, Navtec and B&G has been somewhat profitable, 
although Navtec "downsized" about 18 months ago.

IMI (International Marine Inc., Stamford, CT) just purchased these companies
from the Benjimin Priest Group in a hostile takeover.  IMI also owns Barient,
Sparcraft and Kenyon.  No one has any idea what will result.  At any rate,
Barient and Lewimar are no longer competitors in the winch business. 

On the subject of yacht broakers in M'head:  Bump Wilcox just left Sailboats 
Northeast with Parker, joined up with Bobby Grout and formed a new yacht 
broakerage called "New Wave".  They're over at Cliff Street in one of 
Marblehead Trading Company's buildings.  They are dealing exclusiviely in used 
yachts.

North Sailes Marblehead may become heavily involved in the America's Cup 
defense.  I've heard rumors that a couple of top sailors/sailmakers from the 
loft are getting some pressure to build sails.  It seems that a loft large 
enough for undertaking this (complete with some experienced people) may soon
be available in Marblehead.  I wonder who that could be???

Too bad about Mark Lindsey.  He's one of the greatest in my book (both from a 
knowledge and personal basis).  He came really close to building a couple of 
Americas Cup Class boats this winter.  With Vitor in the frey, there still may
be something afoot there. 

    We were talking about Mark Lindsay last weekend.  I agree it is too
    bad.  If anybody seemed to have the business figured out, it was him.  
    He kept his costs down by not being directly on the water.  His
    building was functional but not what anybody would call lavish.  He
    built extremely high quality products, and charged a good amount for
    his work.  
    
    He did a new keel and rudder for Fat Tuesday a couple of years ago.  We
    basically lived up there all that winter.  He did a fantastic job,
    drained our checking accounts nicely, and won our admiration for life.
    
    Guys like Mark just plain deserve to be in this business.  I hope he
    comes back somehow.
    
    Dave

        The following is from Nov. 90 Great Lakes Sailor magazine....
    
               "Ohio Sailboat Builder Suspends Production"
    
    
        Grand River, Oh-based Tartan Marine Co. suspended sailboat
    production in early September.
    
        John Richards, president of the well-known Great Lakes boatbuilder,
    said the decision to temporarily halt production was made to minimize
    losses. Few new-boat orders had been received in recent months. 
    
        "We could make money making five boats a month; break even with
    four; or lose money with three," Richards said.
    
        Richards said there is no firm date to restart boatbuilding at the
    Tartan plant, but that the production cutoff does not mean the builder
    is out of business. Tartan still will support boat owners, he said.
    
        Tartan is famous nationally for the T-10, a flush-decked one-design
    racing sailboat built to a Sparkman & Stephens design, and for its line
    of cruising boats.
    
        The company was started in 1962 and was purchased by Richards and
    James Briggs in 1983. At that time Tartan operated plants in Grand
    River and Hamlet, NC. In recent years, Tartan sought to fill production
    capacity by building boats for other designers as well. The company
    built boats for Soverel and Jeanneau, but disappointing results
    eventually lead to the shutdown of the North Carolina plant and
    consolidation of manufacturing in Grand River. 
    
        Richards said Tartan's current shutdown reflects slack sales across
    the sailboat industry.
    
    ..........Unfortunately, there is nothing mentioned about who to call
    for support. I live within driving distance of the Grand River plant,
    and know a couple Tartan owners. Call me if you'd like, and I'll do what I
    can to help.
    
    Carl Gelo
    DTN 431-2812 or All-in-1 @CLO
                                                                    

    Practical Sailor, a couple of issues ago had the word on the Tartan
    shutdown.     They have a section on closed boat builders and
    where you can get info and parts.
    
    Take a look, it includes companies and owners associations.