USA Built boats?

[Drew Harper]

There's a guy building DN sticks who could do it, but probably unreliable over the long haul.

Southern USA, Ben Hall, Selden, Ballenger can all do it....substantially more $$

Couple of specialty stick builders in some fleets, A-Cats, ETC...that could do it. Much more $$

My fav choice is having Alex buy tubes from Kilwell and build the sticks at C-Tech though he probably will require a carbon spreader set...huge issue with existing spars.

There's some other options that we're working on that I don't want to jinx. Hope to reprot back positive stuff in the next few weeks.

[Matt Sole]

Is Super Spars not interested in our business?
Isn't the threat of going else where enough to get them to buck their ideas up?

[Justin Scott]

Is Super Spars not interested in our business?
Isn't the threat of going else where enough to get them to buck their ideas up?

Has anyone from the class actually contacted them and made our concerns known? Directly.

[Justin Scott]

As Craig says, its the VX 19.

Brian can pursue his vision.
The Viper class can pursue our vision.

On LIS, we compete with the K6 in an amicable way. If the K6 had not been in the fray, there would have been 15+ Vipers at AYC. If the Viper had not been available, Larchmont, IHYC etc would have chosen K6s. The Viper class will be competing with the VX19 but it is a different boat with a very different vision of audience & class organization etc.
More pics and specs available if u're interested.

[Jeff Jones]

I thought I got a copy of a letter you sent last year ago as class president. 

Is Super Spars not interested in our business?
Isn't the threat of going else where enough to get them to buck their ideas up?

Has anyone from the class actually contacted them and made our concerns known? Directly.

[Drew Harper]

I don't know Matt.  I have no idea jsut how many masts they build a year...overall.

Doesn't matter. We need to either fix the problem with them or work around them.

Moving to another tube builder is an option, but that'll require a year to test against the existing spar/tubes. As I previously stated, the class doesn't want to get into the same dealio that M24 went with Southern/Omohundro when Omo bought Southern. Two masts a pretty different, yet appear identical.

I know that Alex at C-Tech would love to build the rig. Very capable. He wants to use carbon spreaders though....big change.

[Justin Scott]

It was draft that I submitted to the incoming exec, trying to capture the points that you and I wanted to make. Since the new exec had already been elected, it is only right that they run with this.

I'm retired but I think the plan is to have a conference call with super spar and agree some very clear benchmarks that they can meet. (IMO that should include carrying inventory in North America by a set date). That seems like a constructive plan to me.

I think the consensus is that we would all like to be sailing with the same mast and the superspar mast does the job well (I still have mast #2). But (a) The lead time for replacement masts is ridiculously long and (b) They need a rap on the knuckles re the batch of 6 masts that arrived with attachment tangs in wrong place so that QC for viper class is high on their priorities.

Optimum result is that they respond to constructive criticism and come back with specific proposals. But they understand that if they can't meet benchmarks, then there is other mast supplier who would like the contract.  

Until they get the constructive criticism directly from the class, and understand that the class can direct our builder to use another mast (and that is a differeance between Viper and VX19), then the process hasnt started.   FWIW, we are in good hands with a very competent TC chair and a pro active President.

I thought I got a copy of a letter you sent last year ago as class president. 

Is Super Spars not interested in our business?
Isn't the threat of going else where enough to get them to buck their ideas up?

Has anyone from the class actually contacted them and made our concerns known? Directly.

[Darren Gilbert]

I'm retired but I think the plan is to have a conference call with super spar and agree some very clear benchmarks that they can meet. (IMO that should include carrying inventory in North America by a set date). That

A good benchmark for me would be getting my rig over here in less than 3 months (or better).

Let's see if it can be done.

[Matt Sole]

So is this priority number one for the exec committee? If not it should be.

We should receive from Super Spars a letter of intent to commit to the class, supplying high quality masts in a timely fashion and also keeping a stock of masts and parts in the US.

We should give them a chance to resolve the issues before we look else where.

[Charlie Visser]

More pics and specs available if u're interested.

I am interested and suspect others are, too. Good to know what our designer is up to. Please post VX pics and specs.

[Jay Harrell]

More pics and specs available if u're interested.

I am interested and suspect others are, too. Good to know what our designer is up to. Please post VX pics and specs.

Brian is working on getting his own "VX" web site up and running so he can post specs and renderings - should be public within a few days.  The address will be http://vxonedesignracing.com/ but there's nothing there but a logo right now. 

Here's the essence: it's shorter, less wide, weighs less, has less sail area, and has a lower crew target weight than a Viper.  It's designed for a different target audience than the Viper, while still being sporty, responsive, and fast.

[Lee Shuckerow]

More pics and specs available if u're interested.

I am interested and suspect others are, too. Good to know what our designer is up to. Please post VX pics and specs.

Brian is working on getting his own "VX" web site up and running so he can post specs and renderings - should be public within a few days.  The address will be http://vxonedesignracing.com/ but there's nothing there but a logo right now. 

Here's the essence: it's shorter, less wide, weighs less, has less sail area, and has a lower crew target weight than a Viper.  It's designed for a different target audience than the Viper, while still being sporty, responsive, and fast.

I believe you are correct Jay. The VX is designed for three small people or two normal size americans.  Its not the same category as the viper but will probably be competitive with the K6. Let's not forget the viper is a fourteen year old design that happens to be popular right now. Boat designers don't stop designing boats and I hope Brian's new boat takes off. It looks like fun and will be easier to make and ship than the viper but won't be as fast up or downwind.
The only thing that will hurt the Viper class is not getting the manufacturing ramped up enough to keep growing. If we can get boats and masts to customers faster no matter where they are built than we don't have a problem.