USA Built boats?

[Olaf Bleck]

Saw this on SA:

A well-known creator, with a solid plan to build ultralight sporties in big volumes at prices lower than anyone would expect here in the good ole? US of A?  You betcha?and he?s got funding. We?ll have more in a week or two, but the details are exciting indeed.  The boat ain?t bad either.

The boat looks very Viper-like.

I also heard some rumors of something being doing down at Rondar HQ.

Anyone heard anything?  Could be unrelated of course.

[Terry Phillips]

Word on the street,  it is not a Viper.
It is 19 ft long and lighter weight.
Sort of a 29er with some lead.


 

[Jason Hyerstay]

Looks like a two-person boat with a self-tacking jib.

[Phillip Davis]

If it ain't a Viper, Brian should sue em!  How could anything be closer and not a Viper?

[Zach Freeborn]

Is this the non class approved "Viper" that Brian has been talking about building recently?  Will this have any effect on any plans to build Vipers in the US?

[Craig Wilusz]

This is a 19ft boat.  Called the VX-One.  To be built in Georgia, USA. 

Self Tacking, roller furling jib.
Single pull kite (like some beach cats)

[Jay Harrell]

Is this the non class approved "Viper" that Brian has been talking about building recently?  Will this have any effect on any plans to build Vipers in the US?

Definitely not.  Brian wisely tacked away from the idea of building a rogue Viper and has designed something different.  Aimed at the dinghy market instead of the keelboat market.  Should be an interesting boat, but it's certainly not a Viper.

And I don't see any reason this should effect plans to build Vipers in the US.   That's a whole different set of discussions.

[Matt Sole]

I think this is a mountain being made out of a mole hill. This rendering was done by a random guy who took a boat and made it Viper esque.
Also a two man viper pretty much is a K6. Why would you bother to go and try yet another start up in the same area. I expect Brian will put out something remarkably different, just like he did with the Viper 640 and 830 in the 90's.

[Terry Phillips]

Instead of building a boat that will compete with Rondar/Viper for market share, Brian could have started a business that competes with Super Spars.
CST, Forte or any one of numerous CF winding job shops could supply tubing, then finished rigs could be made for Vipers and other boats.
Eventually he could buy his own CNC winder (new Mclean Anderson Super Hornet only about 100K) and make his own tubing.
Launching a new one-design is a "tough row" with this economy and so many competitors.
Anyone remember the SB3?

[Jeff Jones]

Funny you mention forte, I have been told they can wind tubes and assemble masts that are identical to our current ones.   It's not rocket science.

The only way the vx will threaten vipers market share is if the staus quo is allowed to continue.  Unhappy owners and worried prospective buyers will see this boat as a viable option.   The two person aspect will hurt it down here but as I said, current issues on mast, parts and lead times with new boat orders will certainly open the door.

I do not believe it is brian's intent to hurt the viper.  In fact he was in new Orleans with us last weekend taking pictures and helping support the viper fleet.  He took a newer rondar back to his shop after the event to sort out a keel issue... I believe the keel was not straight in the boat?

This should be viewed as an opportunity, not a threat.  He has already set up shop in Savannah and has solid financial backing.    

[Terry Phillips]

All builders compete for the sailing dollars available.

My search for the right boat started with the J80, then progressed through several other boats, Colgate,  J22, SB3 & M20 as I worked my way down in size to the Viper.  Someday I might fancy an Island Packet.

Other buyers might work their way up from a Laser.
If Brian's boat sells, it will divert some Viper sales.

Now is not a great time to try to break into the one-design market.
The existing boats all have fleet and regetta momentum.
A 19 footer won't cost substantially less than a Viper.
Material costs will soon be going up and up. You can expect everything to cost substanially more in the years ahead. 
A container load of Vipers might actually be a good investment right now.

The Zenda boys will tell you a new boat launch takes about $600K.

Do you happen to know where BB will get his masts?   

FYI, if you were really desperate to repair a mast, GMT in Bristol RI can hand wrap a single tube to your specs. 

[Jeff Jones]

Our resin went up about 25 percent in the last two months, I feel ya.   But minus the lead there's only about 500 lbs in the viper and most of it is glass which is not going up.  So an increase in material cost is incidental.  

The vx will have a southern rig, at least  that is my understanding

[Drew Harper]

The boat looks like a ton-o-fun to me. MH kite will make it very sporty in the breeze..especially two up. I suspect this will limit it's appeal in windy spots...most of the guys with skiff skills in the big breeze sail skiffs. Should be a rocket in 10-15.

Brian has solid relationships with C-Tech and Southern...toss up. Both great sticks.

This boat will certainly compete with the K6 but is much more skiffy than that boat, especially with the MH kite. I'm interested to see if a rig tensioner is in the plan.

Can't wait to sail one :-D

[Terry Phillips]

Drew,

You know all the builders, besides Forte, who builds Viper size masts in the USA?

[Lee Shuckerow]

Drew,

You know all the builders, besides Forte, who builds Viper size masts in the USA?

Mmm. Interesting sidebar.