[Rhodes22-list] Triad Trailers

Thu Jul 5 18:05:04 EDT 2007

What do you mean - beginning...

I have ordered vinyl, 20 mil, to make front dodger like panels in time for the show.  Question: Do you think necessary for the sides of the pop-top?  I'd really like to figure out how to give the BR visibility during the Annapolis and St Pete shows - currently planning to have my Rhodes in Annapolis during the show.  Would an adjacent slip make sense?  

I quite honestly think the boom room option enhances the attractiveness of owning the R22.  You have noticed my total focus on the R22, not the new boat - I want to help in getting this quality message across about our boat - and the potential flexibility for cruising/racing, etc.  It doesn't bother me one bit that the boom room is chapter 2.

Back to the vinyl - it is a necessary PIA due to tricky fabrication.  That is why the cost of the PTE is so high, very labor intensive.  I have thought about doing a PTE with zippered panels but suspect that PTE should eventually be displaced by the full BR design.  Yes, the vinyl, Bruce Greenwald, Bill Effros too, want the side curtains done 1/2 in clear vinyl, 1/2 in screen and/or vinyl.  It has been low on the screen so far because of the 'full' BR priority.  I now feel the top design is fully refined and will look at that split side curtain for pre-show completion.  

FYI, remembering Slim's remarks about the 'chicks' not wanting to spend the effort setting up his unit, I can understand why.  The top installation is really slick and easy now, and the curtains easy as well, although there are eight separate curtains.  

Last option I have mentioned to you before - a stand-alone SS tube frame just below the boom.  It does not restrict the sailing capability.  It does make the IMF furling a little slower.  Mine has been working well for many months.  This makes the BR top an excellent bimini alternative.

Re. window panel pricing - what would be reasonable in your opinion?

Re prospects - I suspect Peter, Jim Barron, and Elle may come through in '08.  I'd like to get some production into Winter, like you.  The pre-Summer last minute decisions got close this year.

Like always, my warm regards to Rose,

Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: stan <stan at rhodes22.com>
>Sent: Jul 5, 2007 2:32 PM
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Triad Trailers
>
>beginning to look very good - have you been able to come up with a pricing 
>that would include exchangeable window panels with the screen panels to make 
>it whether proof as needed?
>
>I have some other interested parties.
>
>ss
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Arthur H. Czerwonky" <czerwonky at earthlink.net>
>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 9:40 AM
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Triad Trailers
>
>
>> Stan,
>>
>> You communicate this with skill and clarity.  I had an impression, maybe 
>> incorrect, that Michael wanted to avoid the delivery costs.  Any of the 
>> skippers would just hurt their own interests by undermining GB.  Your 
>> continuing support is really appreciated by the fleet.
>>
>> Well, two enclosures have now shipped - Rob and Isabelle, arrived last 
>> week; Rex Henthorn, arriving tommorrow.  I took pictures from every angle 
>> and they look good.  Both will install their own snaps - I almost prefer 
>> to do this myself - like maybe before they ship from plant.
>>
>> I have attached two of the pictures for your consumption - one with 
>> fabric, one with screens (front and back).  I must admit that the full 
>> length concept was your preference from the start, and the installation is 
>> really easy and quick.  Isabelle (red hull) chose a blue top, so no chance 
>> to make the fashion statement with red or pink Sunbrella topping. 
>> Afterall, so patriotic - red hull - white curtains - blue top.  I really 
>> want to save the pink for the first Avon guy skipper.  Any takers out 
>> there?
>>
>> I hope you and your's had the best 4th yet!
>>
>> VR,
>>
>> Art
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>>From: stan <stan at rhodes22.com>
>>>Sent: Jul 5, 2007 7:05 AM
>>>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Triad Trailers
>>>
>>>OK, Michael, I take this time, at the expense of others waiting for boats,
>>>in all due gratitude for your years of loyalty - and for innocently not
>>>being tuned into some business type idiosyncrasies:
>>>
>>>First of all you should know this letter did not have you in mind as a
>>>person but only addressed an ongoing issue of who sets pricing - the owner
>>>of the product or the subcontractor who makes that product for the owner.
>>>
>>>If I sold you a Boat Show package and then gave you list price credit for
>>>each item you did not wish to take that came with that package at the that
>>>show boat pricing,  and you elected to take off all of the items in the
>>>package and get credit for them all,  I would owe you money;  obviously 
>>>not
>>>the name (or rules ) of the game.
>>>
>>>Triad has no right to set its own retail figure on our trailers and then
>>>sell them at that figure since it does not make that trailer as a stock
>>>items and only builds them under contract to us as our product.  Once 
>>>Triad
>>>tells you what they think should be the list price of that trailer it has
>>>advertised that price to the world and boxed us in.  And it does this
>>>without even considering what our actual costs may be.  One quick example 
>>>of
>>>our other costs in setting our own list price:  do you have any idea of 
>>>what
>>>it costs us to bring each trailer individually to our plant?  I doubt you
>>>have considered any of the multiple costs we have to consider in setting 
>>>the
>>>real selling price of these trailers.  Take my 48 year old word for it 
>>>that
>>>we have to have the right to set our retail price for each product we have
>>>made for us and the amount we may wish, or not wish, to discount this item
>>>as part of any of our promotions.
>>>
>>>As you know, I am the lists number one bleeding heart liberal and would 
>>>have
>>>given you the trailer or any parts you needed free if you were not in a
>>>position to pay for them, but, as founder of the EC Party (Enlightened
>>>Capitalists) I also have to reserve the right to set my pricing to make up
>>>for my good pro bono work for the overall benefit of sailing-kind.   If 
>>>you
>>>still do not see the correctness of the above explanations, I would be 
>>>happy
>>>to take it up further with you after hours.
>>>
>>>stan/GBI
>>>
>>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>>From: "Michael D. Weisner" <mweisner at ebsmed.com>
>>>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 5:21 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Triad Trailers
>>>
>>>
>>>> Stan,
>>>>
>>>> I do not understand your position.  I feel that it is unnecessarily 
>>>> harsh
>>>> and terribly short sighted.  As a long time member of the "Rhodes 
>>>> Family"
>>>> (I
>>>> purchased my R22 in the fall of 1980) I have recommended the design and
>>>> YOU
>>>> to many current R22 owners and prospects in the past 27 years.  Your
>>>> comments seem to discount the GOODWIL and CUSTOMER SUPPORT that most GB
>>>> boat
>>>> owners are more than happy to provide to others.  I would think that the
>>>> future of GB lies in maintaining this alliance in an effort to sell more
>>>> R22s, not just replacement parts sold out of the plant.
>>>>
>>>> My original correspondence with Triad was prompted by a discussion on 
>>>> this
>>>> email list with Ed (Jan 5, 2007) concerning the purchase of a new 
>>>> trailer.
>>>> Since I had the quotation and specifications from Triad, I simply passed
>>>> it
>>>> along, in an open forum, when the topic arose.  If I were to buy a
>>>> replacement trailer, it is ridiculous to think that I would travel to NC
>>>> to
>>>> pick it up, when they are manufactured in CT.  Triad made the point that
>>>> they would compensate GB for any sales made with them; case closed - you
>>>> get
>>>> paid whether the purchase is direct or not.  Where's the problem?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Mike
>>>> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
>>>> Nissequogue River, NY
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: "stan" <stan at rhodes22.com> Friday, June 29, 2007 8:50 AM
>>>>> Trailer buyers:
>>>>>
>>>>> Please Note:
>>>>>
>>>>> We are against Triad quoting prices on our trailers or selling them to
>>>>> any
>>>>> of our owners.  We spent a lot of time and money developing our design
>>>>> and
>>>>> if Triad quotes our prices or in anyway sells our trailers to Rhodes
>>>>> owners,
>>>>> we will no longer use Triad as our supplier.
>>>>>
>>>>> In turn, if any Rhodes owner bypasses GB in obtaining a trailer for a
>>>>> Rhodes, we will no longer feel any obligation to consider that owner as
>>>>> part
>>>>> of the Rhodes family that we go out of our way to help.
>>>>>
>>>>> If this seems harsh to anyone, try meeting a payroll every week year
>>>>> round
>>>>> regardless of the ups and downs in this economy.   If you buy the Oil
>>>>> companies logic for their pricing, you should certainly appreciate 
>>>>> ours.
>>>>>
>>>>> ss/EC
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Michael D. Weisner" <mweisner at ebsmed.com>
>>>>> To: "Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 11:35 AM
>>>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Triad Trailers
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Alan,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I, too, have had my trailer serviced at the Triad plant.  Several 
>>>>>> months
>>>>>> ago, I requested information directly from Triad Trailers in CT asking
>>>>>> if
>>>>>> there was a proper method of purchasing a replacement trailer without
>>>>>> going
>>>>>> all the way to NC to pick it up, since it is manufactured less than 
>>>>>> 100
>>>>>> miles from home.  Michael Orro, president of Triad Trailers replied,
>>>>>> protecting Stan, (see attached pdf document for full reply, options 
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> pricing)  as follows:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Technically I am unable to sell the trailer direct however I am going
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> forward the pricing to you and will allow you to order the trailer
>>>>>> direct
>>>>>> from us.  I'll work something out with Stan if you happen to purchase 
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> trailer from us."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mike
>>>>>> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
>>>>>> Nissequogue River, NY
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From: "Alan Robertson" <bigal_61 at msn.com> Wednesday, June 27, 2007 
>>>>>> 9:54
>>>>>> PM
>>>>>>> Jim,
>>>>>>> Curious. Is Stan still selling the custom made "built like a
>>>>>>> battleship"
>>>>>>> Triad trailers designed for a float on and off Rhodes fin keel. I
>>>>>>> bought
>>>>>>> one with our boat and about 15 years later trailered it over to the
>>>>>>> mfg.
>>>>>>> in Waterbury Conn. who made some minor repairs including 1 weld.  The
>>>>>>> fender skirts on the trailer had steel like the fenders on my uncle's
>>>>>>> '39
>>>>>>> Studebaker President.
>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>>>>> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
>>>>>> Name: Triad Trailer Pricing.pdf
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>>>>>> Size: 376585 bytes
>>>>>> Desc: not available
>>>>>> Url :
>>>>>> http://www.rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20070628/254d9ada/attachment.pdf
>>>>>> __________________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>> __________________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> __________________________________________________
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>>>
>>>__________________________________________________
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>
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