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Is there a future for the Solution? |
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
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Topic: Is there a future for the Solution? Posted: 13 Sep 17 at 8:01pm |
I can't promise you big fleets locally, but I can promise a nice sailing experience and I would add this, if ever it looked like the current 'owners' of the Solution decided to call it a day, then I for one would seize on it as an opportunity to build not one but two classes and I'm sure I wouldn't be alone in viewing it as an opportunity for a brand relaunch, so no, it's not going to die any time soon, providing of course the market within which it exists doesn't die first. |
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Cirrus
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Oct 15 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 590 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 17 at 9:57am |
GRF .. sounds like you should at least be on the Solution CA committee - no point yelling 'how it should be' otherwise. They sure would value a leading marketing practitioner of renowned judgement plus those key diplomacy skills you possess. Hearts and minds etc ....
(The first sentence is possibly serious ... as for rest ......) |
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turnturtle
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 17 at 10:34am |
There is of course the dreaded re-sale value question.... I know it's not pretty, but taking a punt on a boat that happened to be nice on the 2 hour test sail in benign, sunny conditions* is a far easier decision if you know you're not going to get rogered if you choose to move it on anytime soon. I think we all accept it takes a while to dial-in a boat and work out its quirks and sweet spots; unfortunately that can sometimes mean coming to the realisation it's not right for you, or actually something else is probably better for your location, body type, sailing style etc... There's no point naming it, but there is one new class I was very tempted to have a punt on, but it's just too much risk given the relatively low sales volumes it has achieved. (* I mean no one would seriously commit to a boat on marketing blurb and internet opinion alone )
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 17 at 2:01pm |
Cirrus re Committee, committees and I just don't get on and any atm my new kite brand is busy doubling it's turnover for the third year running so I am just a tad engaged elsewhere.
TT & resale value, just try and find a Solution for sale, never mind one under two grand. They hold their value really well. Edited by iGRF - 14 Sep 17 at 2:02pm |
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Cirrus
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Oct 15 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 590 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 17 at 2:45pm |
Cirrus re Committee, committees and I just don't get on and any atm my
new kite brand is busy doubling it's turnover for the third year running
so I am just a tad engaged elsewhere.
Well we should be grateful that you have still managed to find a few minutes to devote to 'advising' the dinghy world .... if only you were selling Solutions as well etc etc .... |
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turnturtle
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 17 at 2:46pm |
fair point about second hand values... one of those classes which lingers in its 2.5 - 4k bubble depending on how shagged out its got.
Not great if you were to drop on a new one... what 7 to 7.5k including trailer or so now? The lack of new boats starves the after-market, adding to the issues already identified.
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Papa Smurf
Newbie Joined: 23 Apr 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 17 at 6:42pm |
I can't see another boat that would suit me better at the moment.
I was tempted by an RS300 at a good price, and I have a weakness for Phantoms, but looking at how and where I sail, the Solution is the best option. |
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Old Timer
Far too distracted from work Joined: 05 Jun 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 370 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 17 at 9:35am |
It probably costs a builder £500 to run a demo day, maybe more. The margin in a boat is probably £1000. Not rocket science why builders can't do this ... |
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Vronny
Posting king Joined: 31 Mar 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 121 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 18 Sep 17 at 10:35am |
As Old Timer says, it's an expensive business for a builder to promote a class. It's also expensive and time consuming for a class association to do the same. But if the two work together, you stand a chance. However, the class needs to have built itself up so that the association has enthusiastic volunteers to help share the load and sufficient income from subscriptions, etc to make it possible to do some marketing, demos, and going to the Dinghy Show.
It seems that several classes are relying heavily on their builders to do the marketing. At the Dinghy Show many classes built by Hartley or Ovington etc are displayed on the builders' stands. Presumably their class associations have some input but it gives the impression that the associations (i.e. the people who actually sail the boats and organise events and circuits etc) haven't got much to say. On the other hand, if you go to a class association stand, you can spend ages talking about the racing as well as the boat. So the point I'm making is that for a class to be sustainable it doesn't just need to offer a nice sailing/racing experience but also needs an active class association. Even if you sail in handicap fleets at your own club, having a good class association means you can access information, go to open meetings, maybe also training sessions, etc. This is particularly important for people buying secondhand boats - and without a steady stream of happy secondhand boat buyers, the class is pretty much doomed.
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KazRob
Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Oct 16 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 245 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 18 Sep 17 at 12:29pm |
Well said Vronny
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