BRICK WALL - Obtaining Sparcraft Extrusions

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Zach

When I run into this type thing, I call and ask to be connected with an engineer or shop manager, not a sales guy.

Ask for design drawings and prints of what you need, and then, while you've got the guy that is in charge of designing them on the phone... ask about the lead time on having one commissioned. And who you need to have do the machine work.

Though it looks like that position is open: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/12670893

Have you tried Wichard America out of Annapolis?

Customer service: Dianna Patnode 148a Bryce Blvd
Fairfax, VT 05454
Tel: (401) 683-5055 ext: 221
Fax: (802) 655-4689
Email: sales@wichard-usa.com


Technical service:

Tel: (401) 683-5055 ext: 226
Fax: (410) 280-2160
Email: sales@wichard-usa.com

Zach

Spectacular idea Zach!
Wichard angle and contacts are extremely appreciated!!!!

For sure I need to get past the sales/CS roadblock... And get to the guy with the hands on responsibilities ...

Thanks so much bud

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by SailorGerry

Happy - Good idea but I don't believe they're around anymore. The last word I got from the new guard was that Robert had retired, and David was no longer
with the Company. That tends to happen when you move/consolidate the business. Robert had been with Sparcraft since it's early days in California, then started Charleston Spar, then joined with Sparcraft again in a acquisition ~6 years ago. I'm not sure where operations are today??

Yea... I saw this coming... I'll have the distributor guy I know who actually tried to help me... bounce around a few current names...

I don't know if/where anything is going on... Certainly they are still supplying a steady stream of OEM rigs... I think it would be a hoot to show up on their doorstep with a business card that said "Purchasing Rep" for Gunboat....

Originally Posted by Gypsydjf

Forget about them!! Contact lefiell. They make spars for everything and supply new to Catalina and others. They even had aluminum replacements for my Formosa 41.

Thanks gypsy!
I put a LeFiell stick on a high performance carbon trapeze boat many moons ago... They were great to deal with! I'll check, but I don't think they have anything big enough...

Originally Posted by svinshallah

I had great luck recently with Forespar. A 30+ year old mast on a Norseman 447. I wrote them asking if they had replacement spreaders. They responded the next day with "Certainly." Took them a week to make them for a lot less money than I spent trying to get the old ones fixed. I was amazed at their configuration control; they had every measurement and part number for the rig.

Thanks for the post svinshallah !

It's definitely time to start pushing the parameters and sources... I KNOW there are far better responsive spar companies out there... I inquired with Hall about a take-off I found, and Nan over at Hall went above and beyond, with no expectation of a sale... Forespar is now on my list...

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by jaybird1111

How's it going? Tell "Nervine" hello

Contact Kevin at Stix-n-Rig'n in Houston TX Home

He is def connected - we just got parts etc from him this last haulout (May last). If Kevin doesn't have it he will know where to go

Heya Jay!

Things are pretty well... Hope the same with you guys! Nervine doing well, didn't even get too upset with my "yank off the dock tow/launch" the other day... Only 30% swamped her....

SUPER HOT contact! This is what I was looking for... Had a card given to me by a guy turning boats when in the yard... Misplaced it...

THANKS A BUNCH!
ps- Tami's advice brought Holly's palm back from the grave...

[Tempo Spars]

Find a local mast maker and have them Make the parts you require. We find that it's easier, quicker and generally stronger for us to make replacement parts than get the mass produced castings etc from Sparcraft.


Roland

Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Tempo Spars

Find a local mast maker and have them Make the parts you require. We find that it's easier, quicker and generally stronger for us to make replacement parts than get the mass produced castings etc from Sparcraft.


Roland

Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Roland,

Thanks for the input!

This really may be the best idea... I was hoping to do all of this work myself, but it simply may be easier to drag this thing around to a few shops and say.... "Here... What can you do with this?"

Good news is that I'll only need a 30 ft trailer to deliver it...

[HappyMdRSailor]

-UPDATE-


This is some info I gleaned over at "the other forum"


Charleston Spars / Sparcraft was sold to the company that also owns Wichard and Profurl. They have gotten out of the production spar business except for one-designs like Etchells, Sonar, J24 and are now only producing high end products. They have let go most of their staff that knew the production line of spars for replacements - I think that David Lively (one of the nicest and most experienced sparcraft guys) is now working for US spars.

All of the replacement/spare parts were sold off to Rig-rite, leaving them the sole solution for replacement parts.

Your best bet with them is to send a clear and concise email with part numbers and quantities - they will get back to you. The more concise you can be, the faster the reply. All the information is on their website, and they expect you to do the research before placing the orders.

[HappyMdRSailor]

AND...

This David Lively superhero must been one helluva guy.... 2nd glowing opinion...


Hi Ho... Hi HO...... It's back to Rig-Rite I go...

Unless of course neilpride comes up with something...
***crosses fingers***

Did I forget to mention Neil is one helluva guy too???

[neilpride]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...,d.eXY&cad=rjt


ZI,8, RUE BLAISE
PASCAL PERIGNY
FRANCE
FAX:0546453659
TEL.0546459045


See if you have better luck.. Cheers.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

...I've been casually then fanatically trying to obtain parts for a rig that came down. I'm not looking for anything archaic.... But a few different things that come directly out of the current catalog...

1. Length of mast section S1060
2. Splice joint section for above
3. Length of BF-5 Spreader section...
ANY thoughts would be helpful !

Perhaps you were too casual, at first, leading them to think you weren't very serious. Then the fact that you are looking for incomplete portions of parts (they most likely don't want to cut up a serviceable length of extrusion) with which to cobble up some repairs. Be particularly aware that the wording of your requests (been searching for used parts...don't have a lot of money to spend, etc) can work way against you. In 7 months you haven't made much progress--maybe they just don't see this as a serious request, but more like a fishing trip?

So reexamine your methods to see if you might have turned them off, somehow.

[ggray]

If you are still having trouble, you might try contacting what used to be Sparcrsft in South Africa. The built spars for lots of boats going to charter fleets, etc. !0 years ago, and probably more recently, it was same extrusions as from France.

Southern Spars - world leaders in carbon spar design, manufacture and service

Farther away, I know, but perhaps they could help.

[ggray]

Oh, and I'm sorry to hear about Charleston Spar. They helped me several times.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

Perhaps you were too casual, at first, leading them to think you weren't very serious. Then the fact that you are looking for incomplete portions of parts (they most likely don't want to cut up a serviceable length of extrusion) with which to cobble up some repairs. Be particularly aware that the wording of your requests (been searching for used parts...don't have a lot of money to spend, etc) can work way against you. In 7 months you haven't made much progress--maybe they just don't see this as a serious request, but more like a fishing trip?

So reexamine your methods to see if you might have turned them off, somehow.

Nope... gave them part numbers, descriptions and catalog page numbers if they need help identifying what I was asking for...

This LAST TIME... I omitted everything vague, and gave them 3 RIG-RITE PART numbers for 2 spreaders and a length of spreader stock... FOUR DAYS AGO= nothing... crickets... vacuum... space...

I just read an article that scientists have just recently measured the velocity of matter being sucked into a black hole... Rig-Rite sucks faster...

Originally Posted by ggray

If you are still having trouble, you might try contacting what used to be Sparcrsft in South Africa. The built spars for lots of boats going to charter fleets, etc. !0 years ago, and probably more recently, it was same extrusions as from France.

Southern Spars - world leaders in carbon spar design, manufacture and service

Farther away, I know, but perhaps they could help.

Thanks TON ggray!!!

I've got 3 new leads including yours Imma try starting Monday!

Originally Posted by ggray

Oh, and I'm sorry to hear about Charleston Spar. They helped me several times.

Yea... me toooooo...

[ggray]

Happy
Were you ever able to find any useful information about Sparcraft?

I'll probably be needing something down the road....