Anyone who KNOWS why OCR tenders stopped the sailing version?

[Franziska]

Hi,

I recently got the impression that Offshore Cruising Tenders from New Zealand have stopped marketing and selling their sailing kit.

Does anyone here know or has more real information and facts why they might have stopped that?

Please no guessing like "guess the market did not want it".

I always thought they have very much nailed the perfect dinghy for us. At last a modern dinghy which rows, motors and actually seemed a joy when sailing. Even when sailed by avid dinghy sailors like myself.

We have something similar home built on our boat, but the OCR seemed much more refined to me.

Almost all references to the sailing version are gone from the website and the sailing kit is listed as unavailable.

[Muaddib1116]

I can't remember exactly, but I recall reading in a forum somewhere that they were redesigning it. My recollection may be wrong though. And if not, the comment I'm recalling may have been wrong.

[LLCoolDave]

Why not ask them directly?

info@octenders.com

[Franziska]

Your right. I wrote to them. Well see if and what they reply...

Originally Posted by LLCoolDave

Why not ask them directly?

info@octenders.com

[Franziska]

OK.

Got a fairly quick response :-) from them.

I post this now, few days later, as I was hoping to be able to quote the reply, but I did not get a specific ok, so I give this summarized answer.

Essentially they are improving the sail version to make it more economical viable and improve customer value further.

Covid 19 and the supply chain seem to have plaid also into this.

Looks like the sailing edition is not canceled permanently and it will be surely interesting to see what they come up with eventually.

Personally I think it's one of the best, if not the best multipurpose rigid tenders around.
What I think is great that it can be really sailed in a sporty fashion like a Laser or similar.

[Franziska]

And here, at last their official reply:

"... Hello!

...

We love our sailing tender too but production was very difficult and labour intensive when you also have a successful range of tenders to build. It was too time consuming and we didn't feel like we could charge quite accordingly. Also some components needed improvement, the plug for the center case for instance. So we have been spending a bit of time redesigning it and have come up with some good solutions. We have the hope of having the tender back into production next year. It was supposed to be this year but Covid put a stop to that. But we are not giving up.

We will be back better, lighter and as efficient as ever! Do you want me to save your email to contact* you once I have some news?

Karin Carlyon

Offshore Cruising Tenders

... "

[LLCoolDave]

Nice, thanks for letting us know.