Replacement Parts for the H18

Harsh?? I got your harsh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDcK5B0LqiQ

Welcome to Texas. Where when we break something, it stays broken.

Brian C

Well everyone knows why it's windy in Texas...

But that's mostly John's fault.

Brian C

THE HOUSE OF DOG

J

Yeah, buddy... Play hard, go home, sleep, repeat... We had to have something to do when it's not windy.

Brian C

And The Cult!!!

Even though you're from Texas, we'd get along just fine.

J

I can't take credit for the windsurfing vid. That was a friend who shot that. I'm just one of the actors (the guy who keeps dragging a hand in the water).

Actually, I'm not from Texas. I was born else where. But I've been here longer than anywhere else - half of my 46 years. But as the old saying goes, "Heaven doesn't want me and Hell is afraid I'll take over".

Texas lost the coin toss, so here I am. I've got enough crazy relatives in Cali that they don't need me adding to the mix.

Cheers,
Dog... errr, Brian C

Hi Matt,

Thank You for your response.

I have to apologize but when people throw out the phrase "Hobie Quality" I have a long memory of some very poor situations ... maybe I remember too much for too long ..... especially when the bow of your new H18 bends inward and starts to tear away ... trust me it is not an enjoyable experience ... I was lucky to make it back to the beach ....

Now I will look long and hard for a dealer w/ a med blue solid vinyl or mesh tramp "in-stock" that I can purchase .... it is that important to me that I maintian my boats color scheme but if I can find none then I quess my "Hobie Points Regetta" days are over .....

On another level you have me very confused ... you see I was a manufacturing/production engineer for 14-15 yrs in the electronic assemble field. We were able to slowly reduce the profitable production lot sizes from 1000pcs ... to 500pcs ... to 100pcs to finally 50pc then 10pc lot sizes .... w/ automated equipment, w/ the materials/parts stored on the machine it is just requires downloading the proper CNC Pattern Program from memory .... and away you go. Then there is the fact that Hobie Cat Co's final "shipped price" is 25% - 100% higher then the other pricing I recieved in just one day ( please note all these "aftermarket" prices are w/ USA made materials and assembled in the USA) .... so please excuse me if I say "that something doesn't seem to add up" Are your "overhead cost" under control??? as your design costs should be long ago amortized and your material costs should be approximently the same if not lower because of the volume of material you order ... do you do a bulk order/yr??? Thats what we did w/ electronics parts.

It's not like I'm asking for you to "special order material" I'm just asking you to download a different program while you have the med blue material on the machine ....

Please consider me the "Canary in the Coal Mine" chirping away .... now I'll go silent ... because I will order the tramp in the color I want if not from Hobie Cat Co. ..... then from somewhere else ....

Remember in the end ... the customer is ALWAYS right ....
(and it is the customer's duty to Capitalism/Free Enterprize to take their business elsewhere if their reasonable "wants" are not being met.... and can be met elsewhere.)


Respectfully Yours

_________________
HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

So why exactly are you participating in a Hobie forum?

Brian C

Gawd, it pains me to stand up to folks I consider friends, but I gotta point out that there is a REASON that Hobie factory tramps cost more.

LOOK at the difference in construction, there IS a difference.

Hobie tramps have "welded seams" while virtually all of the aftermarket tramps are sewn.

The difference is in how long they last, and how well they "perform" over the years.

Its kinda like buying tires. A $30 tire may only last 12K miles while a $40 tire will last better than 40K miles. If you do a cost analysis on a cost per mile basis the tire that cost less on the day you wrote the check is actually MUCH more expensive over the life of the tire.

The same thing can be said for Trampolines.

::::Climbing down off of my soapbox:::::

_________________
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

"ghhm43" Posts deleted per your request...

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Sorry Harry,

I cannot build the tramp. This is not a CNC machine.

I can not build a lot of stuff these days... H21SE, Sport Cruiser, Holder ... of any size, Magic 25, Powerskiffs.. Hobie 17, Hobie 18s. Many models have come and gone. Blue tramps went and came back again, but are now available in limited models only. Hard to do it all. We have lots of current product available.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Harry, I need to say this as friendly as I can. This is a public forum, when you openly complain about such things and some potential new sailor reads it you make Hobie people sound like they take the short bus to work. There are other avenues to persue with your complaints. Stuff like this may turn away potential new blood. Most of the content on here is Q&A, not B&M, ((censored) and moan). I can't say I've haven't had complaints, but I feel like a jerk for doing so in a damaging way, both to our sport and to HC. Hobie isn't some giant conglomerat company that is faceless and easy to complain about because your tribulations fall on deaf ears. If you feel like you've been left behind because a company has moved away from a product get used to it. Try finding a new convertible top for a old car, same thing.

BTW how many threads are out there about the quality of aftermarket tramps? and what was the collective synopsis of said quality? Don't let vanity choose your tramp. Hows that for a double meaning

Just take it easy for me. This snowballs and doesn't do any of us anygood.

How do you really feel Jeremy?
Try it when you have a tiger Your options are "Any color as long as its black" tramp and sails.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Harry is right! Regardless how anyone may feel. Hobie 18 owners are being abandoned by HC. Slowly but surely we will all be buying aftermarket or used parts. Its the natural progression of a discontinued product line, regardless of product type. Its not HC's fault, its just the way it is. Try and buy a part for your MG from Morris garage.

That said, what race committee would be crazy enough to penalize you for a non-hobie tramp. Most races are just glad you showed up. There can't be strict OD racing on a discontinued chassis. Ever had your boat weight checked? Crew weight checked? Equipment checked?

Hobie makes the best tramps, period. I had several aftermarket and they don't compare. Salty Dog is probably the best, the amish guy on e-bay is the worst. Get what makes you happy and don't sweat it.

Now, Dog and Jeremy...are you saying that you are not willing to help a skipper with a modified boat? Isn't that a little short sited? Would a Trek bicycle dealer refuse to work on a Schwinn, I don't think so! Why wouldn't you help a skipper buy whatever he wants, if theres a little in it for you as well. I understand brand loyalty but business is business. And that skipper will need Hobie brand parts as well. My Hobie dealer certainly trys to help me when I call, hes' more than willing to take my Murrays order instead of me calling them directly. Agreed, he can rarely help me with tuning as my 18 is seriously modified, but always offers advise based on his knowledge. Went to battle with me against Hobie over the breakage of my Fox, which I didn't purchase from him. I am talking about Charlie Belisari, Sail and Ski in Myrtle Beach, SC. He and I have been doing business for 20+ years now. Was with him in the heyday and still buy from him today. Great guy with a great attitude toward cat sailing. Whats up with the attitude guys?

In Jeremy's defence I have seen him work on non hobie boats, and modified hobie boats. He has done so much for me that he is now my exclusive dealer. I have 3 to choose from. He puts on clinics for all youth sailing ( focusing on hobie and cats ) runs chase boats and committee boats, and volunteers with the Harbor patrol in santa cruz.
I bought my tiger from him and he had it assembled, and 3 people to help me rig the boat at the next race. He arranged a training session for me with a local tiger sailor to help me along on the boat. He has also had parts overnighted to himself then drove them out to a regatta for not only me but others in the Division.
I have seen him work on one of those funny "P" boats in the harbor. I think his point was support your local dealer and hobie whenever possible. If you must buy outside because non availabiliy issues great but supporting the company and dealers helps everyone involved.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/