Hood/Kemp

[BobE]

I've just come off the phone to Kemps. I was told that Hood in Lymington are closing.. Kemps have now got the licence for Hood sails in, either this part of, or all of UK...
They will run the two lines separately, using Bainbridge cloth for Kemps and Hoods own Irish produced cloth for the Hood products..
Apparently they've written to the "Hood" mailing list but not Kemps customers.

Less competition so0 prices could go up... But makes the choice easier as I assume the shapes will be standardised??
Comment??
Just thought you might like to know
Cheers Bob E..

 

[vyv_cox]

Great pity. Hood seem to be innovative and their quallity is very high. My Vectran main and genoa are superb, no detectable shape change after five years. Their service was excellent too, they measured for and fitted my sails when we lived in Holland. Not sure many UK companies would do the same.

 

[[2574]]

But rest easy with Kemp Sails. I have found them excellent in customer service and quality of products.

rob

 

[BobE]

Yes Rob, (And I did look to make sure you were not "Rob Kemp" )
I've found them to be good and very friendly..
I see they've got it on the web....
http://www.hood-sails.com/news.htm

Cheers Bob E......

 

[jonjo]

Re: Not surprised

Given my dealings with these two sail makers two years ago I am not surprised by the outcome. Hoods had become a dysfunctional commercial operation in recent years.

In discussions with the two sail makers in December 2004 for an IRC heavy weather jib...

Rob Kemp produced the essential sail dimensions within 24 hours but then said "I am not happy, the rule allows a sail area that is too much for your displacement, I would like to lop another 15% off the area if you are ok with that".

Hood's sail consultant, "IRC heavy weather jib, what's that, can you give us the dimensions and I will price it up". Strewth! They were only a 3 minute walk from the RORC rating office.

 

[BobE]

Re: Not surprised

Wonder if the "Hood Sail consultant" was/is the "Mark woodford" mentioned on the Kemp/Hood site??
Could be a bad omen????
Cheers Bob E...

 

[Sans Bateau]

Having bought sails from Kemp previously, I would be very comfortable in placing business with them.

 

[gandy]

Mark Woodford was with Kemp in October, although I didn't actually speak to him. As others have commented, Kemp were very easy to deal with at the quoting stage, and seemed to have all the facts at their fingertips. I'm looking forward to the new sail.

In contract Hood's quote for got the mainsail spectacularly over-sized, then when the corrected that error their price went up! I wasn't particularly impressed.

Notice that the Kemp/Hood deal is front-page news on Hood's web site, but not mentioned on Kemp's.