How long to make a new pulpit???

neilf39

neilf39

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Apr 2005
Messages
1,010
Location
Milton Keynes, Bucks, UK
www.konsortkoto.wordpress.com
Hi All, I commissioned a new pulpit for a Konsort from a local stainless fabricator back in November. So far to date I have not even been given a sketch of what they intend to produce, let a lone a drawing. Am I being unreasonable in expecting the work to be completed by mid-March so I can have the boat all ready to go by the end of March? It must surely be no more than a day or two to make it and fettle it to fit. So far I have been told 1" tube has been in short supply, their server has broken, and I have been promised a drawing the next day each time I have called him up. It makes things worse when you know you are getting idle promises and excuses. I wanted to support the local guy but it seems he has no interest in supporting me. Mug that I am I paid a 50% deposit up front so he has my money. If I end up cancelling and have trouble recouping my deposit I shall name and shame as I am getting seriously annoyed.
 
You need to somewhere else, as that fabricator is clearly not interested. I suggest your first step should be to go and ask for your deposit back and see what the response is. Your local man may be glad to get rid of a job he does not want. If I was having a job like that done I would make my own fully dimensioned drawing and have it made to my design, not someone else's.

I am lucky to have my boat based in Marmaris. Even though the best local fabricator retired and his son now runs the business as a steel stockholder, there is plenty of 316 stainless availabe and other places that can fabricate a new pulpit in a day. I had my boat's pulpit remade in order to remove the front overhang and reposition the nav lights, and the fabricator in Yachtmarine did the job including repolishing the whole thing in a couple of hours.

EDIT. I just noticed you are in Milton Keynes, so its possible your local man is not used to marine work.
 
Ask for your money back unless he can fabricate it and hand it over to you completed in 14 days, beyond which you will take action to recover your money and damages; in a recorded delivery letter; if he fails, is a small claims court case.
 
My experience of stainless fabricators is similar. More work than they can manage but reluctant to say no. Same with sailmakers.
At this stage I'd make a phone call along the '14 days or my money back' lines and back it up in an email or letter. In fact I did exactly this two years ago to a stainless fabricator and sailmaker, giving them a week, expecting them to negotiate for a little longer. Which they did, both delivering a week after that. But it got them committed to my orders and gave me the results I wanted without the risk of going to the back of alternative companies' queues.
 
neilf39 said:
Hi All, I commissioned a new pulpit for a Konsort from a local stainless fabricator back in November. So far to date I have not even been given a sketch of what they intend to produce, let a lone a drawing. Am I being unreasonable in expecting the work to be completed by mid-March so I can have the boat all ready to go by the end of March? It must surely be no more than a day or two to make it and fettle it to fit. So far I have been told 1" tube has been in short supply, their server has broken, and I have been promised a drawing the next day each time I have called him up. It makes things worse when you know you are getting idle promises and excuses. I wanted to support the local guy but it seems he has no interest in supporting me. Mug that I am I paid a 50% deposit up front so he has my money. If I end up cancelling and have trouble recouping my deposit I shall name and shame as I am getting seriously annoyed.
Click to expand...
I think you need to start by simply asking him if he can complete the work by an agreed date.
It's not unusual for boat owners to place orders and only want delivery by launch date, a lot of jobs are taken on in Autumn and Winter on the understanding that they are not urgent.
The thing which alarms me is that you've placed an order without a drawing?
It is not actually a lot of work. Measure, cut bend weld, adjust to fit, finish, polish.
It might help if you gave him a sketch of what you want.
 
After my formal email asking for completion by 14th March or full refund I have now been promised a drawing by COB tomorrow and the work completed by 14th March. I wait with bated breath.

Work was commissioned based on a detailed talk regarding what was required and a later agreed drawing. It is really a very simple design so needs to fit the current footprint, have a bracket for an aquasignal 40 bicolour and tangs for guardwires, and to the same overall dimensions as the current one. Did not think it high risk. I did not specify a specific date which was where I went wrong but I did say I would need it in February.
 
neilf39 said:
After my formal email asking for completion by 14th March or full refund I have now been promised a drawing by COB tomorrow and the work completed by 14th March. I wait with bated breath.

Work was commissioned based on a detailed talk regarding what was required and a later agreed drawing. It is really a very simple design so needs to fit the current footprint, have a bracket for an aquasignal 40 bicolour and tangs for guardwires, and to the same overall dimensions as the current one. Did not think it high risk. I did not specify a specific date which was where I went wrong but I did say I would need it in February.
Click to expand...
Like plumbers being self employed they juggle all the jobs they can manage and choose the path of least resistance as you have put your foot down your job has taken on priority...
 
A shortge of 1" tube does not prevent completion of a drawing ...

My advice: keep on at them on a (literally) daily basis if you are going to stick with them ... and if you don't have the drawing by the end of the weekend, ask for the deposit back as they are in breach of contract (now that you have agreed dates)
 
Sandy said:
About two hours.
Click to expand...

Hmmm ...

Setup : 30 minutes
Tube stock selection and cut to length: 30 minutes
Base plate drill and profile: 30 minutes.
Tube bending: 60 minutes
Notching: 30 minutes
tack weld and check: 30 minutes
Full weld: 120 minutes
Weld passivation: 30 minutes.
Polishing: 60 minutes.

7 Hours? Basically, one man for a day.
 
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