Oilskins whinge

Kukri

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It’s the first of September, so of course Musto announce their “Summer Sale” - which brought this whinge on.

Yes modern foul weather sailing clothing is wonderful. BUT…

1. Henri-Lloyd’s entire range is made to fit six foot bean poles. Which I wasn’t, before Covid19, and I’m certainly not, now!

2. Talking of which, what happened to the Musto “medium broad” size?

3. The Musto Goretex Midlayer is a brilliant idea, but it would be nice if I could get my legs into the salopette trousers without most of the lining pulling through. Especially at £295 a pair. You can get a Backtow 275N lifejacket for that!

4. Dubarry, home of the skating boot… please do something about those soles!

5. And finally - the Backtow 275 N lifejacket. Absolutely bloody wonderful! The most comfortable lifejacket I have ever worn, very well made, got everything as well as the backtow feature. Excellent customer service. It’s even made in England!
 
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dolabriform

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5. And finally - the Backtow 275 Kn lifejacket. Absolutely bloody wonderful! The most comfortable lifejacket I have ever worn, very well made, got everything as well as the backtow feature. Excellent customer service. It’s even made in England!

And permanently sold out whenever I look on their website :mad:
 

Kukri

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I have just had a thought: if Lauren and Oscar Mead, manufacturing and operating out of an obscure corner of Woolston, can make and sell something as complicated and difficult to make as an automatic lifejacket, with all the bells and literally a whistle, for £275, why can’t Musto, manufacturing in Poland, put a few stitches to hold the lining in a pair of salopettes for the same price?

39C4BEA1-0490-4E3B-8D06-D2E71A4FF511.jpeg
 
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flaming

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I have just had a thought: if Lauren and Oscar Mead, manufacturing and operating out of an obscure corner of Woolston, can make and sell something as complicated and difficult to make as an automatic lifejacket, with all the bells and literally a whistle, for £275, why can’t Musto’ manufacturing in Poland, put a few stitches to hold the lining in a pair of salopettes for the same price?

View attachment 121702
Because Musto is now just a brand ultimately owned by a Canadian pension fund.
 

pvb

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I have just had a thought: if Lauren and Oscar Mead, manufacturing and operating out of an obscure corner of Woolston, can make and sell something as complicated and difficult to make as an automatic lifejacket, with all the bells and literally a whistle, for £275, why can’t Musto, manufacturing in Poland, put a few stitches to hold the lining in a pair of salopettes for the same price?

The Meads have done incredibly well to bring their product to market, and even better to stop making it in the Far East. But their company is tiny and isn't brilliant financially yet. In their last accounts, they seem only to employ 2 people. Getting Kate to wear one was a great idea!
 

Kukri

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I thought you were going to blame EverGiven for a moment there :ROFLMAO:

The ship immediately ahead of the “Ever Given” in the convoy, same type, same size, was one of ours. A Shell methane tanker - this one - had decided to wait for better weather. She therefore released her two tugs and our ship had taken the second of them - the last available northbound tug. We are in the same consortium as Evergreen. There but for the grace of God…
 

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Neeves

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The Meads have done incredibly well to bring their product to market, and even better to stop making it in the Far East. But their company is tiny and isn't brilliant financially yet. In their last accounts, they seem only to employ 2 people. Getting Kate to wear one was a great idea!

There is nothing wrong with making in the Far East - your iPad comes from the Far East, so does your Rocna anchor and MG cars??!! (surely a contradiction). A Knox is made in Scotland - I don't notice people beating a path to their doors to buy one. A Delta, Epsilon anchor costs approximately the same to make as a Rocna and has similar steel and manufacturing processes as a Knox. Morgan cars - hardly a volume manufacturer.

Get the quality control right, make the most of the cheaper cost of manufacturing (put some of the money you save from cheap manufacture into allowing consignment stock and some clever (possibly accidental - marketing) and you have a winner). Planning you shipping is another matter.....

Cheap Far East manufacture might not last too long, or you need to move your production base to a different low cost location.

But as long as the market place rewards low cost and slick 'marketing' then the quality available from Knox, the Meads, Allen Brothers????? - its tough.

As a manufacturer accepting and managing 'Far East' might be a better route to longevity (but needs different skills).

Sorry Kukri - I'ver hijacked your thread (but prompted by PVB) - If you came to live in Oz you would not need the fancy boots (except the Uggs in winter) - the rest of the time, barefoot and 'oilskins' that just collect dust. :)

Jonathan
 

pvb

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There is nothing wrong with making in the Far East - your iPad comes from the Far East, so does your Rocna anchor and MG cars??!!

I didn't say there's anything wrong with manufacturing in the Far East. But, if possible, companies should always try to manufacture locally. Otherwise, we'll end up with the only employment being in coffee shops, fruit picking and van driving.
 

Neeves

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I didn't say there's anything wrong with manufacturing in the Far East. But, if possible, companies should always try to manufacture locally. Otherwise, we'll end up with the only employment being in coffee shops, fruit picking and van driving.

I totally agree - but wallets rule.

Far East production allows greater profit or lower prices. Or lower prices + (less) higher profits and whichever - the customer likes the lower prices or availability.

None of this explains why Kukri cannot into his salopettes without the lining castrating him and his Dubarry's slipping and depositing heavily on his posterior - my solution of moving to Oz would be the easiest solution (as Far East production is here to stay for a few more years and Musto are unlikely to change - just to suit Kukri :( ).

Jonathan
 

Hermit

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Has nobody mentioned www.guycotten.com ? Thousands of 'generous sized' Breton fisherman can't be wrong...?

Mostly made in Brittany too - 70% of production increasing with a recently opened new factory
Just had a look and it is all black though - I appreciate there are some yellow flashes but does anyone else think black or dark coloured oilskins are just daft?
 
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Lightwave395

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Just had a look and it is all black though - I appreciate there are some yellow flashes but does anyone else think black or dark coloured oilskins are just daft?

Greys and blacks etc seem to have been prevalent for a while now as yachting gear has become trendy (and consequently expensive)
I guess if you're really after economy you could always go with the original Guy Cotten yellow fishermans gear !

I guess if it's good enough for Francois Gabart it's probably good enough for me, although I seem to be having a hard time wearing out my current 'Hudson Wight' gear, a local company that came and seem to go in the blink of an eye sadly, still 5 years later the gear still remains waterproof
 
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Just had a look and it is all black though - I appreciate there are some yellow flashes but does anyone else think black or dark coloured oilskins are just daft?

Considering only your head floats above the water it doesn't really matter what colour they are. My black HL's have a bright yellow hood that can fold away.
 

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