Rocna anchors - a happy ending!

[captaina]

Many of you will know of the problem with Rocna anchors – following the move of manufacturing to China, a 'dodgy' batch was produced, the anchors were sub-standard and Rocna received severe criticism. Rocna was eventually acquired by Canada Metal Products (CMP), a highly reputable company.



I bought a Rocna in summer 2011 in Portugal. Even at that time, I was aware of the problem, and asked for the Portuguese agent to confirm that it was not from the 'dodgy' batch. I received the confirmation verbally, but they refused to put it in writing. I contacted Rocna directly in New Zealand, and received courteous replies which indicated that my new Rocna might be 'dodgy'.



I spoke to Lawrence Taft from Piplers of Poole; they are the UK agents for Rocna. To my delight and surprise, Lawrence offered to ship a new one out, at no cost to me, even though our yacht is now in the Med. I waited until the new Rocnas had obvious CMP branding. Our new Rocna was shipped to Menorca last week.



Thank you, Lawrence, for your superb service. Hopefully, the sad saga of 'dodgy' Rocnas can at last be put to bed.

 

[affinite]

"Hopefully, the sad saga of 'dodgy' Rocnas can at last be put to bed. "

Hope so, Ive just ordered one myself (In Greece)
CMP must be greasing the palms of the distributors well to encourange service like that from Piplers

 

[oldbilbo]

"Hopefully, the sad saga of 'dodgy' Rocnas can at last be put to bed. "

Hope so, Ive just ordered one myself (In Greece)
CMP must be greasing the palms of the distributors well to encourange service like that from Piplers

Nope. I don't have such an anchor, nor do I work for 'em, but Lawrence Taft of Piplers, in Poole, is just one of the 'good guys' in the boaty trade I've encountered, who does his work well and conscientiously, and whose guidance can generally be taken as reliable. So I'm hoping that the occasional word of appreciation, like this, is all that is needed to 'encourage service like that'.....

 

[Blueboatman]

+1
Indeed. Delighted too because I shall be ordering a Rocna, gets my business.

Phrases like 'greasi g the palm' don't really suggest much joy do they? Ah, could be a wanka post

 

[LittleSister]

Curiously, there's a near identical thread from this low volume poster on the PBO forum. Oh, and another one on the Liveaboard Forum. Here we go again?

As I said in that (PBO) thread:

The problems were more than 'bad batch'. Since production moved to China they have never been made to the spec Rocna previously claimed, and that on Rocna's own website the designer said was critical to their functioning. The anchors never had the certification that Rocna claimed. Rocana denied all this for a long time, and the new owners have been less than forthcoming about the situation.

Current models are claimed to be made to a better spec than the supposed bad batch, but they're still not made to the spec they used to be, or the designers spec.

I don't think anyone has criticised the anchor design, its just you can't buy a new one that is as strong as the designer said it needed to be.

 

[vyv_cox]

Curiously, there's a near identical thread from this low volume poster on the PBO forum. Oh, and another one on the Liveaboard Forum.

And another two on the Cruising Association forums. It's nice to be informed but there are limits!

My mistake, it's on three CA forums

 

[Capt Popeye]

ah well, believe it if you want to

really really do not know why some Yachties get so worked up about a simple 'bit of kit' (costly kit at that) since anchors have been in existance for many many generations, and doing a 'good job'

 

[Neeves]

ah well, believe it if you want to

really really do not know why some Yachties get so worked up about a simple 'bit of kit' (costly kit at that) since anchors have been in existance for many many generations, and doing a 'good job'[/QUOTE]

Maybe because its a costly bit of kit looking after an even more costly bigger bit of kit (+, in no particular order - wife and grandchildren)

But bizarre, to post simultaneously so frequently, simply bizarre, or spruiking the unsaleable?

 

[macd]

really really do not know why some Yachties get so worked up about a simple 'bit of kit'

I'm not sure a "bit of kit" comes into it. The OP, if he's worked up at all (he's certainly persistent, verging on advertising) seems to be worked up about the service he's received from CMP/Piplers rather than the kit per se. LittleSister (and many others before) were worked up about Rocna's persistent deceit, all the more so in the context of their abrasive and holier-than-thou attitude. (Apologies LittleSis if I've misrepresented your position.)

Interestingly, the Rocna anchor model in question is now marketed as "The Original", which is stretching a point just a tad. They no longer make any specific claims about its metallurgical composition, which presumably lets their current anchors off the...er, hook

 

[affinite]

+1
Indeed. Delighted too because I shall be ordering a Rocna, gets my business.

Phrases like 'greasi g the palm' don't really suggest much joy do they? Ah, could be a wanka post

I was simply pointing out the efforts that CMP must be going to to support disties like Piplers.
Piplers wouldnt send a new anchor to the Med unless they were being properly compensated by CMP.
Perhaps "greasing the palm" was a poor choice of words but I dont appreciate being called a wanka

 

[Neeves]

I was simply pointing out the efforts that CMP must be going to to support disties like Piplers.
Piplers wouldnt send a new anchor to the Med unless they were being properly compensated by CMP.
Perhaps "greasing the palm" was a poor choice of words but I dont appreciate being called a wanka

There are probably hundreds of off spec (Rocna) anchors sitting on European bow rollers and some owners of second hand yachts who inherit Rocnas who suddenly realise they have a potential liability on their hands. Consequently the problem will not go away - its been left to fester and as it festers the issues for CMP remain. Many do not like to see issues such as this being left to fester and buying a new Rocna (and thus possibly endorsing CMP's stance) might grate (especially when there are honestly built alternatives). People can become quite committed to their views of integrity (especially about anchors) and let their emotions run away with them when they perceive (in their view) that someone might be supporting a business model to which they do not agree. You obviously forgive CMP for abandoning their European customer base (they issued no recall and only replace on a case by case basis) others are less 'charitable' (they are less forgiving). I might add that as far as I can ascertain, the Americans think this is all a storm in a teacup, but then they only had 200 offspec anchors, a recall was advertised but Europe received, (I remember) over 1,000 and no recall. Its all about perspective and views on what is right and wrong, or evaluating various shades of grey

It is possible if you cancelled you order and replaced it with an order of a product from a company making to a known specification and who had not abandoned their customer base there is hope you might expect to receive a very swift and sudden apology and that no insult was intended.

This in no way is to reflect on Piplers, I am sure CMP are looking after them.

 

[sailorman]

That`s now on 4 sections of the YBW
is he a trader

 

[Conachair]

You obviously forgive CMP for abandoning their European customer base (they issued no recall and only replace on a case by case basis) others are less 'charitable' (they are less forgiving). I might add that as far as I can ascertain, the Americans think this is all a storm in a teacup, but then they only had 200 offspec anchors, a recall was advertised but Europe received, (I remember) over 1,000 and no recall.

Did CMP issue a recall in N America? Link?

 

[Lakesailor]

Must be worth his while posting it in the Lounge. If only for a laugh.

 

[Neeves]

Did CMP issue a recall in N America? Link?

I was being generous, their was a Specification Notice by West Marine. It was issued prior to CMP taking on the license, so arguably it was on the Holdfast watch.

My view for what its worth is that CMP recognised that America was the critical market for them but they could not afford to issue a Specification Notice for the Rest of the World, so hung it out to dry. They could honour 200 returns in America, but many probably did not materialise. They would honour individual requests for replacement in ROW but they did not want the nightmare of replacing 1,800 units. The policy seems to have worked. Americans have no idea of the depth of feeling that exists outside America (and probably think it unfair). CMP are possibly wondering now how to address, say, Europe and are maybe trying to identify how to handle it. There is indication that many in Europe either have short memories or forgive easily, see Affinite. In terms of CMP being honourable and respected. WM advertise that the complete range of anchors are rated for SHHP - any honourable and respected company would have corrected this statement. Only anchors over 55kg are SHHP rated, unless things have changed.

 

[Conachair]

My view for what its worth is that CMP recognised that America was the critical market for them but they could not afford to issue a Specification Notice for the Rest of the World, so hung it out to dry.

But CMP or Rocna didn't issue any specification notices, it was West Marine after receiving notification from rocna, can you be sure that the same info didn't go out to all the distributors with only west doing anything about it?

 

[Neeves]

But CMP or Rocna didn't issue any specification notices, it was West Marine after receiving notification from rocna, can you be sure that the same info didn't go out to all the distributors with only west doing anything about it?

Of course not. But one might have thought that if the distributors were advised they would have told their customers. It would seem totally irresponsible to be told by s supplier that there was a Specification Notice (or doubt) and not to pass the same information to the customer. What you imply is that UK, German, Portugese, Australian distributors lack the integrity of WM and all of them suppressed the information. Sorry cannot buy that one.

 

[captaina]

Silly me! I was only trying to be helpful by letting people know that CMP have resolved the problem and that Lawrence at Piplers is a great guy!

I put my post on three forums at YBW since I was trying to be helpful. If you lot are representative of YBW, which I log onto rarely, I'll bugger off for good. What a pathetic bunch.

 

[longjohnsilver]

+1
Indeed. Delighted too because I shall be ordering a Rocna, gets my business.

Phrases like 'greasi g the palm' don't really suggest much joy do they? Ah, could be a wanka post

Do Rocnas get stuck in rocks?

 

[macd]

Silly me! I was only trying to be helpful by letting people know that CMP have resolved the problem and that Lawrence at Piplers is a great guy!

I put my post on three forums at YBW since I was trying to be helpful. If you lot are representative of YBW, which I log onto rarely, I'll bugger off for good. What a pathetic bunch.

We heard you, and your experience pretty much confirms what's been posted about Piplers in the past. It's always helpful to learn such things, but permit us to put it into a wider context which has been thoroughly aired on these pages in the past.

Now do you...http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?351976-Rocna-anchors-a-happy-ending!