Sailspar

M

merlin3688

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Oct 2011
Messages
581
Location
Brightlingsea, Essex
www.sailingschoolandrigging.com
This message is from the Sailspar website, great news that they will be back trading again, the furling gears are a great bit of kit. David and Penny have worked so hard over the years, good luck to them.

Important information
Sail-Spar Ltd went into liquidation on 27th April 2016.

Sailspar Engineering Ltd has bought the business and is continuing to trade from the same location to proudly serve Sailspars' loyal customers.

Pending more formal communication infrastructure, please contact Sailspar Engineering Ltd by telephoning 07825 300516 or 07850 766447.

For any matters regarding Sail-Spar Ltd in liquidation, please call Becca Smith on 01603 624181.
 
+1. I don't understand either. A new Sailspar fuller when I replaced my mast, was just less than a grand, a mate's Harken for a smaller boat was £1500..., and that nice thick continuous line makes furling and unfurling a doddle...
 
Gladys said:
+1. I don't understand either. A new Sailspar fuller when I replaced my mast, was just less than a grand, a mate's Harken for a smaller boat was £1500..., and that nice thick continuous line makes furling and unfurling a doddle...
Click to expand...

I love the Sailspar which came with my boat, and I'd buy another like a shot. Perhaps the advantage of the non-continuous line version is that as the reefing line builds up on the drum, a given pull on the line exerts a larger torque on the luff when there is more sail out.
 
tillergirl said:
That's really good news. It's a wonderful product with roller reefing and I have never understood why it hasn't taken over the market.
Click to expand...

They have failed to crack the OEM market. replacements and retrofit is a tiny market as most boats now have furling and they last a very long time, so minimal replacement business. Sailmakers used to do big business with furler and sail packages, but never bother to advertise them now.
 
I had a sailspar continuous roller reefing fitted a couple of years ago, and cant fault it. Excellent quality and customer service. Now have a new boat and will defo be looking to fit another one.
 
Sailspar are by far the most helpful company I have ever dealt with; when researching building new Anderson 22's David was extremely helpful with my many questions, and we would have used them without hesitation if the project had gone ahead; as it is they are top of my list if I ever need a new mast.

If there's any justice in this world they should flourish ! :encouragement:
 
amidst the eulogies for Sailspar (understandable, yes, I have one) one has to ask why Sailspar Ltd have gone down, and how it is that Sailspar Engineering Ltd has managed to pick up the business so quickly. Have any suppliers been left in the lurch ?

With a strong family link in the new board, will the business model (alluded to in previous posts) be changed to improve business turnover and concentrate on core, profitable, products or is it another example of a phoenix company ?
 
Last edited:
Sarabande,

I suspect not a phoenix company in this case; simply the fact that not many people buy masts from independent manufacturers these days, without a deal supplying to a major boatbuilder things will be difficult.

As organiser of the Anderson owner's association I've always recommended Sailspar to people needing new masts, but that's a tiny number of people for a start and there are the competitors Z-Spar etc - who I have no experience of but Sailspar's prices seemed keen when I compared with all spar suppliers at the time and their attitude alone made me want to give them my custom.
 
without knowing the details, a hypothesis that Sailspar was not able to trade legally (for a variety of reasons) so the Directors closed it down (as they should) and have bought it from the liquidation people as a package.

Clearly the former style of running the company will not serve in the new one, so it will be interesting to see what changes are made. I bet we hear the magic words "concentrate on our core business skills and expertise".
 
Sarabande,

having very briefly been in contact with you a while ago and finding you a decent chap, I'm a bit surprised you are so cynical about this.

I don't know if you've ever dealt with Sailspar but I have, a fair bit on the phone over the years - they come over as the most genuine and helpful people one could wish to meet.

I'd be surprised if they come up with the management BS-speak you describe; if you want examples of that, try British Aerospace !
 
From Penny last week ,65 % of turnover was based on wind farm work for one company ,work dried up from that side of the business in the new year .
Too many eggs in one basket .
So I'm really pleased that they have got the furler and mast side up and running .
One of the best and reliable furlers on the market .
We have never replaced a Sailspar gear yet in 30 yrs ,lots of other makes require replacing before then.
Cindy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top