halcyon
Well-Known Member
From memory Westerly produced over 50,000 yachts, most exported to the USA. They got hit badly by the exchange rate problems in the late 70's early 80's when the US market died over night. I went to see Birchwood on switch panels in the early 80's and they had been hit the same, production dropped from 300 a month to 6, you were walking around acres of empty factory. But in the 80's Westerly were still making around 50 + a month. The problem was the standard they worked to, look at a Fulmar 20 years old and the interior is still in good condition as is the boat. But the British puplic only wanted to pay Jan or Bev prices, but Westerly were building to Sweedish standards that the British market would pay a premium for. Resulting in them never being able to cover costs fully, the last boats were built to a low cost design. The market thought they looked cheap, well they were compared to the previous boats, but not to the compatition.
On the othe other side Sealine were designed to save weight, smaller engines lower cost, to save every minute in build time, more through put per man hour, lower cost. They were the first to employ a professional stylist/designer, lead the market in product marketing. Yet the number of people on the MOBO forum that slate them for being low cost low weight, and would pay more for a heavy boat.
The bottom line is make qaulity, the British market wanted low cost, but build low cost goodish quality and the British market want higher cost. So the industry slowly dies, the rest of the builders were small and killed by the economy going up then down, more down than up.
We do not have engineers in this country, we do not pay them. In the 60 when I was 21 I got £15 a week, a mate on the shop floor got £25. In the 80's working for Eaton Yale, had 3 weeks to design and build a fork truck 30% cheaper than current. Then found I was paid £30 less than the chap who cleaned the toilets. Thats when I went into marine electronics, some in it then.
Brian
On the othe other side Sealine were designed to save weight, smaller engines lower cost, to save every minute in build time, more through put per man hour, lower cost. They were the first to employ a professional stylist/designer, lead the market in product marketing. Yet the number of people on the MOBO forum that slate them for being low cost low weight, and would pay more for a heavy boat.
The bottom line is make qaulity, the British market wanted low cost, but build low cost goodish quality and the British market want higher cost. So the industry slowly dies, the rest of the builders were small and killed by the economy going up then down, more down than up.
We do not have engineers in this country, we do not pay them. In the 60 when I was 21 I got £15 a week, a mate on the shop floor got £25. In the 80's working for Eaton Yale, had 3 weeks to design and build a fork truck 30% cheaper than current. Then found I was paid £30 less than the chap who cleaned the toilets. Thats when I went into marine electronics, some in it then.
Brian
