Fogg
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Posts posted by Fogg
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1 hour ago, aardvarkash10 said:
I suspect its the capital fairy. Like any business, when you are working hand to mouth the niceties go by the wayside. If you are billing on big items and have bigger capital backing you can afford to hire, train, resource and most importantly manage well. Like everything, there are exceptions. But small businesses tend to stay small for a reason...
Yes. Up to a point. Many of the gripes I’ve had with shabby service would not actually cost anything to fix. These are real examples that would not cost a small business anything extra to improve but make the difference between me being happy or unhappy with the service:
1. Contractors not turning up on time with no courtesy call to explain why they’ve wasted 2hrs of my time to travel to/from my boat. But they have no problem charging me for their travel time FFS.
2. Contractors going to my boat in my absence (usually after they started a job when I was there but have to come back to finish off) and leave debris, dirt or damage eg gouges in my coamings from dragging a dirty metal toolbox onboard lazily or leaving their grubby boots on whilst working onboard or leaving debris from their work lying around (I’ve found nails, screws, wires, crimps even tools left behind).
3. Contractors do poor job. I turn up after they’ve left and see problem. Call them back (or their boss if AWOL) and boss turns up all defensive. Then they see problem, fix it in minutes but with begrudging attitude and with no sign of any service recovery ethic eg. “Sorry yes I agree that wasn’t very good was it - but I hope you’re happy that we’ve fixed it now?”
I could go on. But the point is none of these issues require technical skill or deep pockets to fix.
Yes I’ve had issues with technical incompetence by people who should have known better. But that’s a different complaint. And I’ve never had a problem with anyone who admits “Actually I don’t know the answer to this one but I’ll find out.” I understand that sometimes even experienced and competent professionals learn on the job. In fact that’s a good attitude to have. But I hate it when they pretend they know - screw it up - and then get defensive when you call them out on it.
In summary, the problems seem to be more more about pride and work ethic than technical competence. Why is this is absent in this niche area in NZ (small marine services)?
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The marine services industry is another NZ paradox to me. Over 20yrs of small boat (35-50ft) ownership in NZ I've experienced catastrophically bad service experience so many times that the number of providers I trust to work on my boat can be counted easily on one hand. Even if you've had a few fingers amputated. And I'm not alone judging from trusted friends' own experiences plus the marina banter about lawsuits from disgruntled owners who have run out of patience.
But at the other end of town the NZ superyacht industry allegedly enjoys a worldwide reputation for great service. I use the word "allegedly" because I have no first-hand experience of owning & servicing superyachts nor any friends with superyachts. So my perspective is mainly based on what I've read about in the NZ media (possibly questionable self-promotion?) plus the quantity of superyachts I see coming to Auckland / NZ for work each year (looks like more solid evidence).
So if we believe that both NZ small boat servicing is mainly sh!te whilst at the same time big boat servicing is world-class - how does this happen? Normally when you have a sector doing really well at the top-end then you enjoy some trickle-down of quality to mainstream. But not here, in my experience.
So when a yard decides to reduce small boat work and chase the bigger market do the fairies pay them an overnight visit and sprinkle their workforces with extra talent and diligence to set them up? Otherwise, what gives?
Tongue-in-cheek I know but you get the question....
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Listing on TM later. It’s DIN766 btw.
$240 for 30m ie $8 per metre vs ~$20 typical new price.
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Cool. Done.
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More pics
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More pics
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Listing on TM later today…
Achilles large volume dinghy. Fibreglass floor, big diameter hypalon tubes (450mm) making a very stable platform for size.
2.8m overall length x 1.65m outside beam (750mm inside beam). 450mm dia tubes.
Includes oars, 3x strong stainless lifting eyes suitable for davits and heavy duty sun cover (blue chaps) which increase comfort and dry quickly after rain shower.
Had a fast puncture which I had fixed professionally couple of days ago but still has a slow puncture which I’ve just noticed around port rowlock - would be an easy fix for someone.
$450.
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Couple more pics
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Going on TM this eve but giving Crewers first option…
2015 model. Runs fine. Recent full service by Gulfland outboard servicing on Whangaparaoa.
Spent first few years in tropics hence sun fade but underneath cover Gulfland tell me it’s in very good condition and looks lightly used.
Came with boat I bought so surplus to requirements.
$1,250.
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1 hour ago, Black Panther said:
Anchor up Bon Accord 0710, anchor down tutukaka 1430. Not bad for a singlehander in a 25 y o plywood box .
Av. ~7kts?
BP’s form is less ‘box’ and more ‘pencil’
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1 hour ago, Deep Purple said:
I'd like to see a scaled up tp52, 75 to 90'
Comanche?
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20 minutes ago, Sabre said:
An unhealthy obsession.
He is choosing to turn his back on NZ for more money than he could ever spend over continuing to support the country that has supported him and still having more money than he could ever spend.
I have no sympathy with the argument about how much Dalton might be earning. Good for him if he can engineer to secure such riches (legally). And I have no interest in the argument “more than he can ever spend” because people earning those big incomes are rarely interested in just themselves but instead setting up their family for several generations.
But I do acknowledge you’ve made a good point about the image of the overall AC and NZ’s role in showing the world there can be another way beyond the traditional northern hemisphere budget arms race.
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4 minutes ago, Sabre said:
NZ changed the AC scene and broke the image that it was simply a pissing contest for the world richest men. GD now wants to take it back to that.
Is it really suprising that many are somewhat dissapointed?
Mmmm, ok that specific argument is one I haven’t heard put like that before (or at least I haven’t taken it onboard).
And it’s probably the most compelling case I’ve heard so far…. let me have a noodle on that….
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20 minutes ago, Sabre said:
"a healthy living"
I nearly choked on my dinner 😂
How else would you describe it then?
And what’s the obsession / resentment with successful sailors earning ‘generational wealth’ (as I’d describe it)? It happens in pretty much every other professional global sport. I’m curious why sailors are being singled out as ‘bad guys’?
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Because earning a healthy living is immoral or a crime, right?
TNZ is a professional (commercial) sport team with absolutely no legal obligation to the NZ public.
Option B would be a scaled down campaign which the ambitious leaders & sailors of TNZ obviously have little interest in.
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27 minutes ago, Black Panther said:
Technical issue: who holds the cup? RNZYS or Dalton/TNZ?
RNZYS. They nominate someone to defend it on their behalf - up until now TNZ. So yes in theory another syndicate could make a pitch to RNZYS to defend it for them instead in Auckland using the Govt’s $99m (if still available to a new unproven syndicate).
I’d imagine that would be a very short meeting.
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14 minutes ago, Black Panther said:
Take what can be raised in NZ and make it work.
They could. But they don’t want to. They obviously have a concept in mind which needs more. And they aspire to achieve that. Which is nothing new it reflects their approach for years now.
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11 minutes ago, Black Panther said:
If TNZ is having no trouble raising money what is this discussion about?
Because they started by trying to raise it in NZ - which is too small to fund a global event that has outgrown our economy. The $99m that NZ Govt could afford is a rounding error in global terms (remember the $3Bn Valencia investment)?
We just need to let it go (offshore)…
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1 hour ago, Black Panther said:
1. What's wrong with switching to one design?
2. Announcement: with the current global pandemic we are having trouble funding the next defence
1. What he said. Waste of money. Misses the point. Might as well not do it at all.
2. Not true. Global economy going gangbusters (6% this year, 4-5% next)
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I agree. I think the Herald piece is wrong. Snd I would very much hope that is not how the treasury is run. Projects like the cycle bridge should compete against other capital infrastructure projects not sailing. And any potential spend on TNZ’s hosting fee should compete with other sports and/or economic development initiatives - not a bridge.
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20 hours ago, Fogg said:
Unless they had already spent the money on a cycle bridge.....
Talking of which…
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8 hours ago, harrytom said:
https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-sport/team-nz-rejects-govts-americas-cup-bid-0
"The offer expires today, 16 June. From tomorrow, Team New Zealand is now free to seek support from other partners."
Nash said the Government wished the syndicate well.
And as the government's exclusive negotiation rights with Team New Zealand expire on Thursday, the Kiwi syndicate can now begin talks with other potential host countries to stage the next regatta.
You might be right. In some places it says the offer expires, in other places that the exclusive negotiating period between TNZ and NZ Govt expires.
Either way, I expect TNZ will get a higher offer from elsewhere - which they may or may not go with.
And if they did ever come back to NZ Govt and ask about the original $99m I'm sure the NZ Govt would happily give it to them to keep the cup in Auckland. Unless they had already spent the money on a cycle bridge.....
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50 minutes ago, Sabre said:
I wonder if their brand will still be worth $99m if things don't pan out overseas?
You can be sure that when they declined the $99m they did so knowing they could do better elsewhere - it wouldn’t be a blind decision.
But if they can’t get enough extra funding overseas then they might be forced to rethink and stay at home with a scaled-down plan after all. But that’s probably Plan C or D right now.
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1 minute ago, Black Panther said:
I don't disagree Fogg, but it makes me seriously disinterested in the AC.
I would have more respect for them if they said it's in NZ, tgese are the rules and this is our budget.
Losing isn't the worst outcome of a yacht race.
Ok that’s a different operating principle. That’s saying that defending it at home trumps all other factors and everything else must be made to fit around that. And that would be a totally legitimate approach if TNZ decided to work to that principle. Or if the NZ Govt had said last time “If you win AC36 then you must defend AC37 it in NZ.”
But it sounds like ‘bigger budget’ is a higher principle than ‘location’ hence the situation we have.
Pier 21 for sale
in MarineTalk
Posted
The term 'Apprenticeship" seems to have fallen out of fashion. But whatever they want to call it they should be following the practice. It's only common sense (another lost concept). And in reality many other industries are still operating this hierarchical (oops - another dirty word) model to train newcomers and avoid screw-ups. Even if they don't call it an apprenticeship. And I'm grateful such a model exists. It makes me feel better when I talk to people about something important e.g. a doctor or a lawyer or a car mechanic.