SFBayLaser
Member
Pardon me while I get a bit testy here...
Yes, and of course APS bought those same blocks direct from Holt. The other blocks passed through Vanguard/Laser Performance enroute to APS so there is an extra level of overhead built into the price (where some of that overhead helps support the dealer network - of which APS is a part - we take so for granted here in North America, like many of the other things that Vanguard did to try to support dinghy sailing in North America).
And of course, some of it went to line Vanguard's pockets. In fact, Vanguard was reaping so much of a profit from all of us that their stock holders decided last summer to do some "industry consolidation" with PSE.
There is also that pesky one design principle of the Laser which, apprarently, we also seem to take for granted. That's the one where you can show up to any regatta and YOU can tell, by simple visual inspection, that everyone else is sailing a Laser with legal equipment. No need to fly in a measurer, tack an extra day on the event for measurement, pay for it with increased entry fees, etc. Just show up and race, you against the other sailors. A really beautiful concept.
A problem I have with using "off the shelf" items is that no two blocks are exactly alike and we've already determined that a critical measurement is how high off the deck the end of the boom lies. If strictly limited to production blocks (ie no custom equipment) then I'd imagine the world would quickly arrive at a single manufacturer and model of block. In the end, what have you gained? I'll bet the "best" blocks will end up being high end models, in the end you won't have saved any money, etc.
Ok, testy mode off...
It won't be Harken that is laughing. It will be PSE.
Instead of using off-the shelf blocks where there is price competition, PSE insists on having the blocks "custom" which means the price is going to be whatever PSE says it will be (by avoiding any competition and Harken will have no say in the price we the sailors pay)
For example - look at the Holt Allen trav blocks (which you can buy at a discount from a stocking HA dealer) vs what the builder supplied blocks go for. Same basic block.. (Prices quoted on the APS site)
Vanguard Upper (Large) Traveler Block - $19.50
HA27874 Upper (Large) Traveler Block$11.60
Vanguard Lower (Small) Traveler Block - $13.15
HA17874 Lower (Small) Traveler Block$8.10
Yes, and of course APS bought those same blocks direct from Holt. The other blocks passed through Vanguard/Laser Performance enroute to APS so there is an extra level of overhead built into the price (where some of that overhead helps support the dealer network - of which APS is a part - we take so for granted here in North America, like many of the other things that Vanguard did to try to support dinghy sailing in North America).
And of course, some of it went to line Vanguard's pockets. In fact, Vanguard was reaping so much of a profit from all of us that their stock holders decided last summer to do some "industry consolidation" with PSE.
There is also that pesky one design principle of the Laser which, apprarently, we also seem to take for granted. That's the one where you can show up to any regatta and YOU can tell, by simple visual inspection, that everyone else is sailing a Laser with legal equipment. No need to fly in a measurer, tack an extra day on the event for measurement, pay for it with increased entry fees, etc. Just show up and race, you against the other sailors. A really beautiful concept.
A problem I have with using "off the shelf" items is that no two blocks are exactly alike and we've already determined that a critical measurement is how high off the deck the end of the boom lies. If strictly limited to production blocks (ie no custom equipment) then I'd imagine the world would quickly arrive at a single manufacturer and model of block. In the end, what have you gained? I'll bet the "best" blocks will end up being high end models, in the end you won't have saved any money, etc.
Ok, testy mode off...