Hopefully not the Rickter hulls farewell announcement.

[waterfreak]

Why not make them in the USA or Canada

the same reason why we buy from china...$$
TC told me once that if they built the rickters here in the US, the cost would be more than doubled .

 

[waterfreak]

Not true, Steve. Rick, and his employees designed those moulds. The moulds are Rick's property. Vik was contracted to use these moulds and produce hulls. Vik, and the owner of R*se , in a backroom deal, took these moulds and changed them ever so slightly, slapped some bold new graphics on them, and here we are. It's f*cked up. If I was a dealer in this game, I would be making some hard decisions. But, when I ran my business, and a similar situation occured, I put loyalty and integrity first. It won't be an easy journey for RRP to rebuild and restructure. But, if I know Rick, he will figure out a way.

I'm pretty sure these newer Rickter plugs/molds were CNC designed as most are in todays AM hull market . I know Rick was involved in the early hull designs ,which involved shaping and sculpting the plug but the latest were all CNC (computer designed) which Im sure was done at VK by a computer designer. That said, unless he had a written contract, then the molds would belong to VK but the name/brand belongs to him.

 

[JetManiac]

Posted on their site last night.

You are being redirected...

I think the title of your thread is misleading.

"We are evaluating different options for manufacturing Rickter hulls and accessories with new partners. We will keep you informed of the time and place."

That is a farewell? Not trying to split hairs.

 

[schicks]

So you're saying theres a chance.

 

[TOBY]

the same reason why we buy from china...$$
TC told me once that if they built the rickters here in the US, the cost would be more than doubled .

What about kommander there having there GP1 built in the US

 

[kevbo]

Most small boat builders are now gone with only a few large corporate outfits remaining in the USA. Rickter took a global approach instead of a local one. Im not sure if even a not for profit hull builder located in the USA would last very long. Setting up shop in Mexico may work out best as a North American provider. It would still take a lot of a persons heart and soul to keep it going. I think the main problem with small boats and especially PWC is that customers never mature into the hobby. Its mostly young people that mature out of it.

 

[MarkWalker]

I think the title of your thread is misleading.

"We are evaluating different options for manufacturing Rickter hulls and accessories with new partners. We will keep you informed of the time and place."

That is a farewell? Not trying to split hairs.

Chris, I absolutely hope you are right! It would be a shame to lose any manufacture in this sport. In the past I have worked for 2 companies that have used the words "evaluating" and "restructuring" in their mission statements when things went a bit sideways. Sadly, they are just a memory. I will change the title and think positive!

 

[WFO Speedracer]

So you're alleging Vik stole the molds?

No one can really say one way or the other, we have no idea what kind of deal Rick made with them so lots of assumptions going on in this thread , the only ones that really know are Rick and VK Composites and I doubt we will hear from either one of them.

 

[Aquaholic]

No one can really say one way or the other, we have no idea what kind of deal Rick made with them so lots of assumptions going on in this thread , the only ones that really know are Rick and VK Composites and I doubt we will hear from either one of them.

What do you mean "We" white man? There's no assumptions on my end.

 

[Sanoman]

 

[TOBY]

Made in the USA

 

[Kohldanielzimmer]

Who is building them Toby?

 

[Big Kahuna]

Who is building them Toby?

Kommander.

 

[Kohldanielzimmer]

Kommander.

Wasn’t sure if they had outsourced to a current builder.