I am not pleased. A certain retailer whose name starts with west and ends with marine used to carry some pretty beefy anchor rollers. Apparently that product line was replaced with Lewmar products. I ordered some new bow rollers and they came in today. The material is LESS THAN 1/2 what they used to sell. They had one of the old rollers in stock which appeared to be .1825" stock. The Lewmar products were barely 1/16." The new bow rollers were so flimsy that I could literally bend them with my hands. Of course they are made in China now instead of California like the old product line. I consider anchor handling and ground tackle gear as part of my safety gear, and am frankly insulted that a company like Lewmar is attempting to make a profit on supplying a product that doesn't deserve to be fitted to a rowboat. Of course the price isn't any better!!!
Shame on you Lewmar!
Last edited by sailboy21 : 09-03-2008 at 11:51 PM.
Hmm... must be fairly recent, since my bow roller from last year is Lewmar and built like a tank.
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
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It also might have to do with the fact that the wholesale price of 316L stainless steel has nearly tripled in less than two years. It's fast becoming a case of buyer beware when you buy anything made of stainless. Take a magnet with you. If it sticks, it ain't 316L (the L is for low carbon) and it will rust. I've seen a lot of the stuff that's showing up that looks like 304 s/s, which is cheaper--and rusts in no time.
As for WM, well, they've basically bought out all of their real competition, so they can get away with just about anything they want to.
As for Lewmar in general, I'm going to try and avoid them if I can. They just don't stock parts for a long enough period after they stop production of a piece of gear. To make matters worse, they use the same model numbers over and over, even though two units made a month apart might not even vaguely be the same. Their hatches and windlasses are good examples. There are five, count 'em--five versions of the Model 3000 windlass, and none of the parts are interchangeable.
SD. Their catalog does list this rollers as "NEW!!" I know it is getting hard for anyone that makes anything from metal to make a profit these days, as well as for retailers but sometimes there is no room for exceptions. Any block, shackle, rigging component, winch, navigation light, or ground tackle gear on any boat that ventures further than swimming distance from the beach IS just as important as aircraft components, climbing gear, etc... This is especially true in Alaska where the water is 50F or less year round, help is hours maybe days away, and no one may hear your VHF call. These items very well could mean the difference between life or death, or at the minimum cause expensive property damage or bodily injury. I suppose the alternative to skimping on quality for these companies would probably be suspend or cease production. I don't think the market supports raising prices right now, but there is just no excuse. Either way, they will get the message when the lawsuits start coming in.
It also might have to do with the fact that the wholesale price of 316L stainless steel has nearly tripled in less than two years. It's fast becoming a case of buyer beware when you buy anything made of stainless. Take a magnet with you. If it sticks, it ain't 316L (the L is for low carbon) and it will rust. I've seen a lot of the stuff that's showing up that looks like 304 s/s, which is cheaper--and rusts in no time.
As for WM, well, they've basically bought out all of their real competition, so they can get away with just about anything they want to.
As for Lewmar in general, I'm going to try and avoid them if I can. They just don't stock parts for a long enough period after they stop production of a piece of gear. To make matters worse, they use the same model numbers over and over, even though two units made a month apart might not even vaguely be the same. Their hatches and windlasses are good examples. There are five, count 'em--five versions of the Model 3000 windlass, and none of the parts are interchangeable.
Oh, well.
Gary I was planning on putting a pair of V2's or 3's on my bow...Your saying this is not a good Idea?
The last time that I looked Lewmar makes a wide range of anchor rollers and it sounds like you ordered and received one of their lighter duty models.
Jeff
It is one of the "lighter models"
However the Windline version, which is identical in dimensions is rated for a 60lb anchor and 1" chain. The Lewmar version replaces the Windline model, but doesn't come with any rating. The description is "Bow Roller-Medium Fairlead, Shiny." Its shiny alright.... So shiny that they couldn't stick the gold dollar store "Made in China" sticker on the metal and stuck it on the bag instead.
I tried to get some product support from lewmar recently. I was totally unimpressed with them. Rude and of little help. I will be avoiding lewmar products.
