Horseshoe buoy monopoly?

[rprince]

Seems only a couple brands to choose from and overly expensive for what you get; foam / covering material. I'm just sayin'.

[bljones]

Here are your answers:
a)do nothing.
b) make your own, if it is so simple.
c) Buy something USCG and/or SOLAS approved.
d)suck it up.
e) c) and d)
f) buy a Lifesling, an MOB pole, decent PFDs, harnesses and jacklines, and then bitch about cost.

How much is your life worth?
how much does your spouse/crew think your life is worth?
How much do you think your spouse/crew's life is worth?


I'm just sayin'.

[tager]

I hate it when people say "I'm just sayin'." What does that even mean?

You could make a horseshoe buoy out of a pool noodle and some nylon webbing, just make sure that the pool noodle is seized on there so it doesn't spin, and test her out...

I agree that lifesling has a monopoly, and I wouldn't be against going into business making horseshoe buoys if someone wants to front the capital to start a business and get USCG and SOLAS approved. Therein lies the cost.

[jjns]

It is only a US issue as Horseshoe bouy's are not legal in Canada.
Guess you don't want to know that I threw mine away.

[Architeuthis]

Can't see much demand for such items so I guess that is why they are getting expensive. Better to get a Lifesling or something that you can throw farther.


Then again do you really want that crew member back.....hey I'm just sayin'!!!

[kootenay]

Lifesling is listed on Sailnet for only 136 bucks I know my wifes life is worth at least twice that on good days My grandson's is many thousands of times worth that on really bad days

[rprince]

hum.. Not sure the connection to safety with what appears to be an instance of consumer price gouging.

"I'm just sayin'" is a commonly used expression when making a comment based on observation instead of factual knowledge. (The kind of random thread you might see in an "Off Topic" forum.)

Anyway, I saw this link in where you can replace just the 920 covering via Jim-Buoy for $35:
Islander 36 Maintenance

So if the covering costs $35 and the average price is $120 for these, that would mean the internal foam portion costs about $85.

From what I can tell, it looks like normal foam material ...nothing special with the manufacturing/ USCG certification process or need for essence of some flower that grows high in the Himalayan mountains, only during the month of May.

These horseshoe buoys are sold everywhere, so I don't think it's lack of demand (i.e. specialized product- and therefore commanding a higher price). So what is it?

How knows (or cares!), really right? Yea, pay the usual "marine tax" and suck it up.

Perhaps we can open this thread up to other areas of "peculiarly expensive" marine products? Maybe just a healthy venting and/or beware would be informative?

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by rprince

Perhaps we can open this thread up to other areas of "peculiarly expensive" marine products? Maybe just a healthy venting and/or beware would be informative?

Actually - that's a good idea. I've seen a lot of complaints about people using Home Depot stuff to replace "marine grade" equipment. Some of it I can understand (e.g. - using a cheap HD pulley block on your toppinglift instead of the real deal, or plexiglass to replace portlights, etc.) - some of it I don't.

So where is that line? I'm just askin'.

[ssneade]

look, the maritime picture is the same as on land. ya get whacha pay for. ya wanna 2010 cadillac, or a'72 vega? y'know, they both roll. it's the quality of the roll that counts. same with boats. i'm just sayin'............

[rprince]

I'm just sayin' that you are missing the point... This analogy would make more sense if there was only one auto manufacturer, and they only made two models to select from.