Rigrite vs Dwyer Mast or ?

[barfwinkle]

Hello to All

Last night I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Pete Beer of New Orleans. Pete's boat (CD 25) was damaged in Katrina and he has to replace all the rig, hence the subject of the post.

I know there have been posts on this board concerning Rigrite and their customer service. I personally had a dealing with Rigrite that was far from satisfactory. I relayed this information to Pete and offered a alternative, that being Dwyer Mast. As I was discussing, I had second thoughts about steering Pete in a wrong direction, so I told him I would post this note and see what the wise, experienced sages of this "institution" had to say.

As I said Pete lives in New Orleans and expects that the only sources for a mast (no boom needed) is somewhere on the east coast and is prepared for the shipping cost.

The question then becomes, who would you use to replace the mast and all fittings on your boat.

Anyway, pete awaits our collective advice in hopes of getting his beloved 25 back in shape.

Thanks for your imput.

[CapeTyphooner]

I do not have personal experience but I have friends who have had excellent experiences with both Dwyer and MetalMast Marine in CT.

I have used Rig Rite in the past (before the fire) and had a terrible experience. I rarely say this about a company, but I will avoid them at all cost in the future.

[oldragbaggers]

We were recently trying to get information about a new spar for a Pearson Triton. I called Rit-Rite and the call was answered by an answering service. They told me that Rig-Rite had had a fire and that their phones still weren't working correctly. They said the best way to contact them was by fax. So I faxed, and I faxed and I faxed. No answer. So I wrote them a detailed letter. That was several months ago, still no answer. Bottom line is, you probably couldn't get anything from Rig-Rite even if you wanted to. If you can't get an answer to correspondence, I can't imagine how you would ever get a rig.
I priced Dwyer and found them to be very reasonable. And when I called to ask questions, a real person took my call and was extremely nice and helpful.
My two cents.....for what it's worth.
Becky

[bottomscraper]

We purchased a mast and fittings from Dwyer for our West Wight Potter about 5 years ago. They were a pleasure to deal with.

Dwyer:
http://www.dwyermast.com/

On the west coast you might try Lefiell:
http://www.lefiell.com/2marine_main.html

[Steve Laume]

I contacted both Metalmast and Dwyer when I needed a mast for a CD-14. Metalmast was closer so I called them first. The man I talked to was most helpful and in fact I believe he recommended Dwyer. He certainly could not help me with my 2" round spar. I got the impression that they generally worked on larger more high tech masts. This may be coming from a CD-14 point of view. I talked to the people at Dwyer and they assured me they could help me out. I drove down there and got an impressive tour of their well stocked facility and machine shop. They sold me the mast and a few rigging parts and I was on my way. Judging from my phone conversation, my dealings with them and what I saw while I was there I would not hesitate to recommend you look no further if you needed a mast set up. They seemed fair in every sense. CT still seems to be a great supplier of masts, much as it once was when the Queens mark went on the tallest and straightest of pines to be reserved for her Magesty's Navy, Steve.

[Warren Kaplan]

I haven't had any major dealings with Dwyer but I did order a halyard organizing plate from them a few years back that I installed under the mast step of my CD27.

I called them and they were very good on the phone. Answered all my questions. I ordered the plate. It came quickly and it has worked the way they said it would.

I wouldn't hesitate to do business with them again.

[Cathy Monaghan]

I don't know how much it costs to have a mast and all of it parts shipped from New England to the Gulf Coast so maybe a spar manufacturer a little closer to home may be of interest. Try US Spars Inc., 6320 NW 123rd Place, Gainesville, FL 32653 USA. Phone: 386-462-3760. Fax: 386-462-3448.

For more spar manufacturers, go to our home page by clicking on the CDSOA logo or CDSOA link at the top of this page. Then, using the menus, select "Where to Look", "Parts & Supplies", "Marine Stores" and "Spars & Rigging".

Hope this helps,
Cathy
CDSOA Webmaster

[barnettg]

I ordered a mast step and tabernacle from rig-rite. After 6 months I was still waiting. I found and ordered the same items from Dwyer; they arrived within a week and cost 1/2 what rig-rite charged me for the same parts. When the Rig-rite items finally arrived, they had the Dwyer trademark on them.

Glenn

[Hymodyne]

I recently tried to speak with the folks at rig rite (post fire) and was asked to fax any question I had to them, rather than speak on the phone. I called dwyer next and received all the information about a replacement mast I needed immediately.

hym

[aja]

Stay away from Rigrite. I've had bad experiences. I've been there recently and the place is in shambles.

I have ordered from Dwyer several times and they are very good and less expensive.

Don

[s.v. LaVida]

Took me 8 months to get an order filled and it was fraught with no communication.

For all practical purposes, rig rite has ceased operating like any normal business. I don't know why they even bother.

IMHO - Life is way to short to include unnecessary boat drama. Direct your business elsewhere and put less stress in your life.

Mike
s.v. LaVida

[barfwinkle]

for the input. I was fairly confident of my advice, but would have hated to steer a new CDSOA member wrong.

Fair Winds and thawing Ice

[Skip]

Every aspect of my experience with Dweyr Mast was excellent; the products undistinguishable from the OEM tubes (mast & boom) and fittings. All I got from Rig-Rite was a quote and an invitation to send money followed by silence. Yeahright..I'll sign right up. Dwyer fulfilled every detail perfectly and didn't even make me "nervous" in the process! I highly recommend them.

Skip