Re: [Paddlewise] Folbot Japanese Owned?

From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 18:14:26 -0700
Paul Raymond wrote:
> 
> This may be old news and excuse me if it is since I'm new to this mailing
> list but recently while searching on Folbot I came across the Folbot
> Canadian page at [deleted]
[where he found some disparaging remarks about Folbot products; snip]

> Thoughts? Comments?

This spurious information was reported on the Folbot WebBoard, and countered by
Phil Cotton, owner of Folbot USA.  It appears there was an unhappy separation
between Folbot Canada and Folbot USA.  The most logical explanation for the bad
information is that someone who has it in for Folbot USA has left that rubbish
hanging around for the unsuspecting to find.  There is a Folbot Japan, but it
is just Folbot USA's outlet in Japan, not the parent of Folbot USA.

IIRC, this is what happened:  Folbot had a batch of rivets some two plus years
ago which were less resistant to corrosion than their usual lot.  Some were
installed in boats (Greenland II and Aleut, IIRC), and a few failed.  Folbot
immediately sent replacement rivets and instructions for replacement to those
who requested them, per Folbot's usual policy.

I have a 1996 vintage Greenland II, which has spent a lot of time on salt
water, including a handful of two-week-long trips.  There is NO sign of rivet
failure, after four seasons of use.  That seems to be the norm.

If you want to explore Folbot Forum, a WebBoard on which anybody with a valid
email address can comment and contribute, hit their Web
site(http://www.folbot.com/).  

Do a search on any aspect of Folbots you want, and you should turn up
extensive,  **uncensored** dialog.  You will find praise and complaints, picks
and pans.  It is an honest, open forum, to which the owner of Folbot has made
(maybe) two contributions over the last three years.  One was to respond to the
rubbish Paul found.

I'll speak up for Folbot USA's integrity and to their commitment to service and
support of their boats -- they have served me well, and have been more than
generous with assistance on improvements I have made on my G II.  In my book,
they are a great company -- and Phil Cotton is a class act.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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Received on Sat Apr 08 2000 - 18:11:06 PDT

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