Balogh Sail Problem: Need Help

[t-elliott@live.com]

Hello,
My name is Thomas Cheatham. I have owned a folbot Greenland II for about 1.5 years now. I ordered a "famed" Balogh sail from Mark and Sam over 1 year ago and paid them $1,700 plus. They kept telling me it would be ready soon. Finally they told me it was finished after over a year but that Mark had to design the special mount for the Greenland II. It never came. I kept asking them to send me the sail and I would design the mount myself. Now, after dozens of calls and emails, it appears Mark and Sam have fallen off the the face of the earth. I wondered if you know them and what might be going on? If you can help me, or know someone who can, please call or email me at:
Thomas Elliott Cheatham
(970) 404-1678
t-elliott@live.com
PO Box 737
Basalt, CO 81621
Thank you for any help you could give me. My kids and I are really anxious to get the sail hooked up and going.

[john allsop]

If you havn,t already, put the same post on www.foldingkayaker.org in either their sail section or their Folbot section or both, to give more coverage for this poor seavice.

[Christov]

Mark Balogh sometimes posts at http://groups.yahoo.com - Bagboater. I've exchanged some messages with him there about his Twins downwind sail rig when I was considering purchase of same.

[iamjimpa]

Thomas

I can appreciate your woes. I've been attempting to contact BSD for weeks, not months like you though, and am ready to give up. I've left several voicemails and several emails with only one response and that was little help.

Everything I've heard about BSD says they are the best, but best only counts if they can deliver.

[two by four]

Thomas,

I ordered a Batwing from BSD for a GII in Feb 2003. At that time the old Folbot forum had several postings complaining about BSD's wildly long delivery times, but after email exchange and phone conversation with Mark I was persuaded past problems had been solved, and ordered and paid for the sail. Mark estimated delivery in eight weeks. Two months passed, I heard nothing from BSD, and wrote asking the status of my order. No response. Nor to a follow-up em. Nor to a third one month later. Finally I was able to reach Mark by phone. He seemed a decent fellow, just more craftsman than businessman. But more time still passed before I finally received the sail end-July 2003.

It's a fine sail, but the purchase also was my most frustrating retail experience ever. I can only imagine your disposition waiting twice as long and still no sail. Folbot's customer service and BSD's are in different galaxies. I've always thought it would be excellent for Folbot to buyout BSD, so that the top quality product could have acceptable production capacity and customer support.

I don't understand the "need to design GII mount" excuse. BSD has been selling sails for GIIs for at least a decade.

I've no insight into BSD's current status, but suggest escalation of the matter is overdue--contact with local Better Business Bureau; subsequent legal action.

Good luck,

Brian

[tbucher]

Thomas,

This probably won't be any help but I have a similar problem. I paid them half down on a Boss rig last February. Ms. Carroll said it would be ready in June. When I emailed her then she did respond but told me she has fallen ill and would need extensive medical procedures, that most of the work would be falling on Mark Balogh, but the order would be completed asap. At that time she also sent some information on modifying a rudder for better performance. I have sent a couple more emails since with no response. So, at this point I am just keeping my fingers crossed that they will be able to complete the order.
I have been interested in acquiring the BSD rig since the early 90's, but just couldn't justify the expense until this year. It appears they need some help. Seems to me with all the contacts and well known customers they have had over the years somebody would be willing to lend them a hand in their time of need.

Hopefully concerned,

Tim

[bagboater]

I think the suggestion that Folbot buy out Balogh is an excellent one, Imagine the Balogh quality with Folbot's outstanding service. How about it?
73 Gary

[PeteS]

I don't know, I kinda like my Folbot sail rig. Besides do you think that would make Mark sew faster?

[bagboater]

I don't know, I kinda like my Folbot sail rig. Besides do you think that would make Mark sew faster?

No but I think the Folbot crew would be quite capable of making the sails. With Mark's patterns and fixtures I'm sure they could handle it.
73 Gary

[tbucher]

So, now I am considering the Folbot rig. Can anyone give me more info and/or pics? Their catalog info just isn't adequate.

Thanks in advance

Capt. T

[PeteS]

Well, it is a 30 sq ft sleeve sail, that is on an eleven ft mast. The reefing is controlled by roller reefing around the mast. The rig includes a set of inflatable amas which mount on a set of akas attached to the mast partner. The leeboard is sheet aluminum and is detent adjustable to four(4) positions. The whole kit slides into a single bag for storage.
You can remove either or both akas on the water, you can reef on the water, you can remove the mast on the water in an emergency(I wouldn't recommend it any other time). You can paddle the boat with the rig in place. All pieces of mast and aka tubing have floatation.
Can you think of any other questions? Anyone?

[two by four]

Well, it seems others thought it good for Mark to sell BSD.

New owner Dave Valverde took over 21 Oct and targets much improved delivery times. Mark plans a new company focused on design, and continues as BSD consultant. Further details at watertribe.com

Brian

[PeteS]

Hmmm, I wonder if the price will go up, it is already twice the price of the Folbot rig.

[jorgesgs]

Has anyone heard of any of the delivery improvements promised after the change of owner so far?

[PeteS]

Yeah, they are getting their act together. BTW, I have to retract some of my description. The aka tubes do not have floatation. I guess the company figured with that big inflated ama on the end, floatation was not necessary. They were right.