Is D&R Marine the real deal or not? I ordered sails Jan 9th and am still waiting. Their website promises 4 to 6 weeks. I've talked to them once and emailed a couple times. Never really get a straight answer. From what I've read online they seem to be an honest shop but I'm really starting to wonder.
D&R Marine
- Thread starter NealG
- Start date
I’ve seen nothing but positive reports about them in the past. I talked to Rudy myself about 15 years ago when I was looking for a replacement teak eyebrow. He was honest enough to point me toward finding the teak locally to save shipping. They’re a very small outfit and I have read phone is better than email.
I've ordered from them multiple times. Their sails are likely coming from China. I imagine Rudy is getting close to retirement. He had a woman helping him answer calls, take orders, etc last time I ordered. She was quite helpful.
Hopefully the community won't lose access to one of the foremost experts on O'Days when he retires
Hopefully the community won't lose access to one of the foremost experts on O'Days when he retires
D&R is indeed the real deal, though I'm a little surprised Rudy is still going at it; he's got to be getting up in age. There is no other place that knows ODay boats like him. The best possible way I found to contact him is by phone. It may take a while to connect but he's helpful and a good resource for info when I needed help with my former boat, a 1983 23 ft.
I bought a mainsail from him and was satisfied with the quality.
I bought a mainsail from him and was satisfied with the quality.
Tariff questions maybe holding things up for offshore equipment...? 
Perhaps, SCOTUS will comment. (Sorry, just a little sarcasm to brighten our day.)
Perhaps, SCOTUS will comment. (Sorry, just a little sarcasm to brighten our day.)
Perhaps someone who does a lot of exporting (like I did in a previous life) may wish to comment about the tariffs, NTBs, port fees, license fees, etc. that our trading "partners" impose on US firms.Tariff questions maybe holding things up for offshore equipment...?
An update
Thanks for the responses
Called D&R Friday the 3rd. He promised to call back Monday with an update. He did call back and said he was promised he would have them the week of the 14th. He also admitted he didn't order them until into February even though he got my money the 9th of January. Don't know if he just didn't do anything or if there's a minimum order he has to reach. If there is I can understand not ordering right away but he should tell me.
I'll let you know the final outcome
Thanks for the responses
Called D&R Friday the 3rd. He promised to call back Monday with an update. He did call back and said he was promised he would have them the week of the 14th. He also admitted he didn't order them until into February even though he got my money the 9th of January. Don't know if he just didn't do anything or if there's a minimum order he has to reach. If there is I can understand not ordering right away but he should tell me.
I'll let you know the final outcome
Finally got my sails today a week less than 4 months after ordering when the website promised 4 - 6 weeks. D&R did send, free of charge, a hat, some rope and a shackle totaling nearly $75. Who's at fault for all the delay I don't know. I will say several times I was told they would contact the sail maker to get an update but didn't pass that update on to me. Probably won't order from D&R again.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,491
Thank you for the update. When you raise the sails, share your impressions of the fit.
How do they make your boat sail?
Do you feel a difference in the boat's performance when comparing them?
It is clear in this age of online support that the communications from D&R regarding the progress of your order were not adequate.
How do they make your boat sail?
Do you feel a difference in the boat's performance when comparing them?
It is clear in this age of online support that the communications from D&R regarding the progress of your order were not adequate.
While I understand your frustration, I hope you will reconsider. Obviously, I have no skin in the game, but I have met and spoken with Rudy Nickerson on a number of occasions and he is a very nice, sincere, stand up guy. He has been doing this largely by himself since he bought everything (inventory, production records, molds BOMs etc. and even the O'day name!) at auction when the factory in Fall River closed in 1989.
I will also say that what he does best is with O'day and Pearson specific parts, which is why I bought my new sails from north.
I've placed about a dozen orders with D&R. Only one time I had an issue with a delayed shipment. If I still had an O'Day, I'd place an order without thinking twice. He had a very helpful woman answering the phones the last few times I ordered. Rudy sounds like he's getting up there in age. The sailing community will lose a great source of information and parts when he finally retires.
The sails look good and seem to fit well. They're from NeilPryde. Haven't sailed them yet and I have nothing to compare them to since I bought the boat with no sails
2 things frustrated me
First, he admitted he didn't order until into February even though he got my money January 9th. Second, I'd call him and he'd tell me he would get an update the next day. Then I wouldn't hear from him. He seemed like a nice guy but the communication was nonexistent unless I bugged him.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,491
I had a set of NealPryde sails on my Montgomery 15. They were great sails.
Here she is on a light breeze. I had just received the asymmetrical from NealPryde. They made a lot of sails for small boats and crafted this sail for me.
Took the boat to a nearby lake to let it fly.
Hope you get as much fun out of them as I did.
Here she is on a light breeze. I had just received the asymmetrical from NealPryde. They made a lot of sails for small boats and crafted this sail for me.
Took the boat to a nearby lake to let it fly.
Hope you get as much fun out of them as I did.
Rudy is D&R, this is literally a “Mom & Pop” operation, just Rudy and his Wife, Debbie (hence, D&R). Rudy really should have hired a few more assistants long ago, to answer phone calls and e-mails, but the fact is, financially, that isn’t possible he is busier than a one-armed paperhanger, but his margin is thin. He does what he can, and mostly succeeds, but he is not Amazon, and sometimes he gets behind. As the sole source for O’Day and Pearson specific parts, he gets a lot of calls, and it definitely hurts his reputation when things may slip between the cracks, but all things considered, he and his Wife are doing a pretty good job, but for how much longer?
The sails that he sells are Neil Pryde, the OEM supplier to O’Day for the last maybe 10 years of production, they are made in Hong Kong, so shipping must be tough at this time. No excuse for no contact on orders, but somewhat expected.
The sails that he sells are Neil Pryde, the OEM supplier to O’Day for the last maybe 10 years of production, they are made in Hong Kong, so shipping must be tough at this time. No excuse for no contact on orders, but somewhat expected.