Group buying...

An interesting fact, something from the "the stupidity never ends" department, and Brian Hancock reflects on the Golden Globe round the world race over at Sailing Anarchy...

When we built the first Loose Moose in a disused hanger at the old Charles De Gaulle airport, the only reason we were able to build there was because we joined a group of other boatbuilders. Who as a group, had the clout to lease a commercial space that  none of us individually could have afforded alone.

At the time, we also joined a French collective of boatbuilders, the Unite Amateur, which did group buying of stuff needful for boat builders. The upside is we got a fairly deep discount on plywood, epoxy, glass cloth, electronics, ports, winches, stainless screws/bolts, stoves, sinks, insulation, paint, engines, outboards, dinghies, windlasses, anchors, chain, rope, sails... The list was quite impressive and it, more than likely, saved us 30% or more on the builds of Loose Moose and Loose Moose 2.

The fact is, if we had not been able to get together with the Unite Amateur and our airport group, we would never have been able to afford to build the boats.

Which brings me to a question...

Why don't we do such a thing on this side of the Atlantic?

I've lost track of the number of emails the blogs have spawned from people trying to find a more affordable way to build, rehab, or cruise a sailboat on a budget. You'd think, with so many folks feeling a pinch that someone or other would have come to some sort of collective buying scheme that makes sense.

Maybe it's the fact that group buying is always going to be a bit of a compromise, Possibly it's the amount of work that goes into it. Or, just maybe, we're so addicted to the Kool Aid of consumerism that paying more just hurts so good and allows us bragging rights as to how we spent yet another boat buck into that black hole in the water.

So, here's another question I'd actually like some feedback on...

What products might readers of Boat Bits be interested in buying in a group situation? What makes sense to your current needs/wants?

Listening to Smooth Hound Smith

So it goes...