I own a Johnson 18 (http://www.johnson18.org/). Johnson Boat works
built this Rodger Martin design starting in 1995. In 1999 Johnson Boat
works sold the molds to Catalina, who has been sitting on them ever
since - and not building any boats. Current owners are hoping to grow
the class but cannot without new boats being pushed into the market.

This is just a quick note to see if any one knows anyone who would be
interested in building new Johnson 18s, if the class organization can
pry the molds away from Catalina. Also, since I have virtually no
knowledge on the topic, how hard would it be to create a new pair of
mold using a current hull as a plug?

Thanks,

Brian

On Fri, 8 Feb 2008 07:31:03 -0800 (PST), Five Cubed Skipper
wrote:

since I have virtually no
knowledge on the topic, how hard would it be to create a new pair of
mold using a current hull as a plug?

Not that difficult for someone experienced in mold making but what
would be your legal liability, and would the resulting hull still be
considered a Johnson 18 ?

Catalina is certainly an efficient manufacturer, so I'd think that they
could produce the boat at as low a cost as anyone. If they're not producing
the boat, I'd guess that either they have another product which it would
compete with or they don't think they can sell enough boats to make a
profit. If the former is true, you're probably out of luck. If the latter,
then they'd probably have their minds changed by an order for, say, twenty
boats. Start selling.

hey
"Five Cubed Skipper" wrote in message
...
I own a Johnson 18 (http://www.johnson18.org/). Johnson Boat works
built this Rodger Martin design starting in 1995. In 1999 Johnson Boat
works sold the molds to Catalina, who has been sitting on them ever
since - and not building any boats. Current owners are hoping to grow
the class but cannot without new boats being pushed into the market.

This is just a quick note to see if any one knows anyone who would be
interested in building new Johnson 18s, if the class organization can
pry the molds away from Catalina. Also, since I have virtually no
knowledge on the topic, how hard would it be to create a new pair of
mold using a current hull as a plug?

Thanks,

Brian

On Feb 8, 10:52*am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 8 Feb 2008 07:31:03 -0800 (PST), Five Cubed Skipper

wrote:
since I have virtually no
knowledge on the topic, how hard would it be to create a new pair of
mold using a current hull as a plug?

Not that difficult for someone experienced in mold making but what
would be your legal liability, and would the resulting hull still be
considered a Johnson 18 ?

None really, a hull can not be patented or protected once it is out on
the market. It is called "splashing" the hull, and is done all the
time. I once read an article written by the president of a large
bubbleboat maker, don't remember which one right now. Anyway, he
recanted a story where they would acutally have a pool among the top
brass to guess how many splashes of :"last years model" would be on
the showroom floor at the spring shows He noted an astronomical
number that the company spends each year on hull R+D, half of which he
claimed was to figure out how to put stuff into hulls to make them
harder to splash... Said it added a lot to the cost of a new hull...

wrote:
On Feb 8, 10:52 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 8 Feb 2008 07:31:03 -0800 (PST), Five Cubed Skipper

wrote:
since I have virtually no
knowledge on the topic, how hard would it be to create a new pair of
mold using a current hull as a plug?
Not that difficult for someone experienced in mold making but what
would be your legal liability, and would the resulting hull still be
considered a Johnson 18 ?

None really, a hull can not be patented or protected once it is out on
the market. It is called "splashing" the hull, and is done all the
time. I once read an article written by the president of a large
bubbleboat maker, don't remember which one right now. Anyway, he
recanted a story where they would acutally have a pool among the top
brass to guess how many splashes of :"last years model" would be on
the showroom floor at the spring shows He noted an astronomical
number that the company spends each year on hull R+D, half of which he
claimed was to figure out how to put stuff into hulls to make them
harder to splash... Said it added a lot to the cost of a new hull...

Actually, in the US, you can copyright a hull form. Splashing a hull
form IS illegal.

When you make a mold for a polyester boat, you have to take account
resin shrinkage as it cures. You make the mold oversize so the
resulting boat is the size you want.

Evan Gatehouse