Cruising in Cape Town SA

jamesw · 17 May 2004, 16:14

Visited Cape Town recently and saw plenty of ribs at http://way.to/waterfrontmarine

Ribs are popular and used extensively out there.

The people at waterfront marine may have information about the cruising scene if anyone is interested

Richard B · 17 May 2004, 16:23

Hi James,

A couple of "RIBnet exiles" have contributed much on South Africa, but more would be interesting to hear. Did you do much cruising whilst you were out there?

Falcon Boats · 18 May 2004, 06:15

James, I am glad you enjoyed your stay in Sunny South Africa - I presume you have been made aware that most of the Sovereign RIBs have been reverse engineered from the Falcon Inflatables range, which is why legal proceedings is currently underway - if you don't believe me have a look at http://www.falconinflatables.co.za

jamesw · 18 May 2004, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

Hi James,

A couple of "RIBnet exiles" have contributed much on South Africa, but more would be interesting to hear. Did you do much cruising whilst you were out there?

Richard

I have a twin brother that lives in Cape Town, he has a small rib and uses it to catch crayfish off houtbay area. He also uses it at a dam in Clan William.
Lots of fun.

My main interest is sail boats but many of the sailors with yachts use ribs of various sizes as tenders. I have therefore met many rib owners in the Cape and the Caribbean.

Enjoyed your web site it is an interesting read.

Rene · 18 May 2004, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Boats

.....SNIP..... been reverse engineered from the Falcon Inflatables range, which is why legal proceedings is currently underway - if you don't believe me have a look at http://www.falconinflatables.co.za

Hi Falcon Boats

Well I had a look at you web site to find any proof of this.... And guess what I can't find it..

But hey I had a look at you website, and this is really what this post is all about isn't it. (You can give me a red dot if you feel like it)

Sorry about this, this is normally not the way I post. But I thought I would find some kind off proff on this legal proceedings

Rene

MarkWildey · 18 May 2004, 09:45

Rene

Had a look as well and found nothing. Maybe it's a marketing ploy to make us look round the site

Falcon Boats · 18 May 2004, 09:53

Definately not a marketing ploy - Falcon was established in 1985 - in fact Waterfront Marine sold Falcon boats before they started 'manufacturing'. Do a little homework on the SA industry - Falcon was started under the brand 'Infanta', together with the likes of Gemini and Prestige. Thought you might find this of interest...

Rene · 18 May 2004, 10:50

Sorry for disrupting a good tread about crusing i SA, I think it's a very nice area (I havn't been there but seen pictures). I would love to take a cruise in that area.

Falcon Boats
In what you wrote "......which is why legal proceedings is currently underway - if you don't believe me have a look at ......"

You are stating that we can find proof off this legal procedings at you website, but when looking around finding no other info than normal markting stuff, not even under the news section is this mentioned.

Stating that you have proof off this legal procedings could be interesting to the rib world, but as you don't have any proof of this, this makes your complete reply nothing more than a Marketing ploy.

I really don't care who sold which boats first, where and under which name, what I would like to know is the out come of the so called "legal procedings"

Rene

Falcon Boats · 18 May 2004, 11:17

Obviously details about the proceedings cannot be published as it is underway - the 'proof' (website) is simply a means of illustrating the the similarity between the craft, right down to cosmetics & finishing - you are however welcome to make your own assumptions, thought this might be of interest to the thread.

John Kennett · 18 May 2004, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkWildey

Had a look as well and found nothing. Maybe it's a marketing ploy to make us look round the site

I think (to give the benefit of the doubt) that this is probably just a bit of a misunderstanding. I reckon that all Falcon Boats meant was for people to see how similar the boats are.

If they had borrowed some of Keith's brackets it might have been a bit clearer:

. . . have been reverse engineered from the Falcon Inflatables range (which is why legal proceedings is currently underway) - if you don't believe me have a look at . . .

John

MarkWildey · 18 May 2004, 12:21

Mr FB

Understand your comments now. It is apparent that the boats are very similar.

Think that's enough SA Industry homework for me now.

Cheers

Mark

Rene · 18 May 2004, 14:10

Falcon boats

I'm sorry that I misunderstood, your posting. For showing the similarities I think you website is great.

I just made a mistake in reading you post. I still can't find the homepage for "Sovereign RIBs" which I should compare the Falcon boats to.

I will rest my case and withdraw any claim of this being a marketing ploy

Regards
Rene

jamesw · 18 May 2004, 15:24

FB

We deviate a little from the thread however... It seems like the rib scene in SA is alive and competitive. I do remember there was some talk. Is there anything in your website that shows evidence, not being an expert all the ribs I have seen look the same to me. A bit like cars really.

What is the status with the legal proceedings?
Has a Trial been scheduled?

I have just completed a 3 year dispute on a completely seperate matter. Massive stress and risk of financial meltdown. I won my case but still was awarded only half my costs. Better to settle your differences out of court asap.

Best of Luck

PS to compare, the Sovereign ribs are at http://way.to/waterfrontmarine

they look the similar

but they arn't the same!

MarkWildey · 18 May 2004, 15:37

FB

I have heard talk in the past of Falcon boats being raced in the UK but don't believe that anyone has entered a boat so far.

Do you know of any plans as I would be interested in seeing how they compare with the UK boats.

Cheers

Mark

JAMES KING · 21 May 2004, 11:59

The facts regarding the matter Waterfront Marine (Sovereign Inflatables) vs Falcon Inflatables are as follows;

1. Waterfront Marine manufactures a range of inflatables called Sovereign Inflatables.

2. Sovereign Inflatables have been designed by a Naval Architect - Anton Du Toit.

3. Falcon Inflatables brought allegations before the Supreme Court of South Africa that Waterfront Marine;
a) Had copied Falcon Inflatables
b) Are attempting to pass-off Sovereign Inflatables as Falcon Inflatables.

4. The allegations have been denied by Waterfront Marine and Anton Du Toit Yacht Design.

5. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of South Africa on 16 February 2004.

6. Both parties await judgement.

7. I will inform you of the result once judgement has been passed.

Thank you,

JAMES KING

www.sovereign-rib.com

Falcon Boats · 24 May 2004, 06:27

Hi Mark,

Falcon is not racing in the UK just yet, as our current National Team's boat does not conform to BIBOA rules with regard to length. Falcon however holds 4 consecutive National RIB racing titles, 4 Trans Agulhas challenge wins (consecutive) and the F2 class record for the Richard's Bay to Durban RIB race. We have been considering racing in the UK for a while and are working on the project as we speak.

JAMES KING · 07 January 2005, 11:09

I refer to various threads,whereby we were accused of having reverse enginered Falcon boats. It would appear that the people at Falcon have not posted a thread regarding the outcome of our court case. The judge found in favour of Sovereign Inflatables and awarded costs. It's a pitty that people that have been involved in the boating industry for so long don't know the difference between making a copy of a boat or building one from scratch.

Falcon Boats · 10 January 2005, 07:07

Which one is which?