This one is from Harken's representative in Latvia
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Dear yachtsmen,
Before expressing my opinion about so called Catri project, I have to present myself.
My name is Albert Rozin. I am a professional sailing coach, Executive Director of the Regate Company, official distributor of the Harken, North Sails, Tacktick, Spinlock, Nautix, Beneteau, Musto, Slam and many other marine equipment companies so well known to you. Besides that, the Regate Company is involved in designing and tuning of the racing yachts.
Up to now I thought it will not be correct to speak publicly about Catri. But I changed my mind yesterday, after Mr. Aldis Eglajs visited our company’s office to make the new order ... and expressed dissatisfaction about the Latvian Harken suppliers in our forum. It was made for the first time and in a very strange manner, although current order we are preparing for him was not cancelled.
But now about Catri.
1. All equipment for this project Aldis orders at our company without any explanations or project documentation.
2. All our requests to explain suspicious positions were declined.
3. In our opinion, it looks like:
3.1. Aldis has no real project of Catri, if by ‘project’ you mean a full technical documentation of a yacht design;
3.2. Aldis does not know how to design a real yacht and could not do it.
3.3. I am sorry to say, but all this looks like an attempt to take away money from credulous clients and unsuspecting boat builders.
3.4. Beware of this project. If you have not, I advise you to read ‘The Golden Calf’ and ‘Twelve Chairs’ - two books by Russian writers Ylf and Petrov.
Best regards & Happy sailing
Albert Rozin
HARKEN BALTIC
Feb 20, 2007
Feb 7, 2007
Third party informed opinions
Hello.
Lets continue with some quotes.
The first is from Mikhail Domnich, owner of Aegeanmarine, builder of the Catri 27 in the US and . He is in San Francisco and was born in Latvia:
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 01:16:19 -0800 (PST)
From: "Michael Domnich"
Subject: Re: Catri 27 modifications
HI luiz,
Nice to hear you after long time.
First of all small history review:
I am working with Aldis almost 16 years, and believe me, I know him very well. (Centaurus 35, 38, 40uc, Catri 26r, 27. He is a great multi-huller and Multihull scientist, but he is not a real designer and engineer. For sure he is not a good businessman. He was so smart to make a patent of Catri hydrofoil system. That is all. Why he change a builders each year, and no final production line at full 7 years? Answer very simple: he is old and rush to make his own money off the patent royalty. If no production, change the builders and make your initial royalty from new builder. Simple!!! I was involve in this game and know exactly. He does not care about any responsibility before customers(you are a bright sample) and builders (myself,Gints,Harijs,Andersons & ect). No one builder have full designers documentation for any his projects, because he does not have it. Simple!!! He can make a blue print and wrong structural engineering(it is why I change about 90% of his structural reinforcement on Catri projects and make the project with full building documentation myself. It take time and lots of additional money). I was quiet lots of years about Aldis, because it is only my opinion, but after i read messages at the Catri owners forum and look at the situation, i can't to be silent any more. Now I am absolutely independent with good proof projects and engineering, and don't care about Aldis.(For sure he will receive his patent royalty). He lost a possibility to make a Catri line in Latvia, because no one builder would like to work with him, and i am worry about Catri idea. After 3.5 years of testing both Aegean Catri 27 at any weather and seas condition, lots of people strongly believe: Catri is # 1 competition for Corsair, and must to be successful on market. And You right about international corporation. We need to consolidate our knowledge, enthusiasm and power to establish a good production Catri line with strong responsibility fore quality of design and product.
About your other questions -later
Mike.
Lets continue with some quotes.
The first is from Mikhail Domnich, owner of Aegeanmarine, builder of the Catri 27 in the US and . He is in San Francisco and was born in Latvia:
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 01:16:19 -0800 (PST)
From: "Michael Domnich"
Subject: Re: Catri 27 modifications
HI luiz,
Nice to hear you after long time.
First of all small history review:
I am working with Aldis almost 16 years, and believe me, I know him very well. (Centaurus 35, 38, 40uc, Catri 26r, 27. He is a great multi-huller and Multihull scientist, but he is not a real designer and engineer. For sure he is not a good businessman. He was so smart to make a patent of Catri hydrofoil system. That is all. Why he change a builders each year, and no final production line at full 7 years? Answer very simple: he is old and rush to make his own money off the patent royalty. If no production, change the builders and make your initial royalty from new builder. Simple!!! I was involve in this game and know exactly. He does not care about any responsibility before customers(you are a bright sample) and builders (myself,Gints,Harijs,Andersons & ect). No one builder have full designers documentation for any his projects, because he does not have it. Simple!!! He can make a blue print and wrong structural engineering(it is why I change about 90% of his structural reinforcement on Catri projects and make the project with full building documentation myself. It take time and lots of additional money). I was quiet lots of years about Aldis, because it is only my opinion, but after i read messages at the Catri owners forum and look at the situation, i can't to be silent any more. Now I am absolutely independent with good proof projects and engineering, and don't care about Aldis.(For sure he will receive his patent royalty). He lost a possibility to make a Catri line in Latvia, because no one builder would like to work with him, and i am worry about Catri idea. After 3.5 years of testing both Aegean Catri 27 at any weather and seas condition, lots of people strongly believe: Catri is # 1 competition for Corsair, and must to be successful on market. And You right about international corporation. We need to consolidate our knowledge, enthusiasm and power to establish a good production Catri line with strong responsibility fore quality of design and product.
About your other questions -later
Mike.
Feb 5, 2007
The boat seems fine. The designer sucks.
Hello,
If you are here, you certainly read or heard about the Catri and may be considering one.
The interesting concepts captivated me five years ago. I bought the plans, paid for them and still haven't comissioned my boat.
Before you ask:
-I have the money (to buy an open 60, if I wanted to).
-I have the time (to do it with my own hands, if I wanted to).
-I have the knowledge (to talk to manufacturers, shipyards, etc. all around the World).
-I have the contacts (to know everything that is going on in the sailing world).
-I don't cheat or lie.
Still, my boat is not ready.
Why?
Simple: I paid Aldis Eglajs for a set of plans and he never completed them.
More in the next entry.
If you are here, you certainly read or heard about the Catri and may be considering one.
The interesting concepts captivated me five years ago. I bought the plans, paid for them and still haven't comissioned my boat.
Before you ask:
-I have the money (to buy an open 60, if I wanted to).
-I have the time (to do it with my own hands, if I wanted to).
-I have the knowledge (to talk to manufacturers, shipyards, etc. all around the World).
-I have the contacts (to know everything that is going on in the sailing world).
-I don't cheat or lie.
Still, my boat is not ready.
Why?
Simple: I paid Aldis Eglajs for a set of plans and he never completed them.
More in the next entry.
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