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Looks to be a good idea but $60 seems outrageous for a little piece of starboard and epoxy/resin/glue. Its great that they are a whaler central sponsor. I dont want to seem like a hater. What do you guys think?

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Not inexpensive, thats for sure. Figure out how to glue the HDPE material securly to fiberglass and make your own. Like PVC pipe, epoxy and even 5200 peels right off of Starboard.

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Guys, please don't bash the Stern Saver without seeing one first hand or installing one on your boat. Contrary to what you may think, I assure you it in not just a piece of StarBoard and a tube of glue. I wouldn't have invested tens of thousands of dollars into something if that were all it was. West Marine, Tackle Warehouse, Johnson Hicks, Belmont Boat service, Star marine Electronics and soon to be BOE Marine, are all carrying or picking up the Stern Saver in the next few weeks. And the product had only been on the market for 3.5 weeks! Furthermore, they are selling like hot cakes off our site. Believe me if I could lower the price to increase sales, I would. It is very expensive to produce.

The Stern Saver in not something you can just make at home with standard tools. And we do not use 5200 sealant, which is nothing more than modified silicone doubled as a light duty adhesive. The Stern Saver is a complete kit that includes everything needed to install it:

- a machined block of genuine King StarBoard (that has a patent pending design that forms an incredibly strong mechanical bonds to surfaces)
- a dual barrel syringe with a static mixing tip loaded with the best marine grade epoxy available (that does not get brittle), for easy dispensing
- a handy peel-and-stick plastic mounting spike that makes installation super easy and holds the block in place while the adhesive sets up
- a piece of sandpaper to scuff the surface to improve the bond
-two acetone prep pads, one to clean/degrease the surface, the other to clean up at the end of installation
-a mounting template that also makes the installation really easy
-a detailed installation instructions

The price of the Stern Saver product reflects everything that goes into making it. Everything is made in the USA of the finest material available. It is actually half the price of the competing product which is injection molded plastic (which is far less expensive to produce), not High Density Polyethylene plastic. Our's are made from sheet stock and are fabricated by hand and CnC'd. The comprehensive installation kit further adds value by making it so convenient and easy to install.

The Stern Saver is such a great product that the Marketing Director for Kings Plastics personally called me last week to congratulate me for accomplishing something they (as well as hundreds of boat owners) have been trying to do for years, and they bought two themselves! Even they acknowledged the fact that the most frustrating issue they have had with their StarBoard product is the fact that until, the Stern Saver came around there was no good way to bond it permanently to itself or anything else. That has now all changed because we also have ways to bond it to itself as well.

Here is a copy of the follow up email from King:

Scott,
I was good speaking with you, again congratulations with your product.

Attached is the information for presenting the brand correctly and I appreciate it very much.

Let’s say in touch with what you are doing.

Best Regards,

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention it prevents you from having to drill holes below the waterline. Which can save you hundreds or thousands in potential repairs down the road! It will also help your boat retain its value because of this. I just passed on the purchase of a nice looking Montauk because it had too many poorly patched holes in the transom that looked questionable. Bottom line is no one likes putting holes in their transom.

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BTW-most of my customers are Whaler owners! $60 should not be an issue for someone who owns a premium product like a Whaler, especially if they love their boat. It seems really silly for people (4 posts in 4 years) to come on a Whaler discussion board and rant about the price of something that helps their boat retain it's value and prevent serious potential damage to it, all bundled up into a well thought out and convenient product. For those who may be skeptical, we also offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee as well as a lifetime warranty. There really is nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

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link?

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Good point!

www.sternsaver.com

We are a proud sponsor of WhalerCentral and you can click our banner ads on this site to visit our website as well.

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Stern
I have read your latest post which was long and well written.
What caught me a bit by surprise was the perception of your varied feelings and expressions when describing your product.
Just like a Dad talking about his son or daughter,
Your enthusiasm about this stern aid is without a doubt well placed.
I do personally still work within areas hosting Home, Vehicle and Boat shows.
The seasonal shows within our Arenas would be the place to be, to share into your newest boating aide.
Have you heard of the popular TV show called The Shark Tank?
This may be the route to take in finalizing the sale of your patent in the end..
Meanwhile here in Canada and more specifically here on the West Coast.
We have not as yet had the privilege to sample your product.
I would suggest that you send a few of your units around as a demo to inform and educate our Canadian boaters here of the benefits of your product.
I know that I would personally be elated to NOT have to drill another hole on the stern of my favorite Classic "My Girl".
I hope that you have a snowball success with this one Stern.
I will look forward to hear a lot more of your successes.

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Thanks for the kind words ritzyrags...much appreciated! And yes, the Stern Saver in definitely my baby, as you can already tell. At first, I developed it for myself, with absolutely no intention of marketing and selling them. Then, after three years of having three of them on my 1998 Conquest 21, I decided it's just too good to keep to myself. I decided to move forward with it and share it with everyone else, after extensive refinement. I truly love the product because it does exactly what it is supposed to do, it protects my beloved boat.

I exhibited the Stern Saver (please see and "like" our Facebook page for pics) at the International Sportsman's Expo in Sacramento last month it was a big hit. In fact, Tackle Tour did a write up on it after visiting our display. Whaler owners were loving The Stern Saver. Several of them bought two at a time. I wish I could show you all my demo pieces in person so you can see how simple, yet effective it is. I will be at the Fred Hall show in Long Beach next month talking to all the boat and marine electronics suppliers there about.

As for the Shark Tank, I love that show! The Stern Saver is not my first invention. It's the only one I have brought to market though. Believe me, I have thought about taking the Stern Saver to the "Tank", but I feel like I can do this without their help, at least for now. Getting into West Marine's 325 stores and Tackle Warehouse is not to shabby for the first month. That in itself tells you how good this product really is!

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Calling something expensive is not bashing a product. Matter of fact my post indirectly suggested how difficult doing it DIY successfully might be. I've spent a lot of money on costly purchases that have been worthwhile.

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Jonny-sorry I did not percieve that as a compliment. It was the original poster's comment I found to be a bit harsh. Had he actually purchased one and didn't like, then that's a different story. He'd get a full refund if not satisfied. I am not opposed to a little criticism as long as it is done tactfully.

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The last time I checked I started the thread by saying it sounded like a good idea. But why make it out of a material that wont bond to polyester resin in the first place? Is it wrong to build on others ideas to make a more cost efficient product?

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marineresorts-I'm all ears. So what is your idea that you want to suggest then. All you said is that it's a "great idea" but an "outrageous" price. I'd like to know what you would do so I can save lot's of money on production.

My understanding is that StarBoard brand HDPE, aka "marine lumber", is THE plastic to use on boats. It is used to make doors, hatches, bait tables, fillet tables, steps, seats, panels, tackle drawers, and just about everything else on a boat that is not metal or fiberglass. It is the most durable, long lasting plastic you can buy because it is chemical resistant (why nothing sticks to it), fire resistant, UV resistant, saltwater resistant, crack proof, chip proof, won't bend or warp and it seats a screw better than fiberglass and aluminum, and it won't fade. In other words, it's the best stuff there is. The problem is, that because of these properties, nothing chemically bonds to it. I could have made it out of PVC, ABS, PS or PP but I would be out of business after one year. None of those plastics can hold up to years of exposure to harsh marine conditions and sunlight.

Like I said before, the only competing product is made from a less expensive, injection molded plastic. It should really upset you to know they charge $120 for it! I have two of them sitting right here, still in the box, I'll even sell you one for $60, so you feel like you are getting a deal at half off!

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I too am an inventor and nearly twenty years ago I also developed a product manufactured from StarBoard (originally). I long ago sold the rights to a large computer peripherals manufacturer for satisfactory compensation but in the early days a lot of computer forums were a buzz about my product. It was expensive compared to other products in the same category and it got a lot of criticism. In the long run the product spoke for itself and was very successful but I had to constantly fight the urge to defend it every time I read a comment from someone that didn't see things my way. I'd have gone crazy otherwise.

Now as far as incorporating StarBoard into a computer related product, you guys can figure that one out. Figuring out how to screen-print a reasonably durable logo onto the Starboard was the most difficult part.

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How about pouring resin in a square dish with some chop in it. Hit it with gelcoat. Scuff it , scuff the app area. Use resin with cabosil to apply. Less than a dollar.

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Less than a dollar......??

What about your time and materials involved? is that free?
If so, I may need a wax job on my Semi Truck... I shouldn't even have to pay for the wax....
(this is sarcasm and a joke)

Lets everyone get a grip here......
Things are no longer cheap in this world........
I remember .22 cents a gallon fuel.....
I could fill up my 10 gallon tank in my car for $2.20 cents......
Now Diesel is $4.22 as of yesterday in my area. and my tank holds 30 gallons...
How much is a loaf of bread......???

Go to the grocery store and you might get a half a bag of groceries for about $60.......
A loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, and maybe something else = $60......

I can't stand the prices of anything, but this is part of life.....
I wish my Electric bill was only $60 dollars a month......

I suggest anyone that makes anything for sale, and adds up their costs, time, R&D, etc., $60 would be cheap....

I know, I made quite a few replacement items for BW boats here.
Adding up the materials, my time, etc.... I still sold them for less than my time was worth at the going minimum wage rate.

NOTE:
This thread is borderline.... Myself included........

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Jonny-Did you ever figure out how to print on StarBoard? I am glad you mentioned that because the one obstacle I am still trying to get over is getting our logo on the product so people can identify it when it's on someone's boat. If you have any suggestions about how to do that, I would really appreciate it.

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Joe I appreciate the sarcasm. I hope the best for the stern saver. Its good that someone in the US is actually producing something . I cant disagree with someones livelihood or dreams. Part of the joy of fixing classic whalers is DOING IT YOURSELF. If we calculated our time invested to boat value ratio we would all be in a foriegn sweatshop working free overtime. Continue to enjoy your projects and continue to find ways to make your own solutions



PS. I'M NOT WASHING YOUR TRUCK HAHAHA

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If you want to print on HDPE your best bet is to hot print (brand it).
I am not sure you will be able to add any color, but your product name will be clear for all to see.
You may have to debur after branding. A tumbler might be the best tool for the job.
FYI bonding to HDPE like Teflon is all about texture. Nothing sticks very well, but things can become entrapped.

Enough said

KP

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I assigned the job to another company but they used something called corona treatment to prep the surface before printing. A mask allowed only the print area to be exposed to the surface treatment.

Thermal stamping might be a better route IMO but it wasn't an option for my application due to how the product was intended to be used. Thermal stamping would be more economical and could probably be done in house by whoever assembles your product for distribution.

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Thanks guys, I will look into that. I am assuming thermal stamping and branding are the same. Probably will hold off until we are doing large volumes to keep the cost down...definitely something I would like to do though.

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After following this thread with great interest, It seems like there are those who know better (tongue in cheek) and those who know better (for real) had an interesting discussion.
As far as branding, it seems like an easy thing to do, cheap too. I do not know anything about starboard so please forgive me if I am to far of base. OK? To brand anything the heat applied will scar or melt the surface of the parent material. This is the optimum time to color the brand. A thin layer of a different color Starboard laid on top of the parent material should become impregnated in the parent material.
Excuse me if my wine induced suggestion is to far off base. I love your product and will be looking into getting one as income and priorities allow.

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There are thermal stamping/branding machines that will imprint a colored foil into the stamped area.

For a simple and inexpensive solution, there are hand-held thermal stamps. You have to manually place the colored foil in place then apply the stamp machine for a few seconds but they're cheap and probably adequate as long as production numbers isn't too high. Search the term asset branding.

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would you consider a product like this for a transom step?
http://www.boatownerswarehouse.com/br...,6865.html

I am working on a 13 whaler and don't want to have to carry a ladder. Was thinking a step would be all that I, or my kids would need.

I also like that this doesn’t screw into the hull, so if it fails I am not in danger of a big repair.

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cjay- I like the look of that step. A custom 5.25" T X 2.75" W X 1.5" thick block with 8 wells may work. The 1/4" screws that come with the step need the extra thick 1.5 " block. Email me at scott@sternsaver.com if you want to get one made. One thing I am a little worried about is if the gel coat can handle the stress from weight it bears when someone uses the step. I would like to test the bond of the Stern Saver bond to high stresses like a step would provide, so if you are willing to be a guinea pig and try it out on your boat, I would like to see it put the test. One concern I do have is the possibility of it pulling the gel coat off since I don't know how well that is bonded to the fiberglass.

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Well looks like I just found a must have for my 13' Sport, since I'm doing a full restoration. I'd rather spend a few bucks then drill holes in my hull. This is one of those products one kicks themselves for thinking of it first.

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Well, I'm thinking it over. I've got an almost new Outrage and the leads from the depth sounder go right through the transom. It worries me every time I think about it. Initially, I liked the sternsaver idea, but I have just about decided to buy fiberglass tube with the correct inside diameter to run the wires through. Then I can just drill out the holes, epoxy the tubes in place and run the leads. I can squirt sealant inside the tubes to keep out the water. but even if the sealant fails, any leaks will just run into the bilge, not into the foam. I like the idea of a clean transom and not having wires everywhere.

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I wonder if one can be made to prevent drilling holes for mounting the engine.