Exciting News from Osprey Ribs

OSPREY RIBS · 22 September 2013, 11:43

To all the loyal Osprey customers out there and any budding Osprey Owners it gives us great pleasure to announce the next step in Osprey's development.

Over the last 9 months Osprey UK (aka Whitham Glassfibre) have gone through a difficult transition. As well as a very difficult few years for the sale of new Ribs especially to the Leisure market, Osprey also suffered the loss of Roy Bishop who had been the custodian of Osprey in the UK for a number of years.

As you will have seen over the last few months, time and money has been invested in developing a new website and a number of improvements have been made to the way in which the ribs are upholstered and to the Stainless steel accessories supplied by our fabricators.

During this time we have had a number of new projects to work on and once again some superb Ospreys have been leaving the factory. One of these was for a familiar face on Ribnet, Nigel Jenkins AKA "Landlord". Nigel has been very supportive over the last few months providing demonstrations on his 7.0 meter Vipermax "Galahad" as well as talking to prospective customers on the phone. Following discussions whilst down at the boat show it has been agreed that Nigel will take on the UK dealership for Osprey, with plans for premises in the Southampton area.

A new company has been formed, Osprey RIBs Ltd and besides Nigel he is joined by Alex Hutchings better known as "Whisper" the fund raiser and organiser of the Round Isle Of White Cruise for MacMillan Cancer. They will no doubt be along shortly with their own update.

This will give Osprey a new home on the South Coast and will provide the perfect springboard to develop this hugely respected brand further with the target audience that the South Coast provides. GRP lamination will continue to be done by Mike Whitham. However the rigging and fit-out of the boats will be completed at the new premises.

I am sure you will all join us in wishing them great success as they take over the reigns to Osprey UK...!

nugent · 22 September 2013, 11:55

nice to see that there are plans to push this brand,,
Good luck with the new venture

Pikey Dave · 22 September 2013, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSPREY RIBS

To all the loyal Osprey customers out there and any budding Osprey Owners it gives us great pleasure to announce the next step in Osprey's development.

Over the last 9 months Osprey UK (aka Whitham Glassfibre) have gone through a difficult transition. As well as a very difficult few years for the sale of new Ribs especially to the Leisure market, Osprey also suffered the loss of Roy Bishop who had been the custodian of Osprey in the UK for a number of years.

As you will have seen over the last few months, time and money has been invested in developing a new website and a number of improvements have been made to the way in which the ribs are upholstered and to the Stainless steel accessories supplied by our fabricators.

During this time we have had a number of new projects to work on and once again some superb Ospreys have been leaving the factory. One of these was for a familiar face on Ribnet, Nigel Jenkins AKA "Landlord". Nigel has been very supportive over the last few months providing demonstrations on his 7.0 meter Vipermax "Galahad" as well as talking to prospective customers on the phone. Following discussions whilst down at the boat show it has been agreed that Nigel will take on the UK dealership for Osprey, with plans for premises in the Southampton area.

A new company has been formed, Osprey RIBs Ltd and besides Nigel he is joined by Alex Hutchings better known as "Whisper" the fund raiser and organiser of the Round Isle Of White Cruise for MacMillan Cancer. They will no doubt be along shortly with their own update.

This will give Osprey a new home on the South Coast and will provide the perfect springboard to develop this hugely respected brand further with the target audience that the South Coast provides. GRP lamination will continue to be done by Mike Whitham. However the rigging and fit-out of the boats will be completed at the new premises.

I am sure you will all join us in wishing them great success as they take over the reigns to Osprey UK...!

Nice one

What you need now is a poster boy to do some piccies, wave jumping 'n shit

Hightower · 22 September 2013, 12:16

Wow this is indeed good news! About time Osprey had a presence down South and I wish both Nigel and Alex the best of luck (even though I'm sure they don't need it) with the new Business.

lakelandterrier · 22 September 2013, 12:22

This is really good news

- good luck to Nigel & Alex & everyone else involved

Ian M · 22 September 2013, 13:00

Excellent news

Ribtecer · 22 September 2013, 13:29

Look forward to seeing it all in place.

Well done, the hard work starts here.

I think your timing is probably about right.

Great news!!!

biffer · 22 September 2013, 14:27

About time that you two done some work. Looks like I'll have to ban you from my place invade you steal my ideas. LOL

biffer · 22 September 2013, 14:28

Not invade. In case. Stupid phone

gtb · 22 September 2013, 14:33

Great news. Good luck to Nigel and Alex in their new venture - and I'm sure they'll be a credit to Osprey!

willk · 22 September 2013, 14:54

Well done guys! Best of luck with your new venture.

Will you be taking over the "Voice of Osprey" on here too?

Maximus · 22 September 2013, 15:08

Best of Luck with the New Venture Guys!

matt h · 22 September 2013, 15:12

And me. And i reckon you guys are the right people to do. Fully committed and with the brand in mind.
Well done you two!!

willk · 22 September 2013, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

Fully committed and with the brand in mind.

Should we expect to see Whisper's Ribcraft in the For Sale forum shortly?

lakelandterrier · 22 September 2013, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Should we expect to see Whisper's Ribcraft in the For Sale forum shortly?

I was thinking the exact same thing.
There may be a 4th hand SR project up for sale too

matt h · 22 September 2013, 15:58

Might be gone already!

Black · 22 September 2013, 15:59

Think I spied it on the 'Bay recently.

ShinyShoe · 22 September 2013, 16:29

Are we gonna see Osprey's with flooding hulls?

willk · 22 September 2013, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Are we gonna see Osprey's with flooding hulls?

Nah, Whisper's not actually going to be making the hulls

OSPREY RIBS · 22 September 2013, 17:47

A big thank you for all the best wishes, comments and PM’s it is appreciated.

Well I think its fair to say we have some big shoes to fill. Since the sad passing of Roy Bishop, Osprey seems to have been in a bit of a ‘no mans land’ until recently. Thanks to the efforts of Mike and Chris the brand has continued albeit through some difficult economic times.

It is with some apprehension we have picked up the gauntlet and have taken on the UK dealership for Osprey RIBs. As mentioned Mike Whitham will still be laying up the hulls but from then on the hand built RIBs will be project managed by us and completed at our premises next to the Solent.

As most of you know we already have a 7m Osprey Vipermax for demonstrations and it will soon be joined by a new 6.5m Osprey Vipermax. A build thread will be started shortly. Both will be available for viewing and demonstrations in Lymington and hopefully around the UK in the near future.

Alex and I are honoured to be involved with this iconic brand and look forward to building some exciting RIBs in the coming months. If anyone has any good ideas of what they would like to see in a new RIB or wants to just talk RIBs my number is 07793 823824.

Nigel Jenkins

PS no flooding hulls