Ken Friedman

Review of Ota

OTA has provided excellent sail repair for many ye...

OTA has provided excellent sail repair for many years after hiring a local sail maker. With this in mind, I asked for a quote on a flat, semi custom cover for my 19 x 7 foot sail boat. Comparable web prices are $500 to $700. I sent them the request plans and pictures. Imagine my surprise when I received a quote for over $4,500.

Practical Sailor suggested a mast up reusable winter cover for a 30 foot boat might have cost $1,800 in 2018.

I wonder what OTA was thinking?

OTA offered to discuss my review. It turns out their sailmaker retired and they are trying new employees who would have been assigned to make the boat cover. The new employees would have to learn OJT how to make a pattern from the detailed official scaled deck plan I provided. OTA stated this is a reason for the high labor cost on my project. The OTA rep, apparently ignorant of the out of stock status or 6 week backings if competitors, speculated higher volume sellers could simply sell covers from inventory.

In addition the code OTA rep. was skeptical of the quality of fabric used by one of three highest volume custom flying scot cover makers.

The OTA rep also stated that many potential customers decide not to buy because of OTA s high prices.

I am not surprised.