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ajroseca(at)nf.sympatico.
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 Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject: CanZac floats |
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Hi Gordon
I have had a number of private emails from listers who want to
purchase floats for their Zenairs ..According to Mark Townsend
my floats have been on their jig for more then a month now..Long before Oshkosh...
He was not replying to my emails..I have been waiting for a long time
and will not give up easily as I need the floats..CanZac is doing a great injustice
to Zenith aircraft and I think they know it ..
I am going to the Management at Zenith Aircraft to look for answers or alternatives
if I don't get some satisfaction soon..
Six months is a long time when I was given the completed date of May 15th for my
amphibs..If a company can not produce the product in a timely manner then
there should be other companys licensed to build these floats.in the US or Canada
I understood that the floats were designed by Chris Heintz and It was just a matter of
building them to his specs.
The czech aircraft works are again producing floats.They have a new design which
cruises faster then the former floats..Their delivery time is 2 months from Europe to
North America..They are represented by Skyshop in Florida...There is also a private
guy who builds them in Czech republic but he does not build amphibs.
Also Western Aviation In B.C Canada..but the freight is much more expensive to here.
I am depending on Mark Townsend for my floats and I am sure he will come through
in a timely manner ..we will see..I will keep the list informed.. I guess Mark will let me know how
long more for my floats now that his email is back working..
I have had excellent dealings with Zenith Aircraft..When I ordered the kit and payed the full
amount up front..the kit was ready for shipment in 12 days..They were very helpful
during the building process..Shirley Swerston and all of the staff were more then helpful
with anything I wanted to know..I have 117 hours on it now and it flies very well..
The 100 hp Rotax 912 is quiet and runs smoothly
Alvin Rose
CH-701
C-IHLI
Marystown, Nfld
ajroseca(at)nf.sympatico.ca (ajroseca(at)nf.sympatico.ca)
709-891-1883
Alvin,
I'm also shopping for floats, but I'm look at next season. Skyshop
seems to be able to get the CZAW floats and I think they are readily
available. I asked CanZac for info and pricing, but didn't get any
useful information other than they are scheduled well into next winter.
Are there other options for Zenair amphib floats ?
Gordon
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zodierocket(at)hsfx.ca
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject: CanZac floats |
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Since this was posted to the list, then I will reply to the list. Alvin is very right, he has ordered a set of 3 wheel floats last fall, I have put him on a list and he is at the top of the list, I have not taken a deposit from him due to the fact that I had not made a set with the new hook up to the present day landing gear. Alvin has on several occasions offered to send a deposit of which I have refused, stating that I cannot guarantee delivery date.
The design of Chris’s 3 wheeled floats is not an issue in the building of them, I have all the dimensions and parts for the float portion and the wheel portion using hydraulics I designed for the 4 wheel floats. The delay is in the re-design of the mechanical structure to accommodate the new style landing gear that will be used to connect the float, The old landing gear connected to the float on the top walkway and left the 701 in a low sitting position. Not bad when we were flying the 701 on Rotax 582’s, too low for the 912 ULS versions. The 3 wheel setup I am working on will utilize the present day landing gear allowing it to hook into the side of the float and the front to be very similar to the old setup with a little more strength, all hardware utilizing North American hardware. Since my return from Oshkosh, the 3 wheel setup has been my sole priority, I have had to endure several setbacks, many of which comes from having to rely upon outside sources to do prototype work in the wielding. I have had a set of 3 wheel floats completed and when I installed them on my 701 I was not happy with the loads and design of the attachments and have had another set being made.
In phone conversations with Alvin I have explained the hook up issue and the fact that a new design is being made for the installation of the 3 wheel floats. I cannot guarantee a delivery time until I am happy with the final product. Like everything else this takes time. It has taken far longer then I would prefer and even have a desire for. I have informed Alvin that if he needs to go elsewhere to get his 3 wheel floats I would fully understand, I have also tried to explain my new style attachments, somehow I am not sure Alvin understands that this is time consuming.
I am not trying to upset Alvin, I truly wished the work on the 3-wheel setup was finished and I could get to work on building the floats for stock and so I can enjoy them myself. My estimate on delivery was way off and I was not even able to start on the connection issue until June, which is the wrong time of year for design work with all the airshows that needed to be attended. Compound that with my main helper having had a heart attack in my shop and is still away. The best I can do is dedicate all my time to working on the floats as I have been doing and not taking any orders until I have stock, as I have been doing. This may upset a few individuals but I cannot take deposits for something I cannot guarantee a delivery time on so far I have made a list and I call the next person on the list as a completed set of floats come due. Alvin is the first person on the list for the 3-wheel setup. I have made other straight sets while parts were at the wielder, then sent to a new wielder.
My mistake was in time estimate, last fall I believed that I would be working on the installation design of the 3-wheel floats in January. Not in May and June. I will try not to make that mistake again. Luckily the same 3 wheel setup I will be using on the 701 will transfer over to the 750 readily. Yes I have ordered my kit and will also be getting it in December.
I will also send a personal letter to Alvin, but needed to express my answer to the list as Alvin has done.
Mark Townsend
Can-Zac Aviation Ltd.
president(at)can-zacaviation.com (president(at)can-zacaviation.com)
www.can-zacaviation.com
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mwpicard
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject: Re: CanZac floats |
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Alvin,
I saw your post regarding the unreasonable delays in your order for 3 wheel Amphib floats from CanZac.
I am in exactly your situation. Mark Townsend also promised me the floats would be delivered more than 2 months ago and also assured me that I was at the top of the list. In my case though, Mark did take a deposit. He also told me that mine have been in the gig for ages. Maybe he has many gigs...
Today I wrote him an email canceling my order.
I was very disappointed to have to cancel as I am shipping the plane overseas and the floats were to be shipped with the plane. And, Alvin, in your case you missed out on a whole summer of float plane flying.
Mark seems unable to be pinned down and there is no certainty at all about if and when one would actually receive these floats. He answered Alvin´s post but ignores emails from me asking for delivery dates etc.
I also am researching alternatives. Anyone know of possible CH701 amphib float suppliers asides from those Alvin mentioned?
Alvin, maybe we could purchase 2 sets at the same time and get some economies of scale. Feel free to contact me directly.
There probably are other Mark Townsend customers out there that will give up hope soon. Anyone else need to join us?
Just a note in defense of Mark. I ordered faired struts for the CH701 from him and though there was a huge delay in delivery due to some shipping problems, the product and workmanship was excellent. I think Mark is truly good at what he does and maybe these delays are that he simply is in too much demand. He also clearly means well and is clearly an asset to the Zenith community. Mark, give us firm delivery dates and commit to penalties if you don´t meet them. Maybe that will win back our business.
Martin Picard
CH701 currently in California en route to Australia (by ship!)
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b.carl@sympatico.ca
Joined: 20 May 2008
Posts: 77
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: CanZac floats |
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Testing
Carl
[quote] [b]
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mwpicard
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject: Zenith Floats, order cancellations and Alternatives |
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Just FYI for whomever is following the CanZac floats thread.
Having heard nothing from Mark despite his promises, I canceled my order sending CanZac and Michael Heintz of QSP in Cloverdale (who took my order and collected a deposit of several thousand $ in advance) notification about 2 weeks ago now.
Quality Sports Planes with whom it has been a joy to deal with returned my deposit right away. They had been trying to get a hold of Mark for weeks but he never got back to them as far as I know. (side note: I was part of the QSP builder assist program and let me tell you - it goes way beyond simple assistance. There is no way I would be enjoying my fly off time now without Doug and Lori at the QSP Cloverdale facility. There is a commnity of experts there to help and advise. All folks with 25+ years in aviation that just like to help "youngsters" get flying... I think this beats building it in a garage...)
Mark did not acknowledge my order cancellation. He also received cancellations and aborted orders from a number of others including Alvin who started this thread. Alvin has gone with Puddle Jumper Floats I believe and others have gone with Full Lotus. I am looking at a carbon fibre amphib floats from Italy (made for Savannahs etc) which seems excellent. Contact me for details as I will know more soon. The more people that buy at the same time the lower the price (especially if the floats get shipped to the same address).
Zenith really needs to sort out a reliable manufacturer for their float design. Canzac has a great web site promising like 8 different types of floats and Mark Townsend is a well meaning, talented guy but it seems like he has over promised, can´t deliver, and now is hiding from his own clients. Ex-cients.
Martin Picard
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mwpicard
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: CanZac floats |
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One more update regarding floats for the 701.
After having to cancel my order because Can Zac disappeared on me and other clients on this list, I STILL haven´t got a response or even a cancellation acknowledgment from him or Zenith and it is fairly sure that one should be looking at alternatives when it comes to floats! There should be a kit for them.
The folks I have been in contact with have had really good service and responses from a number of alternative suppliers - all of which are not aluminium and therefore, perhaps, less leaky, lighter and all around more suitable to the 701 (my uninformed opinion).
The list of suppliers that I have found a pleasure to deal with and all of whom could supply you with excellent floats is:
Full-Lotus - inflatable floats, straight and amphib
Puddle -Jumper floats - composite straight and amphib
Downwind technology - Composite straight and ampib
Scuola Italiana Volo - Composite straight and amphib
plus there are others I am sure....
I have a very rough document with some more details, feel free to email me if you want it.
I have decided that there is much to learn about flying a 701 to its full potential and so a season or two on wheels - maybe later on some big tundra tires as my ability progresses enough to be able to put them to good use -- is probably a smart way to go.
If you plan to fly floats and don´t have your rating yet, I had an amazing and very intensive learning experience at Alaska Float Ratings in Moose Pass.
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Avidmagnum
Joined: 18 Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Wisconsin, Florida
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:48 am Post subject: Re: CanZac floats |
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I'm sorry you had so much trouble getting your floats. Float flying is one of my greatest Joys! I have about 200 hours on my Czech 1200-4 amphibs on my 701 and over 50 hours on my Rans S-7 on czech 1150-4 Amphibs. They work well and are well built....my friend Jim has over 600 hours on his set. I bought them from Skyshops in Florida. http://www.skyshops.org/ Danny imports them from the Czech Republic. He holds all deposits here and has always done well by me. The Last time (Oshkosh) I talked to him he was still importing floats. I've also seen two sets on barnstormers earlier this year ...you may want to keep your eyes open there. Don't give up..water flying is a blast!
Tom Schulke Stol 701SP 912s on czech amphibs
PS... I do not know Mark at all but I'm sure he is just as upset with his float production progress. No floats....no $. Just my 2 cents
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