Reinventing the cobbler?
The news that prompted this editorial was a press release issued by the TBS deck shoe brand. A well-known French manufacturer in the nautical sector, the latter announced that it was extending the life of its shoes, by opening a repair service to give a second life to its boat shoes, by repairing the seams or changing the soles. While some may scoff at this reinvention of the cobbler, the approach, which is limited for the moment to the Phenis model and 6 French cities, is nonetheless to be welcomed, as it highlights the all-too-common practice, among users and suppliers alike, of preferring new to second-hand.
Renovating equipment like boats
And yet, repair and reuse have long been topical in the boating industry. Our columns have a long history of refits and renovations these are the kinds of work carried out by private and professional yachtsmen to give our boats a second, third... umpteenth life. And yet, when it comes to electronics, on-board comfort and some of the fittings, repairs are often overlooked, and receive little support from manufacturers. Instead of changing the VHF's electronic component or the fridge's compressor, it will be completely replaced... There are a few marine salvage yards, but the process is far from easy. So let's hope that the TBS example, limited as it is, inspires others.
