Mounted search and rescue

["David Skofstad" <dbs54neigh@earthlink.net>]

The phrase that caught my eye and blessed my heart was  "we are spending
other peoples money".

Thank you for that, Irv.

...Dave


> [Original Message]
> From: IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN <ilichten1@verizon.net>
> To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Date: 11/11/2008 11:35:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [MSAR] Subject: What you really do
>
> I approve purchases for both the MSAR and a local fire company where I am
a
> trustee.  I buy on specification, form, fit, and function (FFF).  If I buy
> from a "fire" only supplier or the product is characterized as a "rescue"
> product the price is from 150% higher or more.  We bought a Zodiac boat in
> grey instead of orange and saved thousands of dollars-- same boat, same
> specification except for color and the word "RESCUE" stenciled on the
sides,
> and the warranty was longer because there was no warranty on rescue boats.
>
> I bought custom reflective lettering for my trailer, 4 sets of the word
> HORSES, for about $3 a letter, 12 inches square, white Scotchlite,
> pre-spaced on an adhesive backer from a police decal catalog.  A mounted
> police site offered similar signs, much smaller, non-reflective, for about
> twice the cost.  The saddlery I deal with had my saddle custom made with a
> Percheron sized tree (they measured the horse on site), flank strap, extra
> large skirt and fender leathers, rough out finish and all fittings, for
> about $1000 and the only part I have replaced so far (close to 20 years)
is
> the string girth.  What does an off the shelf leather patrol saddle cost?
> The saddlebags are Cordura, also custom sized, but at the wholesale cost
for
> a stock bag.  I happen to have big feet and fat legs so I indulge in
custom
> boots, same saddlery, in the winter off season Dehner has a discount sale
> and I get my boots made, one pair about every 8 years, for about what the
> street shoes I wear out in the same time cost, and cheaper than most off
the
> shelf riding boots.  Dehner is a supplier to the California Highway Patrol
> by the way. 
>
> We don't have a choice about buying radios because the county system is a
> 800 MHz trunk and they are proprietary but I can buy batteries for the
> radios at half the cost from an independent supplier with identical specs
to
> the radio manufacturer, and probably made by the same Chinese labor as
makes
> the other. For MSAR VHF I bought military specification B-K used units
from
> a used equipment dealer for from $100 down to $55 each.  These units had
new
> dealer cost of $1047 each. I also bought two new Chinese batteries for
each
> radio for about what a dealer pays for a single battery from B-K.
According
> to the paperwork with them the radios came from the Columbia University
> Campus Police.
>
> And lastly, manufacturers self certify that their equipment meets NFPA
> standards or whatever. There is no requirement for outside testing except
> for SEI testing of ASTM helmets.  In many cases the FFF and operational
> specification are the same, tested or not.  If you want a testing
> certificate you pay for it with much higher prices and then also have
usage 
> restrictions (warranty and certification void if not stored and used in
> accordance with the standard).
>
> We are spending other people's money when we buy or suggest sources for
MSAR
> equipment.  We must do so responsibly.  The only item our team specifies
is
> the patch we wear, available only from us for members at $2 each. They
cost
> us $1.85 plus shipping. 
>
> Irv Lichtenstein
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Pennbo's
> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 11:18 PM
> To: Mounted search and rescue
> Subject: Re: [MSAR] Subject: What you really do
>
> > Stay away from sources that claim to MSAR specialists or search 
> > specialists. 
> Irv- could you explain your reasoning on this a bit more? It's rather a 
> broad generalization.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
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