Just got back from heading up to DR Marine on their Open House day. Couple things that I'm sure have been said here before:
1) Rudy is one of the nicest and most knowledgeable people I've met in a long time. I pulled out one of my chain plates and he instantly knew it was from a small run of boats where Pearson had some triangle pieces that they just bent in a vice and called chainplates. He had some fantastic advice on everything else as well. "Sage" may not do him justice.
2) His shop is in a gorgeous 18th century barn. Absolutely a fascinating building to see - all the joinery is the old peg style, no nails! And it's on the national historic register.
3) He's got just about everything in stock that you could possibly need. He put together our rigging on the spot and gave us a run through on how this 200lb swaging machine actually works. That thing is a piece of art. They really don't make anything like that anymore.
Honestly, I've never felt better about spending a couple hundred. He does a Saturday morning open house that's worth the visit if you're down that way.