Thread: Woodenboat has boats launching page - do we want one here too?

Originally Posted by Boatmik

Anyone want to add theirs
http://www.woodenboat.com/wbmag/launchings/index.php

Sorry Mik, I'm not upper class enough to support that rag

Richard

it may have changed, but that's why I dropped my subscription a few years back

Also I realised it was not a new facility, just a record of the ones that had made it into the mag.

Oh well ...

MIK

So can a moderator start a section here?
Boats newly launched, pre internet boats etc?
(This Idea from a bloke with cut out bits of ply and a boat to finish)
Tom

Originally Posted by tomtre

So can a moderator start a section here?
Boats newly launched, pre internet boats etc?
(This Idea from a bloke with cut out bits of ply and a boat to finish)
Tom

The hull would have to be actually complete, you can't just throw all the bits in the river a claim a launch just because most of them floated

Richard

Mik, I've been thinking about this (that's what the funny noise was ).

I'd like to formally propose a Launching's Forum.
That's right, a seperate forum dedicated solely io launchings. I'm suggesting a forum so that we can have seperate threads for each boat, thus allowing us to rave and applaud each boat - such noise would get lost if we tried to do all boats in single thread.

May I go so far as to suggest a thread name format?
boat's name - design

eg. Wood Duck - Oz PDR mk II
Little Black Dog - MSD Rowing Skiff

We could also add the designer in there or ask the boat owner to give such details in the thread.

And yes, restorations, relaunchings, etc would all be welcome, anything that announces the birth or rebirth of a boat

Richard

I applaud and second the motion.

As per Daddle's suggestion, and at risk of attracting the Stolen Cars Club of Australasia (Inc),
it could be called...

(drum-roll)...

Births and Re-Births



AJ

I'm working on a simple register for the GIS. So far i have done the Google Map part and the picture upload and is now working on the detail page.

Bjarne

Originally Posted by Maximuss

I'm working on a simple register for the GIS. So far i have done the Google Map part and the picture upload and is now working on the detail page.

Bjarne

Great idea! And then a sticky at the top of the forum to link to the register!

Howdy,

I think these are two different ideas.

Bjarne is talking about a registry for Storer boats.

Richard is talking about a separate sub forum in the wooden boat section for launchings.

I am tempted to ask the "powers that be" to add such a subforum.

However, first ... acting as a Devils Avocado ... already the forums here have this information and it fits in with their building threads. I think there is a risk that the continuity of the building thread going through to launching (like Bjarne's, or yours too Richard) will be compromised.

I do think it is a worthy idea though. What do you and others think? Will it be a benefit or will it degrade the building threads. I know us experienced hacks can take care of this ... however what about new people to the forum - will they divide their threads or will there be other potential problems that anyone can see?

I just want some good thinking so I can approach the owner of the board and give some good "pro" reasons and make sure I have answers for the "cons"

MIK

The only 'pro' you need to put to the powers is that I suggested it, Neil always does what I tell him too ...

I see your point about diluting the building thread.
I wonder if that's a real problem though. Already we have users breaking their threads and starting new ones for changes in the project - I'm thinking of a specific example but can't for the life of me remember who or what or when.
It could be argued that getting it to float is a different journey to actually working out how to keep it floating.
Users could be asked to give a link to the launching's thread at the end of the building thread.
For most of us, once it's in the water, the story's over as far as building goes ... maybe.

Does it matter if the building thread gets spread into a sailing thread?

Two big pros for a launching forum:
- those unwilling to post in a buildign thread for whatever reason (shyness, good sense ...) may be tempted to announce a launching, even if they then go back into lurk mode
- having a dedicated place to announce launchings will encourage such posts
- having a dedicated place to announce launchings will act as a drawcard for browsers and potentially new users

Yes, I know that's three reasons, not two - this explains a lot about my building

I do see your point about split posts though - just thinking about how I'd use this, I'd probably aim to announce the launch then go back to discussing the boat in the build thread, but we all know how threads grow and the relative discussions may make this difficult. Is that a problem though?

Richard

Would a dedicated thread to "Launchings" that was put as a sticky work? That way people could just post the specific launch, and it would already be at the top of the page. The only downside is that if the thread got long, launchings might go unnoticed, or less visited if people aren't paying attention.

One of the strengths of the separate subforum is that it is self ordering and self regulating with common or interesting things tending to stay near the top.

Richard .. I know some people split posts now ... and I do find it a little bit irritating compared to a thread which just holds everything about a particular build as there are two places where discussions might occur. But that might just be me.

Anyone else with strong views for or against?

MIK

Originally Posted by callsign222

Would a dedicated thread to "Launchings" that was put as a sticky work? That way people could just post the specific launch, and it would already be at the top of the page. The only downside is that if the thread got long, launchings might go unnoticed, or less visited if people aren't paying attention.

My arguments against that would be:
- as you note, individual launchings could get lost
- it would restrict discussion - some lauchings would be 'she got wet' followed by a few comments while others could go on for pages as we try to work out what's going wrong or discussion some good points about it
- there's a real sense of ownership to having a thread devoted to your boat and the launching of a new boat is such a special time in your life that I think you deserve to fully enjoy it
- do you read introductions threads? Especially long ones?
- it would make it very hard for people to come in later and comment eg, a new user who's just discovered that twelve months ago, a boat like his was launched and he'd like to comment or ask questions

Arguments for would include:
- a simple one shop stop for launchings
- designs need not get lost in the thread because the search function would ferret them out and you'd need to use that in a forum anyway
- anyone wanting more discussion on their launching would simply start a thread elsewhere and provide a line in the launchings thread

Just random thoughts as I contemplate the stack of dishes in my kitchen

Richard

Originally Posted by Boatmik

Richard .. I know some people split posts now ... and I do find it a little bit irritating compared to a thread which just holds everything about a particular build as there are two places where discussions might occur. But that might just be me.

It's not just you Mik ... yet I've done it myself when I've considered a question I wanted to ask to be outside the main thread even when related to the build.

Richard