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Experienced boaters/members


Jon

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  • 2 months later...

A considered study of galvanic isolators would be an idea - I leave a battery charger on 24/7 isolated from the boat electrics. I appear to still have anodes but I really don't follow the detailed arguments.

Edited by Postcode
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  • 7 months later...

Well, this isn't getting very far is it.

 

How about trying this idea out again?

 

We regularly get new posters along the lines of "Hi, I've always wanted to live on a boat, what do I need to know" to which we usually reply "do a search"

 

The forum search is notoriously poor, and also, if you don't know that you should be searching for something, how can you search for it (Donald Rumsfeld's unknown unknowns).

 

If we were to create some proper, simple but useful FAQs perhaps we could help these new posters out and also reduce some of the more basic questions that get posted. If we split the subjects into different threads then we could spread the load across the members of the forum.

 

What subjects should there be? I can think of:

 

Moorings

Boat surveys

How big an inverter do I need?

Hiring out my boat

First steps

How can I find out if it is the life for me?

 

 

What else?

 

Richard

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Whilst I appreciate that this forum likes to help people, all these questions can be easily answered by any number of websites which include a guide to boating, what you need and whether it is the life for you.

 

Perhaps it would be better to just have a links page that people could use to locate sites that have all the information that newcomers (and a few experienced boaters) would need, thus keeping the forum for more specific questions that warrant a more detailed response.

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Whilst I appreciate that this forum likes to help people, all these questions can be easily answered by any number of websites which include a guide to boating, what you need and whether it is the life for you.

 

Perhaps it would be better to just have a links page that people could use to locate sites that have all the information that newcomers (and a few experienced boaters) would need, thus keeping the forum for more specific questions that warrant a more detailed response.

Ah....... but if we did that, how could we brainwash the newbies with our opinions :lol:

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"How do you clean cratch covers?" Too specialised, put in Equipment - Oh it already is

"What size prop do I need?" Maybe?

"What size engine do I need?" Maybe - it's a fair "I'm buying a sailaway - what do I need to know?" question

"Cruiser / Trad / Semi-Trad: pros and cons" Could go in a "What kind of boat would suit me?" thread

"Cassette vs. Pump-out: pros and cons" So, who's going to write that one then?

 

Richard

 

Whilst I appreciate that this forum likes to help people, all these questions can be easily answered by any number of websites which include a guide to boating, what you need and whether it is the life for you.

 

Perhaps it would be better to just have a links page that people could use to locate sites that have all the information that newcomers (and a few experienced boaters) would need, thus keeping the forum for more specific questions that warrant a more detailed response.

 

I think a pinned links thread is an excellent idea.

 

Even so, the internet is full of information and advice but people still come and ask here.

 

Richard

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You're right, the cratch cover question is a current one, which is why I thought to mention it here. Despite claiming to represent all UK waterways users, the fact remains that the majority of CWDF contributors appear to own or hire narrowboats, so this question will keep cropping up and I don't see how it's "too specialist". This is a specialist forum, is it not? It's all very well pointing people towards the Equipment section while this topic is active, but I thought the whole point of this was to preserve useful information which otherwise becomes lost the moment we become reliant on the search button.

 

There are two types of recurring question on here. The ones with a yes/no answer or a specific product recommendation (such as the cratch cover question), and the ones which capture value judgements based around differing circumstances ("Which type of shell?" for example). For the latter the only fair way to represent all sides is simply to list the pros and cons of each option, which I think most people could eventually agree on. It's which type is better which causes all the hassle, and that's because the answers depend so heavily upon individual likes and needs.

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You're right, the cratch cover question is a current one, which is why I thought to mention it here. Despite claiming to represent all UK waterways users, the fact remains that the majority of CWDF contributors appear to own or hire narrowboats, so this question will keep cropping up and I don't see how it's "too specialist". This is a specialist forum, is it not? It's all very well pointing people towards the Equipment section while this topic is active, but I thought the whole point of this was to preserve useful information which otherwise becomes lost the moment we become reliant on the search button.

 

There are two types of recurring question on here. The ones with a yes/no answer or a specific product recommendation (such as the cratch cover question), and the ones which capture value judgements based around differing circumstances ("Which type of shell?" for example). For the latter the only fair way to represent all sides is simply to list the pros and cons of each option, which I think most people could eventually agree on. It's which type is better which causes all the hassle, and that's because the answers depend so heavily upon individual likes and needs.

 

I'm not suggesting that we try to change or fix the rest of the forum. I think it works well as illustrated by the cratch and hood threads running now.

 

We get a lot of "I'm new to this, where do I start" threads. Not "where do I start removing the cylinder head of a 2LW" but "I have a dream to buy a boat, where do I start". The answer is usually something about magazines/moorings/hire first/it takes a long time to fit out a sailaway/and so on. I think that there is a need for some of the basic stuff to be recorded in a few simple, pinned threads, and that seems to be what Jon asked for way back in October 2004.

 

The examples you give are well met by the forum as it is, but we do end up giving the same advice out to new members quite often.

 

Richard

 

examples

 

click

 

click

 

click

Edited by RLWP
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All forums are full of people asking daft questions that they could easily find for themselves if they spent a few minutes doing some research. I am convinced that some people must think that forum owners and moderators get paid for answering their questions. A lot of people sign up to forums just to gain information for a *one off* question. Once they have got what they need they vanish without a thank you or feedback etc.

 

Sites like this are all about sharing information and experiences.

 

A lot of the questions from newbies here seem to be more akin to looking for a cheap housing option rather than a genuine interest in the waterways or lifestyle.

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All forums are full of people asking daft questions that they could easily find for themselves if they spent a few minutes doing some research. I am convinced that some people must think that forum owners and moderators get paid for answering their questions. A lot of people sign up to forums just to gain information for a *one off* question. Once they have got what they need they vanish without a thank you or feedback etc.

 

Sites like this are all about sharing information and experiences.

 

A lot of the questions from newbies here seem to be more akin to looking for a cheap housing option rather than a genuine interest in the waterways or lifestyle.

Well telling someone to do a search isn't really sharing info,What about those peolpe who don't know a keyboard from a monitor how the hell do they do a search.A pinned link is a great idea and would save the newbies wasting the precious time of those who maybe a long time ago asked the very same questions

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  • 5 months later...

Just to bump this back up to the top.

- The FAQ section can be found here: http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showforum=48

- Suggested threads or topics for inclusion are welcome as are well written posts for the addition to the FAQ.

 

If you spot or write a thread suitable for FAQ nomination please use the report feature to bring it to the attention of the moderation team who can move it from its current location (anywhere that seems suitable) into the FAQ section.

 

 

Daniel

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  • 7 months later...
  • 2 months later...
  • 2 months later...

Just to bump this back up to the top.

- The FAQ section can be found here: http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showforum=48

- Suggested threads or topics for inclusion are welcome as are well written posts for the addition to the FAQ.

 

If you spot or write a thread suitable for FAQ nomination please use the report feature to bring it to the attention of the moderation team who can move it from its current location (anywhere that seems suitable) into the FAQ section.

 

 

Daniel

[/quote

 

 

whoops - wrong post. :blush:

Edited by sumajan
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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 years later...

On our previous board, Wyeman suggested a section where FAQ could be put together as a reference for people new to boating. If anyone can think of any topics/answers that they feel they are always answering, or if there is an issue that you would like to have known about when you started boating, then please post them in this forum. Please start each topic with FAQ, then the post title. Eg "FAQ - How do I find moorings".

 

If enough are posted, I will move them to a content only forum.

 

Many thanks,

 

Jon

Acronyms specific to boating......FAQ although not specific to boating is a prime example, everyone knows what FAQ stands for don`t they?

On a recent thread i came across BSS,NBW,NABSE,BCN....just on one thread!

I am a (newbie) Jargon for newcomer to the world of boating and would like a place on this forum that explains these acronyms and other terms used by the boating fraternity.

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Google?

OK....Google response to....

 

BSS = British Ski and Snowboard

NBW = Normal Birth Weight

NABSE = Nationwide Alliance of Boat Surveyors and Examiners......Yay!

BCN = Barcelona El Prat airport..........says it all really.

 

Ok to be fair, with a bit of scrolling i did manage to find the answers on Google but i think it would be a good idea to be able to find the answers within the forum itself.

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