Idea for "builder's boats"

jasonmcintosh · Post by **jasonmcintosh** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:27 pm

I don't know if there'd be enough interest in this, but it'd be nice to have another forum where you could go and see what projects people are working on. So long as the current builders followed some simple guidelines, there wouldn't have to be any changed made to the site's code. Just adding a new forum, and some text outlining its intended use.

The idea is to have another forum, maybe titled "Builder's boats", where every (interested) builder would make one topic for the boats they're building. Then the first message in that topic would contain some pictures and anything he or she would care to write about it. They can edit it as they wish. This way, we could just go to this forum and see a list of boat projects, and take a look at what they're building.

The "builders links" is good, but few of us have a web site, and it doesn't seem to stay too current.

Jason

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:39 pm

Good idea! It probably belongs on http://www.amateurboatbuilding.com.

Fritz?

Fritz · Post by **Fritz** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 2:23 pm

That is the concept of the "journal" see the links in the upper left hand box. You can write and or include photos uploaded using zap file upload.

You can also link to your Journal in your signature giving everyone a reminder that your project status is there

http://www.bateau2.com/modules.php?name=Journal

is that close to what you are thinking about?

DrBones · Post by **DrBones** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 3:41 pm

Fritz - First off, let me tell you that this boat building community here wouldn't exist without you. The reason I (and many others, btw.) chose this site over any other out there is because of its ease of use and the great support - in technical capabilities this site offers as well as the public support here. - Of course the Jacques' great plans and the web marketing around them is equally ingenious!

But you know, even though the "Journal" feature is pretty nifty, I've preferred to make one long thread and post my progress there. Nice thing there is you can get feedback at the same time. In that sense, I prefer the forum option. I know, I know...it doesn't make any sense...but from having worked on web building/training, etc. myself... it's just one of those 'comfort' things some people stick to.

One way or another...your work here is greatly appreciated! I'll stick to my loooong thread when I post my progress though - just a matter of 'taste' I guess...

jasonmcintosh · Post by **jasonmcintosh** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 3:54 pm

Fritz,

(typed this up while DrBones was giving his more thoughtful response)

Little yes, and a big no.

I do alot of programming (acoustcal simulators for cell phones, police walkie-talkies, etc) and a good interface is very important.

The interface on that journal pretty much stinks, and I'd guess is the reason why it apparently isn't getting much use. (Your journal is excellent however.) Bringing up an entire page just to read "did some sanding today" is really (really(really)) dumb. And what doubles the dumbness is the fact that you've got to go back to the journal page, and then click on the next journal item to bring up the next page. You should at least be able to go directly to the next entry with one click. And ideally you should be able to see all of the entries (up to maybe 10 pages or so to limit download time).

Of course, the users could make better journal enteries, but "The shoe should fit the person, not the other way around." (Just made that up...)

I suspect that if the Journal got more use, it's interface would improve, but it's a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem.

The message boards have a much better interface, and could serve this purpose better than the current state of the Journal interface. Just making a new forum is easier than overhauling the Journal section, and I personally think it'd work better than the current Journal section.

Just my opinion.

Jason

Fritz · Post by **Fritz** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 4:00 pm

Compliments asside -- I just sweep the stage------ y'all put on the show. That said, thaks for the feedbackon the Journal...the consensus seems to be "good idea -- wrong execution."

Let me noodle this. People come here with different goals --- and the primary mission is tech support specifically to the plans......

but we are also a vibrant community and the posts are much broader than "I can't read the dimension on page 211/6 of the plans......."

This community you've made, IMHO, is what the web is supposed to be.....

Okay I'm rambling. We DO want to make it possible for people who do not have web sites to be able to have a web area to show off and share their progress.....that is important....we'll figure it out. (Opps, I'm speaking for Jacques......but we'll figure it out....)

jasonmcintosh · Post by **jasonmcintosh** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 4:48 pm

I hope my comments didn't come across as too critical. I realize that I'm just a guest here, and I do appreciate the environment you've made and maintain for us. Jason

Fritz · Post by **Fritz** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 5:16 pm

Critical (as in critique)is great and welcome -- when something isn't working I want to know. I can't always change everything --- but this is a good thing to discuss and improve.

(Remember the old conversations about the infamous red dots? LOL)

DRW · Post by **DRW** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 8:02 pm

I personally find the journal feature to be very useful mostly because it gives me an area to meticulously chronicle my progress and display images of the work without "cluttering" the message boards. I would feel that the amount of information that I intend to display there would be too much for this board, but that's just me.

My intention in keeping the journal is to provide a complete step by step record as a reference for anyone else who chooses this particular design or is considering it. I only want to provide my "beginners eye view" of the building process (mistakes included) as boring as it may be. I intend to take some time to complete the task so the progress would be lost in the boards if I were to try to keep an ongoing record there.

The comments feature of the Journal allows any interested parties to express their opinions or suggestions to any specific entry and they won't get lost or separated from that subject.

I think everyone who posts in the message boards is reasonable in their use of the features and I enjoy the pics and progress posted in here. I understand that it's much easier to post pics and links with the BBCode as opposed to having to have the basic knowledge of HTML that is required to format the posts in the journal, which may be the reason that more people don't use it.

I intend to make a dedicated web page for the project after I get some more content. I would like to be able to share the experience of learning how to use the boat and experiment with some options for it at that point so it will be some time before that's realized.

Did I mention that I love this site? I want to thank Jacques and Fritz and all the others in the Bateau family that make it possible. The access to this community is one of the best parts of these boat plans.

Anyway...enough out of me, thanks for listening, just wanted to share my thoughts.

jasonmcintosh · Post by **jasonmcintosh** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 9:55 am

Another feature that the forum offers is that it lists items from most recent to oldest. I like this because you can see whose actively building their boat and getting & giving comments about it. And you can go and look at the “old boats” that have been built.

And while I’m stuffing the suggestion box, I think you should expand the list of “Last 10 Forum Messages” to “Last 20 Forum Messages”. It may be a little long for the forum home page, but when I’m reading a thread, the “Last 10 Forum Messages” list is usually way up at the top of the page, so there’s plenty of room for more posts to be listed.

Jason

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