TOP HAT WEB SITE

[Brainless]

What does everyone feel about a locked sub forum of the members forum for people to submit or moderators to move articles about maintenance and modifications they have done to their tophats

[Wild Rose]

When I go to other Yacht web sites (like the compass site) its mainly to see what they are doing too, and with, there boats. Open sites are good, if we hide all the good stuff who will want to have a quick look? They to might come to love the Top Hats as we do?.

Dave

[bearmcnally]

Hi Brainless
What you suggest makes sense We ,Phil ,Shaun ,Greg, Mark,Mike and myself at Wangi talked about making the whole site "members only " and having the home page set up in such away as to give any interested persons a taste of the site and what it has to offer.
I spoke to Phil with the idea of having the Home page with the Top Line drawing as a back ground and something else Top Hat etc ?
I also thought having "My Top Hat profile " with a photo of our Top Hat ,and have information there about our yachts ?
There is a lot of good information on this site ! and the same for false or misleading ? and this does need to be siphoned through .(Maybe have a believe it or not section ? )

Bear

[storm petrel]

I am with Dave on this. I think the discussion should be open and the site easy to use. We need a simple site with a good gallery because this what might encourage non-Hatters to see the beauty and value of these boats. Perhaps a more detailed specifications and history section would be good. I think the S and S 34 site is a good role model, simple but with a bit of class. The private members only section was really only needed if we need to collect fees from members. let's find out what it will cost tho set up and run the site first. Like Michael, I would be happy to pay a yearly subscription to help support the site.

Cheers,
Mark
Storm Petrel

[Brainless]

I personally don't think locking down all content would be good as we still want to attract people to the forum and to Top Hats however I think locking down articles people have created for the benefit of other Top Hat owners could be locked to members only as it is by the members for the members
Now this idea is not in reference to a paid membership system it is just for people who actually bother to sign up and introduce them self I'm thinking

A paid membership would be a long possibility in my mind as the first thing would to be work what benefits members would receive that could be funded by a membership system rather than just access to a forum, funds can be raised in other ways that could assist with running of the site, such as stickers, donations, etc?

[SeaLady]

Agreed.
Also easy to access local knowledge on areas of familiarity.

E.g. Where the reality may be different to the chart - (I know of a few like that in the Hawkesbury that I learned the hard way)

Depth and bumpiness at certain wharfs

Yes bring back the gallery. And make it easier to upload photos.
( I am desperate to show off SeaLady but cannot upload photos)

Possibly an area where we can if we wish have contact details away from this site.
for example I use sealady@live.com.au which comes to my phone.

I was just very very lucky that John who sailed to and from Sydney with me over New Year came on line and saw my dilemma.


I think if possible we can keep everything public and also keep the private messaging system

[Brainless]

Once we sort out the hosting situation the Gallery should definitely be coming back

also looking into an instant chat module so people can chat whilst they are browsing the forum

[Gramps]

I favour an open website that encourages speculative Top Hat owners to learn about the features of the boat and encourages them to buy and preserve the class.
As for content, everyone wants something for nothing, but the reality is that everything worthwhile comes with a price and the more demands made for the range of features, the greater the cost - not only financially, but in terms of the workload on the webmaster who does this job for love, not reward.

To that end, I am quite happy to make my contribution a monetary one because I do not have the requisite skills to manage such a project. I know that apart from forming an association of kinds, maintaining membership records and having a system of fee collection only complicates the issue and, even then, on a free to air accessible website (maybe like television we should have ads on a free to air website) people need not pay any joining or other fees. So I am happy to pay my way with a periodic contribution as and when required.

One other thing Brainless - and this personal. Anyone with the insight, foresight and and intellectual capacity to recognize the Top Hat as the best pocket cruising yacht ever designed cannot possibly be described as being "brainless".

Therefore I suggest you reconsider using that description. Brainstorm seems much more apporpiate to me for an IT person - and it has a nautical connotation!

Enjoy your Toppie, even if it is not a Mark I.

Sean
AZZURA

[Dolphin]

Hello Mr Brainless
I agree with Gramps that "Brainless" may not be the best choise of non de plum. My choise of Dolphin was for a bit of anonymity but I guess it was better than Felicity, I thought, as I sit here typing in my frilly pink Tu Tu and slippers and as I think about those long walks along the beach with myself in the rain.....

I don't think that any one person should shoulder the cost of the website on their own. The amount of entertainment it has given me is worth a lot. I am happy to pay a contribution to the running costs.

The site as I see it is not only for Top Hats but for people who are starting out in boating. Often there are the most basic of questions asked over and over on similar topics and I think this site has a great opportunity to be of benefit to people who want to go to sea in a good boat. We need to goup all that info in one place in subjects. I was asked by Phillip to sort out the later stuff but it is just huge going through every post. I tried to sort it into info on mainsails, then headsails etc. Just cutting and pasting was a huge job. If there was somewhere that the good stuff could be stored that would help. it would need to be protected as read only so an administrator could only have access to it.

We also need to be very aware of giving advise on the site as it may be used carelessly. The ramifications of that needs to be realised.
The specific locations of boats and owners privacy must be maintained and I think a members only section is where that info can be kept. The current method of Private messaging (PMs) is a good feature. I think we need to keep that.
I can see and would like to use a quick messaging system to let others know where I'm at and what I'm doing instead of it being up there for ever. We also need to keep members active and updating the site. It goes cold at times and there are some who keep stirring to get it going again. (Bear)

That's just a few thoughts any way.
Greg.

[Shaun]

Good Thoughts everyone,
Im all for a free and open messege forum, it encourages including all that are interested, rather than being a paid site that is exclusive.
A voluntary contribution to any running costs could be made if people wish I guess.

Low on battery here so have to be quick, no sun to recharge.

cheers
Shaun
Blue Moon,
Anchored in Fame Cove, Port Stephans along with Seaka