Wild idea ... waypoints file for CD.org boat loactions ...

[fmueller]

Had a wild idea last night ... how about compiling a waypoint file (GPX) that has all (willing) boats mooring/slip/anchorage located as waypoints. That file could be regularly updated and just "exist" perhaps on the site here. Members could download .... import into chart plotters and so forth. Most of us have some sort of GPS device anno 2016 - just a matter of sharing lat/lon data.

I would be willing to do it (be the one to compile it). Probably just use INavx on my iPad ...

Has this ever been discussed before ??

[tjr818]

Fred,
I like the idea, but isn't that what Active Captain does? I am sure willing to sign on, what do you need?

[barfwinkle]

Good morning

I would think this could be done using Active Captain, Locations and/or eboatcards.

JMTCW & FW

[fmueller]

Yes - I have been looking at that site but of course that would require that members (choose to) register with Active Captain, and additionally open an e-Boat Cards account (both are free) ... and I did just that this morning and it is quite a chore ... then you have to form a group effectively ... while there is great promise, the interactive aspect requires an online connection afaik - and they advertise a list of features still in development ...

I started this post in the context of a sub-group of us from the Northeast Fleet (formed at the recent regional meeting at Flanders) who are emailing about concocting a more active activity schedule (float-ins and the like).

In thinking about this, it occurred to me that there is no very good way of seeing just where we all are geographically. I guess longstanding members might have a seat of the pants idea of where everyone is, but sure I don't. So it just occurred to me that the Membership Directory already has harbor/homeport locations for our boats, and at minimum and I could make waypoints with at least that much geographic accuracy (clusters in places with more than one member), and then you'd have a good way of seeing our distribution just from an event planning perspective. The fact that I could just share that as a GPX file seemed worth mentioning.

[Steve Laume]

I am sorry but I don't quite understand what this is trying to accomplish. Is this meant to be sort of a voluntary tracking of boats? Are you looking for home ports or current locations? Do you really want the world to know where you are and when? You might as well post updates on what sort of liqueur you might have on board so I can determine where and weather I should plan to intercept you at sundown.

What I would like to encourage, is that everyone who is posting on here, spend a bit of time on their profile. At the least, it would be nice to know the model. name and hailing port of your boat. Not everybody has all of this in their profile. Some posters have so little information that there is no way of even looking them up in the directory. If this is intentional then I can respect their desire to stay some what anonymous. If it is not then it would be easier for someone to help them out if they were to list their boat and home port.

I should update my own profile as well. Winter is a great time to spend the minute or two it would take to do this, Steve.

[Jim Walsh]

This would be a voluntary enhancement of the information currently published in our directory. It is perceived as a planning tool. For instance, let's say a float-in or a cruise is being planned and the announcement is made in the forum. It may be of passing interest to all members, but if you knew where members actually kept their boat perhaps some additional encouragement to join the event would be appreciated by the member and result in a successful event.
There is no skulduggery going on, just an attempt to re-energize an existing process.
There could be other benefits such as knowing what members are likely in an area if you are on a private cruise.

[fmueller]

Jim,

That's exactly it !

Just taking existing info from the Directory and putting it into a more useful form.

Fred

[grluecke]

1) Fred, if there is a "sub-group from the Northeast Fleet", please put me on it. Whoever is in charge, I'd like to PM my email address for that list, let me know. I winter in Iowa, so I was not able to be in that group photo!

2) I have to make a bunch of excuses as to why I have not managed to participate in the Annual Maine Cruise since I've had our boat:
I work. In Iowa.
Car accidents.
Family deaths.
The dog ate my homework.
The sun got in my eyes...

BUT: I'll keep trying, and eventually, I would like to host a night at my mother-in-law's place in Maine, if that can work out. (Below it says "our house", but she's the one who lives there.) We are just south of Sheep Island, you can search for "Green Ledges" in Maine on Google Earth. BEWARE: GreenLedges are underwater at high tide! And there is a reason they put a green can just east of Sheep Island, and those rocks have plenty of bottom paint on them to prove it!

3) Any CD-ers who are in the area, we try to have as much time in Maine as we can over the summer, and if you need a place for an overnight, we often have a spare mooring. Send me a message and I'll try to give you a contact there if you want to arrange a visit. Hopefully, **I** will be there, so that I can inspect your boat!!

Our location has lots of advantages, starting with a free pump-out station!

http://www.harpswell.maine.gov/index.as ... pe=B_BASIC

"The Basin" is just across the river, in case there is a hurricane.

We have a public landing right there, too.

The pictures show how to get to our little corner of Maine:

GreenLedges.jpg

GreenLedges2.jpg

[Carl Thunberg]

When I was Fleet Captain, I had an idea very similar to this one, creating an ArcGIS database of our members. The idea was, if you knew where the members were, you could target events in known clusters. It's a lot harder than you think. I'll use myself as an example. My hailing port is Poorhouse Cove, Maine. Sounds straightforward. Except Poorhouse Cove is not a town. So, someone needs to go through the effort of figuring out what town it's in (South Bristol) and then take a SWAG on where in Poorhouse Cove I am. But wait, I actually live in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. That means two entries: one for home, and one for hailing port. As an all volunteer organization, it's an uphill climb, but I applaud the effort if someone is willing to put in the time. It starts with a well-crafted appeal to the membership to provide their data, and knowing in advance exactly what data you want and in what format, and how it will be shared.

This may be a topic for some lively conversation at the Cabin Fever Lunch at Newick's on Saturday!

[barfwinkle]

FYI and just in case readers were unaware there is already a Cape Dory Group on eboats.com All one would have to do is join.

Fair winds

[David Morton]

Greg, we are so close that my house on Hen Cove is on the same photo as yours! I am also in favor of such a database and as soon as I can get on the water again will be happy to supply GPS coordinates to my moorings, etc. In addition, I do know of unused moorings adjacent to mine in Hen Cove that would most likely be available for some overnighters. The database should include some means of communication, i.e. email, phone, identified with the moorings,etc. that would maintain some level of security. I would be disappointed to see my info displayed on some stranger's Facebook page! I suppose access limited to CDSOA membership might suffice. A light level of security, but probably sufficient.

David

[grluecke]

I made sure that I paid my dues, and then signed my son up with his new Ty, specifically so that we would get in the upcoming directory. It was a question as to whether I'd put my mobile number in, but someone on this blog had a story where they passed another CD, looked 'em up in the directory, and called them on the spot!

If you see me sailing in Casco Bay, my # is in the directory, but leave a message, I won't answer if I don't recognize the number...

I'll let everyone know how much trouble having my number around causes...and how much trouble my picture maps cause!

DSCN0896BellBuoy3.jpg

[Jim Walsh]

Fantastic photograph!

[mgphl52]

Another option would be to set up a private Google map doo-dah that we could post our locations on... I know Renegade-Cruisers.net has/had such but I do not know how it was set up.

[David Morton]

Greg, just remembered why that fairway buoy looked so familiar! I must have passed it a couple of dozen times going to or from Cocktail Cove on Jewell I. I believe it marks the entrance "Broad Sound" and the old ship lane to the now defunct Naval landing at Mitchell Field on Harpswell Neck. And a beautiful Cape Dory ketch, too! Nice photo, indeed.

David