Request for Comments: Publishing Messages from this Board

[Walt Bilofsky (sysop)]

This is a request for comments from participants on this board.

I propose to encourage the publication of selected messages from this board as a monthly feature in a startup magazine devoted to what the publishers call "good old boats." As it happens, the cover story in the first issue will be about a Cape Dory 30.

No money or other consideration will be involved, though this will presumably help Cape Dory owners in several ways, and will help the publishers sell more magazines.

We have already had a few bits of information from this board published in Noel Peattie's newsletter, The Typhooner, so this is not completely new. The main difference is that this involves a commercial venture

This decision should not be made without a consensus of board partcipants, since you write the messages. What do people think?

- Walt Bilofsky (sysop)

-------------

Here's the start of the publishers' first message to me, so you can see what they're about:

<blockquote>"While we were vacationing in our 1976 C&C 30 on Lake Superior this summer, we got excited about the idea of starting a magazine for sailors of what we are fondly referring to as “good old boats,” like Ericsons, Pearsons, C&Cs and Cape Dorys. As you know, many of these boats are in great condition and are providing their owners with a lot of sailing pleasure. Our goal is to work with owners’ associations, such as yours, in whatever way works best for each association. We’ll make space available to you at no cost in our printed magazine, web site and e-mail newsletter. Our goal is to provide a resource, get people with common interests and problems together … and of course to sell magazine subscriptions to owners of good old boats who find this resource useful."</blockquote>



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[chuck yahrling]

This is a request for comments from participants on this board.

I propose to encourage the publication of selected messages from this board as a monthly feature in a startup magazine devoted to what the publishers call "good old boats." As it happens, the cover story in the first issue will be about a Cape Dory 30.

No money or other consideration will be involved, though this will presumably help Cape Dory owners in several ways, and will help the publishers sell more magazines.

We have already had a few bits of information from this board published in Noel Peattie's newsletter, The Typhooner, so this is not completely new. The main difference is that this involves a commercial venture

This decision should not be made without a consensus of board partcipants, since you write the messages. What do people think?

- Walt Bilofsky (sysop)

-------------

Here's the start of the publishers' first message to me, so you can see what they're about:

<blockquote>"While we were vacationing in our 1976 C&C 30 on Lake Superior this summer, we got excited about the idea of starting a magazine for sailors of what we are fondly referring to as “good old boats,” like Ericsons, Pearsons, C&Cs and Cape Dorys. As you know, many of these boats are in great condition and are providing their owners with a lot of sailing pleasure. Our goal is to work with owners’ associations, such as yours, in whatever way works best for each association. We’ll make space available to you at no cost in our printed magazine, web site and e-mail newsletter. Our goal is to provide a resource, get people with common interests and problems together … and of course to sell magazine subscriptions to owners of good old boats who find this resource useful."</blockquote>

I would like to see this board remain as the locus for CD owner Q&A postings, provided you (Walt) are willing to continue the hosting effort, for which I am quite grateful. Indeed, an important factor in my purchase decision was the support this forum provides. It made me more comfortable buying a CD, knowing that I could get parts and info easily.

If you would prefer to offload some of the work, then how about getting them to automate the mirroring of CD postings on their site to ours, and vice-versa?

I like the idea of increased exposure, provided we do it in a way that suits our sysop.



yahrling@cybertours.com

[Jerry Hetherington]

Walt
This board is the best thing on the Web. It should be shared with others.
Keep up the good work.
Jerry CD 27 #95



jjhetherington@chesepeake.net

[Duncan Maio]

Walt:

All this stuff is given to you freely and, as you know, you may do as you wish with the content.

As a novice sailor and boatowner, and first-time CD owner (s/v Remedy, CD27, hull #37), I have found this site invaluable, and probably would not have purchased a Cape Dory if the CCDO did not exist.

I think a commercial print venture dedicated to "good old boats" is a fine idea, and I would probably buy a subscription. We have all come to enjoy the almost real-time responsiveness of the web site, and the fact that we can get advice or troubleshoot between weekends; magazines can't do that, but are easier to take on an airplane (or on the boat). And there are probably some folks sailing 20-year old boats who don't 'surf on a regular basis.

If these guys can give you some resources for the web site, or mirror recent posts on a site with other boats -- www.goodoldboats.com --, or help with mailing lists, etc., then give them what they want. I would suggest, though, that they be urged to contact authors first - in my recent experience, some of the good info comes in follow-up e-mail off the web site. And I don't want dozens of unsolicited requests for copies of my owner's manual (Jarvis, did you get your copy?).



dmaio@worldnet.att.net

[Paul Saltzman]

I love it. Go for it. I think that a magazine written by boaters for boaters beats any of the stuff on the market that's written by the pros that forgot what it was to have to fix it from their wallet. When it goes public let me know and I would love to be your first subscriber.... If I could be of any help let me know...
GOOD LUCK....

Paul Saltzman
Puffin II
S/N 318
1975 Cape Dory 25



saltzma@ibm.net or saltzman@aecom.yu.edu

[Bob Ohler]

Walt, recently Cruising World magazine has been running a month to month series on classic boats...Albergs, Tartans, Allieds, etc. Without a doubt, it has been one of my favorite sections recently, and any magazine that expands on that same idea, sounds like a winner to me. I too would like to be one their first subscribers.
Bob Ohler
CD25D #2



bobohler@chesapeake.net

[Jerry Hammernik]

Walt, I'm all for anything that helps keep these great old boats going, and maybe this enthusiasm we all have will lead to a quality builder making more of them some day. The last thing the world needs is any more Hunter's or Beneteau's. I have full confidence in your judgement. Go for it.
Jerry CD25 Dauntless



dauntles@execpc.com

[Walt Bilofsky]

I would like to see this board remain as the locus for CD owner Q&A postings, provided you (Walt) are willing to continue the hosting effort, for which I am quite grateful.

If you would prefer to offload some of the work, then how about getting them to automate the mirroring of CD postings on their site to ours, and vice-versa?

It's no effort - you folks are doing all the work. And I'm not proposing moving the Web site at this time - just letting the magazine reprint some of the helpful hints from this board.

I would hope that the magazine's Web site wouldn't host another Cape Dory message board - as long as this one is serving the purpose, it's better to have everyone stick together. If another CD-only board was drawing significant participation, I would have to consider shutting this one down in order to keep all the information in one place - or turning it into a CD powerboat site if you sailors abandon us.

The goal here is not the success of this Web site - it's to bring the community of Cape Dory owners together to help each other. Many Cape Dory owners don't know about the Web site; others don't have Internet access. So if a magazine can help bring some of our information to them, personally I'm all for it.

Also, one of Mike Fahy's goals in starting the California Cape Dory Owners Association was to preserve and enhance the value of Cape Dory yachts, and the more support we get for these boats, the more value we build in them. The magazine would help that too.

- Walt



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[kevin aubuchon]

Go for it Walt. Anything that benefits great old boats benefits us all. More power to the publishers if they can make a living talking boats.

kevin aubuchon
CD25
st. louis, mo



abuchoko@maritz.com

[Donald Metznik]

Walt,

I'm a pround owner of a CD 27 that I picked up on the South Shore of Long Island and I can honestly say that if not for the information that's posted on this site, I might never have purchased it. I've owned a typhoon before but with a larger family now I saw the CD 27 as the perfect upgrade. The extent to which this site has been a help cannot be expressed. Almost all problems or questions that I've had can be answered in just a few days by experienced sailors who own perhaps the greatest boats manufactured. Although I don't post much I try to read everything that's posted. I'm sure that you'll do whats best for the site. Good luck on everything, I'm sure that everyone is in great support.

Don Metznik
"The Captain"
CD 27



donald.metznik@mail.trincoll.edu

[Jon Larson]

Walt,

I must first compliment you on your thoughtfulness in asking our opinion. Thank you for the consideration.

Well, we all let our intelligence, and our ignorance, get posted here for all to see, and I for one am very appreciative. Those of us who were somewhat ignorant are less so now, thanks to this board.

The postings are all in the public domain now, I see nothing to lose and lots to gain by increasing the influence of this board.

Do it.

Thanks!!

Jon Larson
Cape Dory 30 PERI
San Francisco Bay

This is a request for comments from participants on this board.

I propose to encourage the publication of selected messages from this board as a monthly feature in a startup magazine devoted to what the publishers call "good old boats." As it happens, the cover story in the first issue will be about a Cape Dory 30.

No money or other consideration will be involved, though this will presumably help Cape Dory owners in several ways, and will help the publishers sell more magazines.

We have already had a few bits of information from this board published in Noel Peattie's newsletter, The Typhooner, so this is not completely new. The main difference is that this involves a commercial venture

This decision should not be made without a consensus of board partcipants, since you write the messages. What do people think?

- Walt Bilofsky (sysop)

-------------

Here's the start of the publishers' first message to me, so you can see what they're about:

<blockquote>"While we were vacationing in our 1976 C&C 30 on Lake Superior this summer, we got excited about the idea of starting a magazine for sailors of what we are fondly referring to as “good old boats,” like Ericsons, Pearsons, C&Cs and Cape Dorys. As you know, many of these boats are in great condition and are providing their owners with a lot of sailing pleasure. Our goal is to work with owners’ associations, such as yours, in whatever way works best for each association. We’ll make space available to you at no cost in our printed magazine, web site and e-mail newsletter. Our goal is to provide a resource, get people with common interests and problems together … and of course to sell magazine subscriptions to owners of good old boats who find this resource useful."</blockquote>

jon9@ix.netcom.com

[Mike Little]

Walt, As perhaps the newest Cape Dory sailboat owner among the group, I can state without reservation that this forum was instrumental in my decision to purchase a 1983 CD28, "Valhalla". After all, who better to ask about CD's than CD owners. Of course the group is somewhat prejudiced; however, it also points to the pride in ownership and the overall satisfaction with a fine boat. I think it's great that some other sailers will be exposed to information about out "good old boats".

Mike




M.Little@telops.gte.com

[Ed Haley]

As you so well stated Walt, I also think we should have a single primary message board/owner's group for Cape Dory owners or interested sailors. It would not serve our purpose as well to begin to separate into sections. I believe that Walt should gather this CD Owner's Association together as a single entity and then offer embedded links to local CD affiliates around the country for local newsworthy items, rendezvous, schedules and other notices.


Put together omething like a Cape Dory Online Yacht Club with regional affiliates. Walt could be our first Commodore. He also, AT LEAST, should be reimbursed for his expenses if not paid for the services he provides us.



eghaley@dreamscape.com

[Larry DeMers]

I think that this idea is a great one! Of course I'm predjudiced since it's my Cape Dory 30 that will be on the front cover of this magazine, along with a nicely written interview inside. (To see another interview with my wife and I onboard DeLaMer, go to http://www.liveaboardmagazine.com)

My opinion as to this adventure that the publishers are undertaking is that they have a good idea that will benefit a lot of sailors. I always like to read the last few pages of Cruising World and Sail magazines because of the 'how-to' articles. Frequently I am able to modify an idea to suit a use I have in mind..it's a great resource.

This magazine should be well-accepted by most DIY's and those wishing to do their own maintenance. I look forward to it's publication!

Larry DeMers
S/V DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~~~~~~Sailing Lake Superior~~~~~~~~~~



demers@cray.com

[Jerry]

This is a request for comments from participants on this board.

I propose to encourage the publication of selected messages from this board as a monthly feature in a startup magazine devoted to what the publishers call "good old boats." As it happens, the cover story in the first issue will be about a Cape Dory 30.

For anyone interested, I just checked with the editor of the new magazine regarding its availability. The first issue is not expected to be out until late summer 1998. In the interim, the editor invites everyone to their web site "www.goodoldboats.com" to find out what the mag's all about.