Suggestions & Opinions

[Nightwatch]

It is you and me Ben. Some of the others need to just say something to let us know they are still alive. Maybe you should start a thread on ugly politics in P'cola. Political forums seem popular. then again maybe not. Beginning a 4 year fit out before heading to the islands. Looking at stuff this year that will last 4 years or not become obsolete. Starting with a SSB.
Need to get new sails, my head sails are 28 years old. Hunter hates to see me coming for repairs. He says the company that made them went broke because they had no repeat customers. Guess they lasted to long. If you look at them in the sun, they do remind you of a sieve. Did someone say stretch. that happened 25 years ago. They have taken there natural shape. Look good on a bread reach. I am open to suggestions.

[S/V Faith]

It is you and me Ben. Some of the others need to just say something to let us know they are still alive.

FWIW, I have shared links to this site on several sailing forums I frequent, and some folks have joined. I don't know if others are doing this as well, but if not it might be worth a post or two....

Just a thought.

[s/v Monomoy]

Thanks to both of you for putting in the effort. I keep up with the hit rate on the site and what search terms are bringing folks in. We currently get about 30 new visitors per day who find the site using various search terms on Google and the like. I can even track when someone visits the site from another site as well (if they clicked on a link to get here) and have seen that occur on a couple links I have posted, but mostly from links that s/v Faith has posted. We have even had a few folks sign up in the last few days, but they haven't posted anything yet.

I think overall it is because we are trying to have an area specific board, so it may take time for folks to join in. The other great boards tend to have good useful data about sailing in general, but it was always hard to find sailing info specific to Pensacola. I would really love to see lots of friendly conversation about sailing, but even if it turns out to be a few posts here and there, it will eventually add up to a lot of local Pensacola sailing information for other sailors to stumble upon. I have no issue with broadening topic areas though, such as the posts regarding Apalachicola and the like, as long as we keep some good local data.

I'm sure politics would get folks to the board, but those threads tend to get heated up, so I like the idea of keeping it boating specific. Of course, we can post political stuff in the general discussion if it is related to coastal waters or boating in general.

I know you, Nightwatch, have your blog where you keep regular posts about your sailing adventures, but perhaps from time to time you could copy a little of your write-ups to this forum when you are detailing specific things such as outfitting for your 4-year adventure.

I am up to ideas though, so perhaps some forum title additions or deletions?

Perhaps as summer approaches, more sailors (even beginners) will get the bug and start looking around for other sailors to chat about the wind with.

[Nightwatch]

I can do that. I also get on about 3 other blogs. Sometime things get started on them that would interest the local boating community. I will try to be more attentive.

Did you see the info about a month ago about anchoring in various communities in S FL. There seems to be an on going war in those parts and could make it either difficult or expensive to cruise in those areas. I am really happy to know we do not have those issues as of yet. It worries me to see Bayou Chico and the number of vessels anchored there that seem to have been abandon since Ivan. If that is in fact the case, it is the type of thing that can kill this wonderful cruising area for everyone.

[Oldstickbow]

I dont see a spot for the Balboa line of sailboats in your vessels forum...lol. Untill I bought one I didn't know they existed either!

Bill
"Our Alibi"

[s/v Monomoy]

Sure there is a fleet category for Balboa's; been there all along.

Thanks for pointing it out. My intent is to have info for every type of sailboat, but since there are so many, and some I have never heard of like the Balboa, I add a category for each vessel owned by someone on the board. So we now have a Balboa and Suncoast category.

[oldflathead]

Quote

It worries me to see Bayou Chico and the number of vessels anchored there that seem to have been abandon since Ivan. If that is in fact the case, it is the type of thing that can kill this wonderful cruising area for everyone.[/quote]"

Some of us have property on Bayou Chico. In my case I pay $4,000 annually in property tax for this privilege. The marinas here pay a "Submerged Land Lease" tax of $0.11 per square foot per year. Ostensibly, the water and land under the water belongs to ALL citizens of Florida, so we can all use the water for navigation. Suppose I had a Rv and chose to leave it on public, (city, county, state or federal) land? How long would it be before my RV would be towed away, impounded and I would be required to pay a substatial sum to retreive it.

These "Freeloaders" have chosen to abandon their boats on public water and land! Whenever we have the slighest breeze, these inappropriately anchored derelicts drift down on to my dock, boats or yard causing damage. Suppose you are paying $12.00 per foot per month to leave your boat in one of our nice marinas in Bayou Chico and some derelict drifts down on your boat damaging it?

I welcome any boaters who are cruising through to anchor a few days in our bayou and move on. I have offered some of the genuine "Cruisers" space at my dock, a lift to the grocery store or West Marine or wherever. I cruised my boat nine of the last 21 years and was treated wonderfully by many folks along the way. I believe in paying my way, as well as passing along good deeds.

Rumor has it that some of these derelicts have drifted off shore and sunk, thus providing fishing reefs. I hope so!

Old Grouch, Tom

[S/V Faith]

Old Grouch, Tom

I don't think so. Not at all.

I am divided on this (somewhat). I have had friends who kept their boats on moorings in public waters. I know some who kept their boats there because they could not afford dockage, and want to believe there is room for people to sail who can not afford the (IMHO) ridiculous dockage in our area.

I do however, see your point. I HATE it that so many ruin it for others. It seems to me though, that just like other laws the solution is not to make new ones (as is so often the case) but to enforce the current ones.

An anchored boat is technically 'in navigation'. In Florida you must maintain registration. Even documented boats must have a current registration sicker. If the FWC started writing citations for registrations expired past a certain date (90 days?) and then impounding boats after 3 warnings the problem would go away. After the boat is impounded, sell it at auction. If no one buys it, contract it out for destruction and charge the registered owner for it.

If the boat has no registration, impound it hold it, and sell it. Even if the state has to pay to cut it up it will still be far cheaper then the cost to raise it and then cut it up.

But I guess that is why I am not in politics.