Site continuation update

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I ve been crazy busy for the last few weeks and didn’t get a chance to check this thread. I ll be happy to contribute to the reimburse Elaine fund.

Sadly in the last 5 to 10 years NBR has been the most busy forum... there need to be an effort to grow ATC and some of the other forums or there won’t be any news blood.

On the technical side, which format is the data stored in? Most databases can be converted to various format and then reimported. To be honest I haven’t done much coding in the last 8 years there should be a way of exporting the data into a format compatible with new software.
 
There is nothing technically preventing loading all of the existing MS Sql Server data into the new MySQL database. However there is a cost for transfer, and storage once it gets there. Therefore we aren’t moving the 500k nbr posts. We are migrating the number of posts shown in my post above, about 900k total.

There are a few things that won’t move. The existing polls aren’t coming, it would in theory be possible to do, but would take way too much time and effort to do it.

And of course the passwords. Because applications today use more sophisticated encryption and hashing as compared to the standards back in 2000, there is simply no way to load the passwords we have, and have them work with the new software. It can’t be done. Actually it could, but the amount of supercomputers needed for a brute force cracking of each of the passwords from the old system , and then save the passwords into the new system via the new encryption would exceed what is available in the world today.

Growing the forums won’t be hard, but it won’t be free. Go to google today and search “boating forum”. I don’t think we even land in top ten pages. Give google a few bucks, all of the sudden we are right at the top of page one. Hosting the site should get much cheaper once the migration is done. Once the site is moved, stable, and open for business we should start discussing how much we want to pay to increase the traffic.

We also need to decide if we want to grow the forums. I know it sounds like a no brainer, but it takes a lot of effort to maintain a forum with a huge population. I met the guy that runs one of the older boat brand owners forum, it’s a full time job for him. One that doesn’t really pay all that much. It’s possible ( but not easy) to find volunteers to spend a few hours a week to do clean up and other tasks to keep a site with 200 regular users and and running, but it’s a whole other ballgame when you have 20k daily users to babysit.
 
As I've said before, I'm all in as to financially supporting a new site in addition to paying off this one.

Yes, we NEED new blood! If that entails 'paying off' Google, then so be it. Heaven only knows the world is run on graft these days anyhow. :)

A few suggestions, in no specific order.
--Ask, upfront, the year, make, & model of boat ownership--if a boat owner.
--Provide a decent way to have personalized avatars.
--Debating, in my mind, about the anchor system and it's benefits. With & without has it's own merits,
--Provide a button, somewhere, to mark all forums read.
--Provide a 'Like' button.
--to be continued....
 
It's a shame Photebucket did what they did. Would be nice to see all the pictures linked in those old threads that get moved over
Niles
 
I have long thought that the sites original strength became a big weakness. GVP was a Gas engine expert. That kept most of the interest in smaller gas boats while other sites became more focused on larger diesel boats. As evidence of that notice how other sires have a lot of great loop stuff while it is never mentioned here.
Perhaps gas boats are less owner maintenance friendly today but for what ever reason I don't see interest here any more.
I also note that a lot of diesel boats are much older and owners doo a lot of work themselves.

We need to rethink the focus of the site.

IMO
 
Bruce. The focus of the site is what the members make it. Right now unfortunately all The posts are NBR. Anyone visiting for the first time will take one look and won’t bother sign up because there is almost no traffic

Boating forums combined (mostly ATC and Engines) have less than 20 active threads in the last 30 days vs close to 100 in NBR
 
Pascal is right, the site will be what we make of it. My intention it to set it up so that we can bring it back to life...this place was a huge help to me in getting into boating, and has been a valuable resource for many over the years. Let's get back to that.

Hat tip to Alk, we have a solid plan in the works and finally have things under control again.

We have cleaned out the site of all of the old, unused categories and forums to prepare for transitioning to our new host.

I will finalize the costs and the re-imbursement to Les' wife this weekend and get things going on the financial side.

I appreciates everyone's patience through this!
 
Count me in for $ support

At one time, this forum was at the top of the list for folks seeking knowledge.

Presently, we don't draw any more of a crowd than those of us in NBR

IMHO THT has become the GO TO site for information sharing

The question for BE is what do people really WANT and NEED that they can't get on THT?

Our KNOWLEDGE BASE has a tremendous value, however it's slanted toward inboards where THT is slanted toward outboards

Unfortunately for BE, the trend in boating has for several years been more toward outboards.

These are just the facts to be considered, I do not have any answers.

RWS
 
I agree more OBs than inboards but for the larger boats diesel hands down. Ant the loop was the driving force for new boaters. That seems diminishing a bit perhaps because of the virus. It seemed that every new boater wanted to do the loop.
 
Might be interesting to learn what boating sites people also use and what their strengths and weaknesses are
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Might be interesting to learn what boating sites people also use and what their strengths and weaknesses are

Click to expand...


I use the misnamed trawler world. Very active site , frequent new users, Mostly boat between 35 and 50 feet with a few exceptions. IMO that is the boat sweet spot today.
 
I probably should have mentioned this sooner, but the ‘Private Messages’ which have been sent since 2002 will most likely not be available once the migration is complete.. So if there is any content in your messages that you need, get it out now - because it will be gone in a few days.

BTW PM is not currently working, since late last summer it looks like. So those of you who have sent messages recently, don’t be surprised if you didn’t get a response.
 
Kudos to those breathing new life into this site. I'm willing to do my part, time and $. Just let me know how I can help.
 
If I am correctly reading between the lines, a new software and host has already been picked and is being prepared! That, in and of itself, is terrific news, and Brian & Andy are to be congratulated!
HOWEVER....why has there been no solicitation of input from the ROs ??
 
Probably the old "too many cooks in the kitchen".
 
Steve...

Basically, there's nothing really changing out of the gate. All of the active forums are being carried over within the limitations of what is possible.

There are no major changes planned at this point. The priority right now is to get the site moved and stable (triage if you will) and get the burden of paying for the server off of Les' wife. That being said, I will be putting together the financial side of things tonight and putting out the cry for help...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Brian N

Steve...

Basically, there's nothing really changing out of the gate. All of the active forums are being carried over within the limitations of what is possible.

There are no major changes planned at this point. The priority right now is to get the site moved and stable (triage if you will) and get the burden of paying for the server off of Les' wife. That being said, I will be putting together the financial side of things tonight and putting out the cry for help...

Click to expand...


Ready, willing, & able! :)
 
Maybe we could apply for some PPP money under Stimulus 3.0.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jpowell

Maybe we could apply for some PPP money under Stimulus 3.0.

Click to expand...


Not if anyone in the .Gov reads NBR...

[:-bonc01]
 
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