We've been building a web-based site for boating over the last 14
months. There are a few things that come close to what we've been
working on, but nothing that goes as far or as deep. It's called
ActiveCaptain (www.activecaptain.com).

ActiveCaptain is not commercial. There is no cost. There are no
advertisements. It is designed to be a place where you can find
marinas, anchorages, and local knowledge visually on worldwide maps.
It should be fast and interactive...and fun.

We've loaded the initial database full of 8,000 marinas in the US.
Each entry holds 116 fields broken up into 5 sections and 49 groupings.
The database includes common things like phone number, lat/lon,
website, etc. but we also track things that aren't often documented -
are pets welcome, diesel price/date, internet access, slip price per
foot, and many other items. There is also an extensive capability for
reviewing and rating a facility. Anchorages and "local knowledge" are
much simpler and will be added next.

We need people to review the marine facilities in their area and make
additions, corrections, reviews, etc. We need a lot of people.

ActiveCaptain is all about community. The framework will allow others
to share their knowledge and experience. Adding the information you
know into this framework will help many others and end up helping
yourself when you cruise to an area that you are less familiar with.

==================================
Jeffrey and Karen Siegel
Castine, Maine

On Jan 25, 5:24*am, "on_the_water" wrote:
We've been building a web-based site for boating over the last 14
months.

What you're really building is a commerically viable list of emails for
people interested in boating. You should disclose that you must provide
an email address and "register" to use your site.

Good luck staying current with the price of fuel at "8000 marinas". You
must have a staff of about 20? :-)

On 25 Jan 2007 06:19:12 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

What you're really building is a commerically viable list of emails for
people interested in boating. You should disclose that you must provide
an email address and "register" to use your site.

That's what "throwaway" hotmail addys are for.

www.hotmail.com

On Jan 25, 9:19 am, "Chuck Gould" wrote:
On Jan 25, 5:24?am, "on_the_water" wrote:

What you're really building is a commerically viable list of emails for
people interested in boating. You should disclose that you must provide
an email address and "register" to use your site.

The Privacy Policy listed on the ActiveCaptain web site is very
explicit about how an email address will be used. Like the Privacy
Policy on this site (Google Groups Privacy Notice :
http://groups.google.com/intl/en/goo...privacy3.html), we do
require that you register to make additions to the site.

Unfortunately, we live in a world with too many lawyers and we need to
protect ourselves should someone enter libelous information on our
site, as well as protect users from unauthorized access. We are not
charging for the use of this site and don't want a frivolous lawsuit.

Our goal is to create something that will be useful for all boaters.
If all participants simply offer honest, true information and opinions,
we will all benefit.

On Jan 25, 10:33 am, wrote:

If you are curious, the website's Terms of Service can be accessed
from the bottom of their home page.


Gene,

I am sorry that our web site has upset you. It was certainly not
meant to do that. Our intent is to provide a resource for fellow
boaters. The web site arose out of our own desire to have access to
this sort of information as we have cruised up and down the East Coast.

You are wise in advising potential users to read our Terms of Use page.
Everyone should read these documents for every site they access. You
may wish to reread the Terms of Service page for this web site
(http://groups.google.com/intl/en/goo..._service3.html)
which also requires you to "indemnify" them (Section 13), to
provide personal information to register (Section 3) and controls the
content (Section 4).

It is unfortunate that in the times we live in we must worry about
lawyers. However, as a free web site we really don't want to fight
lawsuits. Like Google, who provides this free service, we must attempt
to protect ourselves.

The spirit of ActiveCaptain is a place where we can share information
and help one another have safer and more fun boating experiences. I
hope you will some day take part.

Karen

On 25 Jan 2007 11:11:14 -0800, "on_the_water"
wrote:



On Jan 25, 10:33 am, wrote:

If you are curious, the website's Terms of Service can be accessed
from the bottom of their home page.


Gene,

I am sorry that our web site has upset you. It was certainly not
meant to do that. Our intent is to provide a resource for fellow
boaters. The web site arose out of our own desire to have access to
this sort of information as we have cruised up and down the East Coast.

You are wise in advising potential users to read our Terms of Use page.
Everyone should read these documents for every site they access. You
may wish to reread the Terms of Service page for this web site
(http://groups.google.com/intl/en/goo..._service3.html)
which also requires you to "indemnify" them (Section 13), to
provide personal information to register (Section 3) and controls the
content (Section 4).

It is unfortunate that in the times we live in we must worry about
lawyers. However, as a free web site we really don't want to fight
lawsuits. Like Google, who provides this free service, we must attempt
to protect ourselves.

The spirit of ActiveCaptain is a place where we can share information
and help one another have safer and more fun boating experiences. I
hope you will some day take part.

Karen

I've never indemnified anyone for using this group. But then, I don't do so
through Google.

on_the_water wrote:


...Like Google, who provides this free service, we must attempt
to protect ourselves...
Karen


What's Google?

Rob

on_the_water wrote:

...Like the Privacy
Policy on this site (Google Groups Privacy Notice :
http://groups.google.com/intl/en/goo...privacy3.html), we do
require that you register to make additions to the site.

Again, register for what? What's Google Groups? I didn't sign up for
any of this...

Rob

On Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:59:21 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

================

Gene, you have waaaay too many cool machine tools. I'd be happy to
have one lathe and one milling machine, just have to convince my wife
that they'd look good in the front room and be a conversation piece.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:59:21 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

================

Gene, you have waaaay too many cool machine tools. I'd be happy to
have one lathe and one milling machine, just have to convince my wife
that they'd look good in the front room and be a conversation piece.


Just get an old Bridgeport, clean it up and put a large lampshade on the
motor.

Eisboch