Social Networking for Boat Stuff

[Stoutcat]

The issue came up on another post about how tough it is to find the perfect motor or whatever local... Maybe what we really need in the boating community is a social network for moving boats and motors and trailers around the country on the cheap.

Just to bring everybody up to speed... A social network functions like this...

• We establish a network of trust... That is, I'll enter into the network and announce my trusted friends. If you deal with me or one of my "trusted" contacts and he messes up, you can not only yell at him, but you can yell at me in front of the entire network. To break a trust is to be bounced. That's the way it works... In other words, if I enter as a trusted person from Cape Cod, along with my trusted brother in NJ, and my trusted best friend in Florida -- We're all entered together. That way, should the deal of the century open up in FLA, my buddy could pick it up and hold onto it until I could arrange to get it to my brother in NJ, and eventually I'd pick it up.

• But here's the kicker... My best buddy in FLA may have trusted friends in NM, AZ, and CA... And that means that a motor in CA may find its way to FLA, then to NJ, then to Cape Cod though I don't even know the people in between. Sincere trust and a little bit of gas and beer money goes a long way. It's a spider web of sorts.

• The lowest common denominator to this approach is trust. Who do you trust? Without ever having met them, I trust TD, OOPS, and Ondarvr... They've put in way too much work on this site to be chumps or crooks. On the wooden boat side, I also trust JimK and BoatManPaul. I'd stake my reputation on them though I've never met them.

Anyway, social networking works wonders when handled properly... I'm a member of linkedin (a "professional" network), and if push comes to shove, I can have a new job by the end of the week... And odds are that I'll never have met the new boss.

I know I've done a lousy job of explaining this, but others can embellish...

It just seems a shame that someone at point "A" finds that perfect something at point "B", and can't find a way to get a hold of it.

Thoughts???

Alan

 

[oops!]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

stoutcat......i KNOW....that if i got a motor in kansas or the mid west area....that my i boat buddies would go check it out.....and i could give them actual cash money.....and they would buy the motor after checking it out...(TO THE BEST OF THEIRE ABILITYS)....and....take care of it for me or be a shipper go between.......i would have no problems with this......I KNOW...i could order a part in vancouver....and trust a i boats bud to get it for me...

(i just ran into this on cl and a trusted member said he would proxy for me)
actually a funny story..... i e-mailed the seller from a long way away and asked him for the specs.....and assured him i only pay in cretified chaque or money order, or pay pal if he had an account..he never responded to me ???? .......a few days later i listred an item on cl and they had a banner that said "dont trust any one from far away that says ill pay by money order or certifyed cheque !

the only problem i can see with your plan....is that someone in the "hot spots" might get worked off their feet

but their is a lot of people here that i wolld trust with a ton of cash......

if i got burned......well.....(i doubt it)....but....well..... i just doubt it

 

[oops!]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

one other thing......unless we found another venue......everything would have to be done in pm.....so the network would have to be announced .....uh....like a political comment in dock side chat.....


kinda like a thread called .....any one wanna play ball?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

we have been doing this, thru the PM system. but the rules are you cannot do buying, selling, or trading on the open fourm. when you see someone needs something you have, you are more than welcome to contact that person, tell them what you have.

iboats, takes no responsibility, in these situations. i have had great success, with this system.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

• The lowest common denominator to this approach is trust. Who do you trust? Without ever having met them, I trust TD, OOPS, and Ondarvr... They've put in way too much work on this site to be chumps or crooks. On the wooden boat side, I also trust JimK and BoatManPaul. I'd stake my reputation on them though I've never met them.

Alan

Hey, I'm offended.

 

[oops!]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

holy smokes spinner.......havent seen ya for a while ! welcome home !

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

Hi,

Sorry for the confusion... (I knew I'd mess this up). The whole idea is that I'd see something on Amazon or Craigslist, and when I was happy, I'd buy it directly from the seller. Then the series of trusted folks would get it close enough to Cape Cod where I could pick it up.

The problem with private messaging is that it only deals person to person. That's the problem that social networking overcomes.

Real world example: Suppose a sweet deal for a vintage motor in Minnesota opens up... I'd negotiate with the seller, and when I was happy (saw video of the motor running, saw video of compression tests, blah, blah, blah) I'd pay the owner directly via PayPal. Once that is done, I'd turn to the boating social network and ask who would be able to move the motor closer to Cape Cod. Now, my boss lives in Minnesota and he's a good guy, so I could trust him to pick up the motor and hold on to it. It just so happens that my very trusted buddy Don lives around there and he could pick it up. Don comes to the Cape some summers, but I can't wait! However, Don has a trusted neighbor (whom I've never heard of) who comes to New England for foliage viewing. Don could hand the motor off to him, and I could pick the motor up in New Hampshire.

There's no need to set up a new system for this... There's a ton of free software out there for setting up social networks just like FaceBook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. And no money would ever change hands outside of eBay, or CraigsList, or whatever.

Anyway, social networks are handy indeed. Like I said... I keep a list of my social contacts. Some I know and some I don't. But I can pick up the phone anytime and have a new job because a stranger trusts me. And if he wants to figure why I am so trusted, all he has to do is trace back the trust references.

It's a lot easier to do than to explain.

Alan

 

[oops!]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

fully got ya stoutcat....

we were just discussing that on the hull thread.

it could be a very valuble network......

td how do you feel about hangin on to a 40 footer for me till i can get it to spinners?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

you can trust me, I'm not like the others. hehehe

 

[redfury]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

Why not just have someone start a Myspace page, etc and dedicate it to the "aye, boats!" network...then your friends list could just simply be full of trusted members. One could easily say that they are looking for "x" in the forums in a thread to generate interest, and then the "aye, boats!" myspace page could be the conduit to close the deal/ship the item.

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

Hi RedFury...

Interesting idea, but I think we should stay away from the issue of buying and selling as TD said. (That is, buying and selling should probably be handled PM, eBay, Craigslist, etc. Seeing how iboats pays for the bandwidth of this forum, the last thing we need to do is create a social network that will try to find a way to undercut their prices for a new propeller for example.)

Anyway... My idea is just that we find a way to cheaply move heavy stuff like boats and motors from point "A" to point "B" via a network of trusted boating friends, many of whom have never met.

I like the idea of the MySpace page... Something like that anyway...

Alan

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

we on the forum have used the forum, to find someone, in a certain areas.
" need a favor in Houston"
looking at boat on Craigslist, anyone willing to check it out for me?

several member have check out boats for Kiwi Phil, would imports boats from the US, to Australia.

the problem with the my space, type thing is anyone can get there. i'm not willing to trust a $1,000 dollar motor, to Joe the Scammer. i would rather, call Ally at http://www.freightcenter.com/?sourc...45742f8a762a&gclid=CNSX7b3U4JYCFQZinAodUQMiPg, they have always gotten me the lowest rates.

 

[redfury]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

Oh, I wasn't suggesting to use it in a way that would undercut Iboats sales. Anyone looking for something will get a suggestion to look for it here many times anyway.

I was thinking more along the like of Jserb looking for motors to power his rebuild...lots of guys were throwing up used sets of motors from ebay, CL, etc. It's a lot easier to have a bunch of eyes all over N. America looking and finding the right deal than trying to do it by yourself.

However, I think the Baton-style shipping would benefit a lot of people, especially those willing to wait a little.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

i'm not disagreeing with you, i just find the logistics, to be complicated.

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

I hear you TD...

But here's where I have a problem simply posting, "need a favor in Houston"... I don't want just anybody to respond. Granted, 99.9% of the folks on this forum are trustworthy... but it would be just my luck to come across that .1% who would somehow find a way to rip me off.

Like I said, you and oops, (and on my forum) Jimk and boatmanpaul have simply put in way too much work and are too dedicated to boating to cheat a fellow boater. I'd just feel better knowing that a trusted old friend I've never met was handling my stuff.

Alan

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

i understand, you have to get the communications open to decide, if they know what they are talking about.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

There's no need to set up a new system for this... There's a ton of free software out there for setting up social networks just like FaceBook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. And no money would ever change hands outside of eBay, or CraigsList, or whatever.

Create a group on Facebook for the purposes you've mentioned, tell the folks here in iboats to sign up and be part of that group. Those interested in a social network to participate, can elect to be in or out of the group.

However, if it references iboats, I'd get their approvals first but bringing a positive reference to such a great site of forums and online boat sales/services shouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[redfury]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

Aye, Boats! On facebook might make better sense. I recently signed up for it for giggles. I'm not sure on the format though. What I do like about Myspace is the customization ability. However, that said...myspace is FULL of posers, spammers, etc..so that could be a hassle. I think the only way to get into the "group" would be to get sponsorship through a founding member. The list would be small at first, and it would not grow quickly, but once one the list, you would be considered a solid lead...don't get to join up just because. If it's a hard club to join, the members will take it seriously, and those getting "in" will feel more compelled to be an asset, instead of an asset without the "et".

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

Aye, Boats! On facebook might make better sense. I recently signed up for it for giggles. I'm not sure on the format though. What I do like about Myspace is the customization ability. However, that said...myspace is FULL of posers, spammers, etc..so that could be a hassle. I think the only way to get into the "group" would be to get sponsorship through a founding member. The list would be small at first, and it would not grow quickly, but once one the list, you would be considered a solid lead...don't get to join up just because. If it's a hard club to join, the members will take it seriously, and those getting "in" will feel more compelled to be an asset, instead of an asset without the "et".

I agree red.... controlled access. Perhaps you could associate it with rank on iboats?

I've been on Facebook for well over a year.....This would be a good social network tie in. Heck, with the right folks (and I know they exist on iboats) you could even build a simple facebook plugin to integrate these forums and the group.

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: Social Networking for Boat Stuff

Hi,

I don't think the mechanics would be too tough... But the real trick would be explaining to trusted members would be what the meaning of "trust" is. Let's say I buy a $1,500 outdrive on eBay... Fine, the transaction is done. The seller is in Ohio. I need to be able to trust the chain of people that will get it to New England.

My wife just brought up a good point... She moderates a ragdoll cat forum, and they have a similar system. Owners and breeders alike contribute into the trusted international network, but woe to she who recommends a shabby owner or breeder. (Ragdolls are the largest breed of domestic cat, and purebreds can cost thousands $$$.)

Alan