Kim,
While on one hand I agree with you about sometimes having to manage
information overload, I do think you're understanding of the technical
challenges and how one / (you?) might better filter information within
a modest list server is short-sighted.
The list server, which Phil Bunde has provided free of charge, has
little more than a subject line, on which to use as a meta-data field
or thread title. Anyone who joins this list does so voluntarily,
(commonly referred to OPT-IN), so they can also OPT-OUT when it no
longer suits their needs, or as we radio-heads like to say, the signal-
to-noise ratio becomes unbearable. It's essentially "push"
technology, not browser based, which is what I think you'd prefer to
see?
And some of you suggestions did actually occur. I personally
encouraged and took the time to send information off-list to people on
the "Tilt Tips" doc that many list subscribers contributed to awhile
back. Others sent older copies of prior postings in an effort to help
a newcomer. Yeah, it can get a little annoying, but I also try to
"share the love," by that I mean I try to encourage and teach people
to use the proper basic tools: to purchase and read shop manuals,
parts lists, etc, and not just constantly milk others for free advice.
Most of the time I get back more than I contribute, which is why I
enjoy this hobby.
There are many tools available in e-mail clients to permit the
management of inbound mails by subject line. I've known many people to
setup a special e-mail account just to better manage their incoming e-
mail based information. I happen to like the fact that our messages
for the most part, are kept between us and not posted on some web-
based forum for all the world to see. I've made some good friends
here, and while, I too, have gotten impatient at times when a newbie
joins and starts asking "old" questions, I get reminded, that I too,
have been in their shoes. Sure, they need to learn how to cross-
reference parts, and read a repair or shop manual, but we all get to
share a problem, or a success story. And who isn't for that?
But another part of your stated concern baffles me. Your Deluxe 17 is
just another OMC boat that's true. But most of the challenges of
running and maintaining +40-year old boats have to do with common OMC
power trains, and their supporting fuel and electrical systems. So if
you could care less about a thread on fixing "Broken Tilt Motors,"
simply don't open it, just delete it. Or take the issue up with the
other person off-list, in a one-on-one, private correspondence.
Separating these subject lines or cataloguing these varied topics
makes about as much sense dividing our boats by Johnson vs Evinrude
brands, or by outboard vs sterndrives. Unless you enjoy paddling your
17, you must have an interest in safety, bilge pumps, steering
system, electrical fuses, fuel tanks, temperature or cooling issues,
all relevant topics, in my mind to all us OMC Captains.
In the greater scheme, we all have a lot more in common here, than the
rest of the recreational boaters out there. In my eyes, Playboys, Ski-
Larks, Caprices, Revelers, SeaSports, Sportsmans, FrontRunners,
Explorers, Deluxe 17's, Rogues, Dolphins, Tradewinds, TideRiders (I
probably missed a couple?) are all equal. Forty-five years later we
need to help each other keep these marvels floating, not get hung up
on their relatively minor differences. To do otherwise is selfish and
ego-centric. Can we all play nicely in the Sandbox?
Lastly, take timing into consideration: Most of us have about 3 to 5
more weekends left in this year's boating season. The list server and
boating activity in general typically slows way down in the off
season. So fall will return and everything will chill out. Happens
every year.
Tell you what Kim, if you want help building a better OMC-Boat
mousetrap, lets collectively do it this off-season? Register the
domain, hire an internet service provider and let's build the kind of
OMC BOAT informational tool you'd like to see, in fact I'll even be
your moderator. It's only time and money. I'll even willing to bet if
we base it on a paid-subscription model, the signal-to-noise ratio
will be more to your liking.
Lee Shuster
PS -- Kim, my website contains no less than 7 pages that mention the
"Deluxe 17" according to a google domain search.
On Aug 12, 2009, at 5:04 PM, Kim Foster wrote:
> Bill - I'm sorry you apparently took it personally. I said I do not
> have the computer skills to figure out how to filter out the stuff
> that I am not interested in...
>
> My point is that it would be nice if the list could be fragmented/
> catalogued so that I could choose to only get post related to OMC
> Deluxe 17s or 155 odd-fire Buicks. Maybe have the posts go to a
> server where they could be accessed by subject if I actually had a
> question about a free spinning prop.
>
> A lot of the posts that I am receiving have really little to do with
> the boats at all...they appear to be people with little or no
> mechanical ability just looking for free mechanical advice...which
> is fine - then have a thread for free mechanical advice. But I find
> it annoying when I get 20 emails about where to look for a fuel
> sender... The site is supposed to about the boats.
>
> The value in listserves is having a lot of people with the same
> interest that can share information. Honestly, I have no interest in
> your Explorer. Yet I have received hundreds of posts from you. I am
> just suggesting/wondering if this list isn't too broadly defined
> that it is losing its value? Your free to disagree, of course...
> Nothing personal.
>
> Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:50:33 -0700
> From: bldfw@...
> To: omc-boats@...
> Subject: Re: [OMC-Boats] NEED LIST MANAGEMENT
>
> Lots of "Me, Me, Me" in your posting.
>
> You do have it entirely within your own power to fix the source of
> your discontent.
>
> Help us by helping yourself.
>
> -Bill
> Dallas, TX
> 1970 Evinrude Explorer - 155 Buick V6 - OMC Sterndrive
> http://www.photobucket.com/evinrude_explorer
>
>
> --- On Wed, 8/12/09, Kim Foster <snagf@...> wrote:
>
> From: Kim Foster <snagf@...>
> Subject: Re: [OMC-Boats] NEED LIST MANAGEMENT
> To: omc-boats@...
> Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 5:28 PM
>
> We need to do something about better managing the listserve, IMO. I
> really find this a valuable resource for parts and general info on
> the boats. But it is getting ridiculous when I get 20-30 emails a
> day on somebody not knowing what oil to use or why their prop is
> spinning in neutral. Or a multi-chaptered play by play of your
> "shakedown cruise".... Who cares?
>
> Is there some way the list can be paired down so that you only get
> info pertaining to your particular boat? I only want to see OMC
> Deluxe 17 stuff. I don't want to wade through 30 emails about an
> Explorer or Evinrude... I'm not a computer geek so I don't know how
> you would do this, but I am just about to the point of cancelling my
> list serve...
>
> Maybe if 2-3 of you really want to discuss where your oil sender is,
> you could do carry on that discourse off the board?
>
> Don't want to sound cranky...just think it could be managed better...
>
> Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:05:51 -0700
> From: bldfw@...
> To: omc-boats@...
> Subject: Re: [OMC-Boats] More shakedown results
>
> Thanks Lee,
>
> I thought about that myself. I've worked with vinyl dye on some of
> my classic cars and it goes on smooth and tough though I'm not sure
> it's tough enough to withstand bumper rubs. Easily fixed though.
>
> -Bill
> Dallas, TX
> 1970 Evinrude Explorer - 155 Buick V6 - OMC Sterndrive
> http://www.photobucket.com/evinrude_explorer
>
>
>
> --- On Wed, 8/12/09, Lee Shuster <Lee.Shuster@...> wrote:
>
> From: Lee Shuster <Lee.Shuster@...>
> Subject: Re: [OMC-Boats] More shakedown results
> To: "'Evinrude & Johnson Boats of the 1960's and 70's'" <omc-boats@...
> >
> Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 1:42 PM
>
> Bill,
>
> just wanted to say that I've admired your progress. You want to see
> something slightly North of 4000, not to exceed 4400 RPM with
> everything running perfectly.
>
> You can get excellent looking results using RED vinyl dye on that
> rub rail molding.
>
> Lee
>
> From: omc-boats-bounces@... [mailto:omc-boats-bounces@...
> ] On Behalf Of BLDFW
> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:56 AM
> To: omc-boats@...
> Subject: [OMC-Boats] More shakedown results
>
> Just completed my 3rd shakedown with almost excellent results. .She
> started right up and overall performed really well. After the gas
> tank cleanout it was nice to see clear gas in the glass filter
> rather than the murky brown pudding stuff. Oh, and my original
> sending unit worked just fine so I didn't need to spend money on a
> new one!
>
> I'll need to double check the timing as over the hour and half her
> performance denigrated a little bit. Also, when pulling back on the
> throttle she had a tendency to stall and towards the end we had to
> resort to priming the carb with a shot of gas. If I had to hazard
> a guess as to why that would develop, it could possibly be that the
> distributor shifted slightly causing retarded ignition. I had a
> problem getting to the hold down bolt and in hindsight worry that I
> might not have gotten it tight enough.
>
> I'm also pulling the alternator today and taking it down to the shop
> to have it check out and rebuilt if necessary. The volt gauge
> continued to reflect only about 11-11.5v and at the end of the run
> she didn't have enough juice to crank her over. We were going to
> jump her about 30mins later to get her over to the ramp but for
> grins I crank the key and found she recharged herself enough to get
> it started without jumpers. I know some of you guys said I could
> rebuild the alternator myself but the summer is ticking away.
>
> Question..... when doing a fast cruise but not WOT, whereabouts are
> your RPMs? My Explorer will plane out at about 3000 but feels
> happier at higher RPM. I got her as high as 3500 but could sense a
> very vague performance issue. It's likely a re-tune or better yet a
> Pertronix electronic ignition will fix that but didn't want to push
> it past that point just yet. What can I expect a comfortable WOT to
> be thereabouts?
>
> And finally....and I think i might know the answer to this already
> but nothing ventured, nothing gained.....is there a resource for new
> RED rub rail? I'd really like to replace the one there with red as
> opposed to black but will do black if I have to.
>
> Thanks.
>
> -Bill
> Dallas, TX
> 1970 Evinrude Explorer - 155 Buick V6 - OMC Sterndrive
> http://www.photobucket.com/evinrude_explorer
>
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Received on Wednesday, 12 August 2009
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