Make Owning a Hatt Sound Fun

[Freebird]

There has been a good deal of talk here lately regarding Hatteras endorsing this forum and pointing their customers in our direction. While I have recently been accused of "highjacking" this site, I would like to make some suggestions that will hopefully benefit current members of this forum as well as "new" Hatteras customers.

It apears to me that if I were a prospective Hatteras customer with limited boating experience, I may be a little apprehensive about shelling out big bucks for something that I thought would give me anything less than shear enjoyment. A visit to this forum may lead such a person to believe that owning a Hatt is a never-ending maintenance and repair nightmare. Granted, there are probably not a lot of "entry-level" buyers of new Hatts, but you might be surprised. To that end, I think we would all be better served if more members took a lighter approach to the passion we all have for boating.

Don't you think that posts such as "Bahamas Anyone" tend to be more inviting than some of the mind-numbing technical posts we seem to see more and more of? I know that my personal reason for becoming a member of this forum was to find owners like myself, hopefully in my area, with whom I would share something in common. Specifically, getting together either in person or via this site to ENJOY our Hatts. I'm not suggesting that members shouldn't seek advice in making repairs etc., but maybe the PM option should be used more for this and be directed to Karl or some other designated "poobah". It is obvious that this forum has its own little social circles within the group, which is fine. I am guilty of this also. However, these members (myself included) should consider using the PM option to avoid alienating members who do not share their particular views or style of sharing information. To that end, I think we should all look at the big picture before starting a new thread. Sometimes the hallmark of a good teacher is being a good listener rather than an educated talker. I would also suggest not offering opinions unless they are asked for (we all know the joke about opinions being like a$$holes). Furthermore, as I experienced first hand, passing judgement on a decision that has already been made serves no purpose other than to condescend and ridicule the member involved (yes, I too am guilty as charged, and I throw myself on the mercy of the court).

In closing, let's lighten things up a little. Not to the point of turning this forum into a circus, but making it into one that makes us feel lucky to be fortunate enough to own something as gratifying and enjoyable as a Hatteras Yacht. Hopefully this forum will become one that will attract new Hatteras owners and better serve existing members.

 

[luckydave215]

Owning a Hatt IS fun.

Sometimes you just have to read between the lines.

 

[smoothmove]

Comedy Central - not

It seems like the numbers speak for themselves. The success of the forum over the past year or two inidicates that members find it interesting and helpful. I like a good laugh or smart remark as much as the next guy and we have had some pretty zingers here and there over the years. To me, humor is better as a seasoning, not a steady diet.
my $.02

 

[MikeP]

As I see it, the primary purpose of this site is to assist each other in these technical issues - after all, it is sponsored by a company who specifcally exists to help us "old Hatts" with parts and expertise.

Certainly, I agree that some threads are not interesting. The Bahamas Get Together, you mentioned, is a perfect example. I would not consider taking my boat from NY to the Bahamas for a get together. So the thread is not one that I would seriously examine. At the same time, I would not expect someone with a diesel-powered boat to be even remotely interested in a lengthy post with thoughts about replacing carburetors with fuel injection.

Basically, there is a place for posts on anything Hatt-related here. There is even a place for major digression, of which several of us are occasionally (OK - frequently) guilty! Personally, I would not like to see any change but the reality is that any website will evolve in whatever the participants and the site-operators nudge it.

Re new Hatt buyers. I don't think that a person buying a new Hatt is going to be concerned by anything we discuss on this site. Quite the contrary. If they do check this site, they will see that everyone here raves about the quality of these boats. The fact that 30+ year-old systems need maintainance or repair/replacement won't surprise anyone. What SHOULD suprise them is the huge number of posts saying something like, "My 25 year-old oem helm pump just started leaking." Instead of scaring them off, it should convince them that Hatt used excellent components and well thought-out installations!

In any case, the site will flow in whatever direction its members/operators take it and the beauty of it all is that if a post is "mind numbing," you can stop reading it after the first sentence or two. That's what I do!

 

[Freebird]

Certainly, I agree that some threads are not interesting. The Bahamas Get Together, you mentioned, is a perfect example. I would not consider taking my boat from NY to the Bahamas for a get together. So the thread is not one that I would seriously examine. !

MikeP,

Having trouble seeing the forest because all those darn trees are in the way? You missed the point I was trying to make when I referenced the "Bahamas Anyone?" thread. Obviously, no thread posted is going to be of interest to every member. I certainly do agree that you should exercise your right to stop viewing a thread after a couple of lines if you see it has no value. Based on previous experience, several members of this forum haven't caught on to this concept. They not only read the whole thread, they go on to criticize the content, as well as the author, because it didn't interest them. I believe I addressed that issue appropriately in this original thread.

I'm sure that the thread on cruising Long Island Sound would have been of little interest to folks in Florida (except for those who got there by way of NY). However, I referenced the "Bahamas Anyone?" because like the thread on New York cruising, it promoted unity of Hatt owners in a specific area, and it was an offer of a get together to have some fun!

My original intent in posting this thread should be very obvious, and I don't mean to pass judgement on your interpretation or your comments. However, this is a pretty fair example of what I was talking about when I mentioned opinions in general. You and I could have gone the PM route with our respective views on this subject. But I chose not to because I wanted to make a point with the general membership.

I am also in total agreement that this site's primary purpose is to share information, both technical and social, on Hatteras yachts. However, I still think once again you missed my original point. Owners of a new Hatteras will most certainly not face the same issues as the owner of a 20 plus year old boat. I certainly share your view on this forum being a tool for Sam's, and I wouldn't consider purchasing from any one else unless they simply do not have what I'm looking for. In such a case, I have found that Steve will refer you to someone who does have a part if he doesn't. He's made it very clear that he's there to help us get our old boats where we want them to be, and I applaud him and the rest of the staff for that. I was merely suggesting that we look at different ways of communicating ideas to keep things from getting stale.

Forgive me for the lengthy reply, but I honestly fail to see how any of us stand anything to lose by simply following a few basic suggestions. To wit, being polite to other members regardless of their views, and posting original threads that share information that is beneficial to the forum. In other words, if you are a naval architect (for example) who just happens to be sitting around with nothing to do, I would suggest that you not post a thread on hydrodynamics just to impress us all with your wealth of knowledge on the subject. However, if someone asks a question pertaining to your field of expertise, by all means, give us all the information you have! THAT is what a lot of us are here for.

In closing, the above reply as well as the original thread is just one man's opinion. And yes, I remember what I said about opinions in the original thread. In short, let's all just play nice, be considerate, and enjoy this forum and our Hatts.

 

[Freebird]

Re: Comedy Central - not

It seems like the numbers speak for themselves. The success of the forum over the past year or two inidicates that members find it interesting and helpful. I like a good laugh or smart remark as much as the next guy and we have had some pretty zingers here and there over the years. To me, humor is better as a seasoning, not a steady diet.
my $.02

I agree with you 100%. To that end, I have apologized to members of this forum if I interjected a little too much humor. However, I have never and will never launch a personal attack on another member regardless of a difference in opinion. If I felt I had to confront someone on this site, I would do so as a gentleman, and take issue with them in private. We have been given the tools to do this on this forum. I would then expect them to respond in kind.

I'm not running for office here or anything, I just think we should try to make this forum as interesting and informative as possible for the sake of new members and old members alike.

 

[Paul45c]

Respectfully, Randy, I want the benefit of whatever experience anyone has to share on any aspect of keeping Hatts in top shape; I'm afraid some important nuggets of detail will be lost if too much of that goes the PM route.

I think I understand where you're going with how technical the site can appear, but at the same time, there is nothing like this site on the web. The knowledgebase is incredible and I learn bucketloads every time I sign on, it seems. And I think it's worth noting that there seem to be plenty of prospective Hatt owners signing on and even posting. Several members here have helped talk some of them through the right model selection, even.

Nothing stops you or any other member from posting some non-tech threads, and if you think that might balance it out, have at it. We can all have our cake and eat it, too.

 

[Freebird]

Nothing stops you or any other member from posting some non-tech threads, and if you think that might balance it out, have at it. We can all have our cake and eat it, too.

Well put, and a big ole' AMEN to that!

 

[Pascal]

Randy

i think that you are the one missing the point, entirely. Maybe this is because you havent' been here for long but from the feedback we get from members, it seems we have a good balance of technical and "fun" threads.

The technical how to threads are what this forum is all about. These threads have helped dozens if not hundreds of owners address issues on their boats, giving the info they needed before taking the plunge and making Hatteras ownership a better experience. We also have a number of "lighter" threads covering cruising and many other topics, which all seem to enjoy.

In all the years this forum has been along this is really the first time we have members complaining about what i'd call background noise / static, for the most part because of threads you started. You're also the first member complaining about the content of this forum... need i say more?

Please stay on topic, anything related Hatteras Yachts, and if you have any complaint or suggestion, PM them to the moderators via PM.

I dont' think we have anything to gain by keeping this thread going and i think we're all better off closing it.