Laurie,
Can we get a sub-forum setup for us DIY wanabee's. It would be great for future reference.
Thanks
Ok, serious post now.
Yes, I would like to see a kiteboard construction sub forum.
Perhaps this would not sit well with some of the sponsors (they may feel they are losing some of the market).
In my humble opinion, the type of people that make their own boards will do it anyway (just the better info they have, the better the results).
The type of people that buy their boards will buy them anyway.
Ask anyone who has made a board how long it took them, the answer is likely to be, "about three times as long as I thought it would".
Laurie, maybe this would be a chance for your sponsors to target this market. ie such a forum would be a good place to advertise footpads, fins, fibreglass, resin etc... what do you think?
I like the idea. Often I search other (international) forums for advice on DIY, so I think Seabreeze might be missing an opportuntiy in this area. DIY always needs materials to build from, and accessories - this would be a good place for suppliers to advertise (or DIY'ers to suggest where to buy materials from locally).
Perhaps combine into the category kite/board repairs? These types of threads pop up and disappear infrequently. Kiters often want to know where (locally) to take their gear for repairs...opportunity for advertising for repair shops.
It would be good, but I reckon it would get lost .. and wouldn't get much traffic.
Maybe if on posting a new topic, DIY'er choose "How To" from the category .. then you get best of both worlds .. lots of exposure in the general forum, and quick filtering... ?
Here's a sample from the SUP forum filter - folks were after a "Downwinder" sub forum, but general concensus was that it wouldn't get visited often..., but setting category makes for quick viewing of topics...
Always open to ideas...
I've been building my own boards for a 18 months or so and would love to see a subforum on Seabreeze because there is lots of inform but it is really scattered and hard to build a community through your own site ( www.boardbuilders.co )
There is one on kiteforum (kiteforum.com/viewforum.php?f=107 ) which is pretty well used by a very international audience. However, to keep it going I think you need a dedicated group of moderators/contributors because it seems that after a while the really active builders have got all there questions and ideas out there and new builders get everything they need out of the existing posts and new post activity drops off but page views remains strong. A group of moderators could help keep re-injecting some fresh ideas and projects and general community building things.
I think something that would also be really useful is to have a page where the resources (suppliers links, how to videos, design ideas ... ) could be added and sorted. there is loads of great info out there, even on some of the commercial player's sites that would be great to have in one place and also makes it more attractive to advertisers.
Great idea. While it wouldnt get a lot of hits the ability to get a quick reference would be very handy. Although I am not into kitesurfing , kite boards, surf boards, SUPs and wind surf boards are reasonably close in how they are all made. How about including a DIY sub forum in the general discussion section. That would make the searching much easier.
Don't know about that I like reading the info on board construction in the main arena you sure there is enough posts to warrant it? I for one would never visit it, but I do like reading about it now and then when it comes up.
