Sticky Suggestion

iggy

New member
Dave McGee recently inquired:

I am trying to find the tow weight of a typically loaded CD22 and trailer. I have searched through the forums and I have seen everything from 3500 lbs to 4900 lbs. Assuming a dual axle trailer, what is realistic? Thanks!
Since this, and similar questions get asked every few months, how about collecting a table of 'basic information' and posting it as a 'sticky' message? The data is in the archives, but it takes a fair amount of digging to find it each time.

I'd be glad to do the search (and will volunteer), but I'm not a boat owner (yet), and would not be able to speak from experience. Perhaps Dave has a good set of information as a starting point.

Examples:

What is the lightest (actual measured) weight of a 22-Cruiser on a lighter, single axle trailer? Any difference for an Angler? (prob not much). What gear was on board? (Minimal fuel and water; what else?)

What is the heaviest (actual measured) weight of a CD-22 on a heavier, tandem trailer, fully loaded with fuel, water, lots of gear?

If anyone knows the weight of their empty trailer, can they then provide the weight of their boat alone, either very light, or very heavy?

What is the shortest overall length, boat and trailer?

What is the longest overall length, boat and trailer?

What is the minimum height of boat and trailer (std cabin; no radar arch)?

What is the max ht. of boat and trailer (+/- high top; + low radar arch; + high radar arch; + kayak or dinghy?

(Same idea for other models, of course.)

Once this material has been gathered in one place, it should be easy for Brats to update and refine it if their boat falls below the lower estimates, or above the upper estimates.

Comments?

iggy
 
Rather than a "sticky", I would suggest that it might be better to have a "frequently asked questions" (FAQ) forum or link. If done as a forum, it would be cool to have the creation of new topics limited to either moderators or perhaps brats whose post total exceed a certain number. That way less random crap would end up there.

The advantage of a forum (as opposed to a single sticky) is that it would allow many frequently asked questions to be put there. Other examples that re-appear often

twin vs single
cruiser vs angler
how many people can be reasonably accommodated in a CD-xx
prop questions etc.
what anchor

As you point out, the answers to FAQ's are somewhere in the forums and can be found by someone who is good with the search tool and willing to spend the time. It would be nice to simply provide posts for each FAQ that link to previous discussions.
 
Roger has it. As I have used the search function, it takes a while to root out
what you want from the individual posts,
I'm all for a FAQ's section.
Then after reading that, new Q's could be asked if the FAQ didn't satisfy.
I have asked questions and been referred to previous threads, which are very informative.
Would be great to have a central area to find commonly asked info.
My .01.
Bill
 
OK, I am going to fess up. I've seen several responses, actually quite a few that say just use the "search" feature. I have never found that nice little search engine, and for answering a lot of the common questions, I think it would be a nice addition.

So... Bill, Mike: If there is a search function, please make it more accessible. If there isn't, wow would it ever be beneficial.

Change of topic....
Mike (Da Nag), I followed your example and covered the flush mount rod holders with the swivel base for the down riggers. I like the way they turned out, thanks for the idea. Photos in the album.

Steve
 
Upon further consideration, I would have to agree with rogerbum that an FAQ section would be of more use. And I also agree that some sort of 'qualification' for contributors would be helpful. Unfortunately (or fortunately), that would leave me out for now, so I'd get all the benefits without having to do any of the work. :lol:

SEARCH FUNCTION:

The good news -- Yes, there is a search function. Look at the top of the page, left hand side of the second row of links. Click on the link to open a Boolean search feature.

The bad news -- It always sounds like a good idea, but is usually very tedious. Here's an example:

I did a search for 'towing weight' and the search returned 1477 matches! Either 'more than I ever wanted to know' OR 'a lot of irrelevant information'.

I then refined the search by entering 'tow AND weight'. This time I 'only' (!) received 170 matches. However, one of them referred to:
The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...
[ Goto pageGoto page: 1 ... 53, 54, 55 ] JamesTXSD 812 73896
This thread alone is 55 pages, and includes 812 separate messages! That's the number of posts entered in that thread, either by Jim, or by others responding to Jim. I recall that was a very interesting and informative thread, and I suppose somewhere in there is some mention of 'towing weight'. OTOH, there may be a comment somewhere like, "We had an easy tow to Lake Powell." (message #142?), and a question from someone later, "What was the weight of that crab you caught?" (message #417?) Interesting reading to be sure, but not the best use of one's time if you are looking for specific information. :roll:

Bottom line:

(a) Even for those who know how to do Boolean searches, the results are less than ideal.
(b) C-Brats should FAQ themselves. :oops: (Ooooh, my bad; sorry!)

iggy
 
I am and probably will always be computer illiterate. My kids call me "pathetic" when it comes to the electronic world.

I thank those who labor to give us this forum and, if possible, make it easier for slumucks like me to use it.

Allan
 
If you use Google as your search engine and search the C-Brat domain for the exact match “towing weight” you only get five matches. One of them is this thread.

For those of you that do not know how to search a domain using Google, click on the Advanced Search link just to the right of the user input box.

Fill out your search criteria and in the last user input box type the domain you want to search, in this case it would be www.c-brats.com You will get fewer and more relevant results than the search function used on this site.
________
Dave dlt.gif
 
Back
Top