Hello Stephen
my contribution is on its way, an idea for the surplus is to send paying members
a bumper sticker. its simple and builds advertising and although I am from SA I would love to have a bumper sticker of such a cool site as this on my van. or on my boats tool box and make others slightly jealous
just my 5 pence worth 😀

OK - Job done, I had a glitch on my server, thanks folks.

Jim

Just accessed PayPal using SafarI too. No probs. Must be your end.

Strange if it can't find paypal.com

Just tested in SafarI and it's ok here. That can only be a PayPal glitch or some kind of block on your computer (parental controls?), local network or service provider...

Try again and let me know if you're still having problems 😊

Stephen

Just tried to make my donation ... Result? 'SafarI can't find the server paypal.com'

Next suggestion please

YES - to a voluntary donation = I'll just reach for my wallet...

Modelboats.com - would cost Circa ?10,000 ?
but I have noticed that we ARE ON IT - the name HAS changed thus:mdlbt.com OR is there a subtle change here? 😊

How hard can it be to donate, everyone wants to show off their boats etc, this doesn't come free. I quite agree the amount of a packet of cigs, one less ciggy living longer and keeping this website alive.

HI everyone,

First of all many thanks to all of you who have recently donated! Just to feedback on a few points...

I've just been into the donation link armed with a debit card and 15 minutes to spare putting in details I often feel uncomfortable about entering into the computer only to find I could use Paypal. Fantastic! this made it quick, easy and secure so job done! Most of us who use the site probably have a Paypal account so let's see the symbol in the link area.
The donate button is the standard Icon PayPal give you to embed into your web page. I have however just added a note next to it to clarify it is PayPal... Pleased you found it easy! and yes, most people have a PayPal account.

I've used and still use this site a lot. it's been a source of high quality information and contacts I'd struggle to find anywhere else so well worth a contribution.
I also pay a subscription to the Tamiyaclub.com, an RC car club which gives simple access to sales and wants adds, allows me to have a showroom and a trade section, perhaps this is something to consider developing more. Check it out.
I've just had a quick look at the Tamiya website and yes, it looks like something that could be done here... or at least an equivalent if members would like such a feature?

In addition to Aerokits I'm also interested in other makes of vintage boat such as Veron, Maycraft, HMM to name a few and other designs from Vic Smeed, Max Coote, Les Rowell etc. Perhaps it's time to specifically identify some of these rather than consigning them to 'others', broaden the information base and have a small membership fee - even ÂA£5 a year would alleviate the problem and take two minutes to send through Paypal. Just food for thought. Roger
Membership fee's I've always come away from. I'm a great believer that if you start charging for something people will go elsewhere.

Widening the target audience however is a great idea and something I've often thought about and would like to do but not really known how to do! The server this website is sitting on is well capable now of extra capacity too...

It would be nice to cater for all types of boats but unfortunately we are tied to the domain name... "modelfireboats.com" which is rather restrictive 😛 changing the name isn't practical either (it's a bit like changing your house address and nobody knowing where you've gone!) modelboats.com would be an awesome domain name... but it's on sale for ÂA£10,000+ so I'm giving that one a miss! I'd be interested to know what everyone else's thoughts are on widening the target audience though? and how it might be possible?

How about, say, a competition for the best photo showing their models boats running in reverse? (Nobody ever shows their boats going backwards - it always seems to be photos of forward motion only).
These are just my thoughts. I'll bet that someone could come up with something much better.
I like the idea! it sounds like a funny competition to hold!... potentially we could have a period of time for people to submit photos, then let everyone vote on them 😀 the prize bit is a little more tricky though! Motor mounts can vary, couplings, props and rudders too. You could win a free servo 😛 they're standard but pretty common though...

Opinions and ideas everyone?

Stephen

I see you are a bit short of the readies so as it is a year since my last donation I have put a bit in the pot.

I think the best and simplest method is for members to make cash payments as it is a simple system and the organisers do not have to spend a lot of time and worry organising things.

I would support a basic request for all users to give ÂA£ 5 a year not much these days, less than packet of cigs.

nasraf

I've just been into the donation link armed with a debit card and 15 minutes to spare putting in details I often feel uncomfortable about entering into the computer only to find I could use Paypal. Fantastic! this made it quick, easy and secure so job done! Most of us who use the site probably have a Paypal account so let's see the symbol in the link area.

I've used and still use this site a lot. it's been a source of high quality information and contacts I'd struggle to find anywhere else so well worth a contribution.
I also pay a subscription to the Tamiyaclub.com, an RC car club which gives simple access to sales and wants adds, allows me to have a showroom and a trade section, perhaps this is something to consider developing more. Check it out.

In addition to Aerokits I'm also interested in other makes of vintage boat such as Veron, Maycraft, HMM to name a few and other designs from Vic Smeed, Max Coote, Les Rowell etc. Perhaps it's time to specifically identify some of these rather than consigning them to 'others', broaden the information base and have a small membership fee - even ÂA£5 a year would alleviate the problem and take two minutes to send through Paypal. Just food for thought. Roger

If you look on the left you will see donations have slowed down BUT the fees still have to be paid so unless there is a dramatic increase in donations Stephen will be out of pocket by a lot of money, so remember Just donating for one year only pays for that year , and yes more people should donate but they don't so until we get a good amount in the bank the Ãa€sÂA£250 a year hosting money has to come from somewhere so I think forget donations at the moment lets try and at least break even by getting a lot more money in donations.

Peter

My vote goes to making a donation to the RNLI.

But back to my original question too... if the donations go above ïAA½70 what could that money be put towards?


Assuming that members have chipped-in and assuming that you end up with a little extra ÂA£Ã‚A£ after the annual running cost of the forum, then maybe consider ploughing it back into the forum for the next annual fees - or perhaps even donating the extra ÂA£Ã‚A£ to the RNLI?
Or what about some sort of competition, whereby the winner would receive something boat related? We all of us need bits and bobs for our models, so perhaps you could offer something along the lines of some slinky brass props, or maybe a motor mount, or a propshaft, etc. You know - nothing too expensive, but something that would be needed and appreciated. Although, how one goes about Implementing such a competition is another story. And how would you judge the winning recipient fairly and squarely without causing any jealousy or general sniping?
How about, say, a competition for the best photo showing their models boats running in reverse? (Nobody ever shows their boats going backwards - it always seems to be photos of forward motion only).
These are just my thoughts. I'll bet that someone could come up with something much better.

Selling caps is a no, no. At the Model Hovercraft Association we have just sold off our remaining stock at a silly price just to off load them. I like the Australian guys idea. Very often we are looking for a boating related product and cannot find it, even after using google. So, an ad in the pages would get my vote providing it was not in your face like pop ups.

I also like the idea that non members ought to be able to view all the site but have to make a donation if they want to send a message or download anything.

What about contacting dormant members, I bet there are bucket loads out there who do not look at the site any more. Get them viewing and suggest a donation.

🚤

Stephen,
Hi I have just joined your group from Down under ( Australia ) I noticed you are looking for ways of raising funds..

I have a small model boats business here in Brisbane , Queensland. What about Businesses like myself running a advert on your site for a small fee ( I know I would be in on it ) and you readers can see what products are out there and I beleive that most other business will do the same ..

Shane..

I have an idea of creating a raffle contest , $25.00USD tickets,for a foreign exchange holiday.Part of this paid by new/old members could go towards annual membership fees.The winning contestant in Europe would have a fully paid expense trip to a regatta at San Francisco,California Golden Gate Park Spreckle's Lake Yacht Club. http://www.sfmyc.org/ The raffle tickets could be advertised on different forums and at various regattas.
The winning contestant in the Americas (Alaska north to Tierra del Fuego south) would have an all-expense paid holiday in the UK or European continent and attend a regatta.
This annual raffle contest would be an enormous fiscal generator and attract many hobby suppliers for advertising banners on the forum website.It would also attract worldwide news media attention and create free publicity for the forum.
I would be happy to help you get in touch with the American forums and yacht clubs to advertise the raffle contest.
Possibly include the Aussies!
Kind Regards,
John Hurt 🚤

HI,

I agree with all of the above! I think caps and shirts would be a problem- you might find you buy a lot and get stuck with them. I checked again and note you have over a thousand members so a small charge would be perfectly appropriate after a trial period. I think people get used to things being free on the internet and forget that a lot of time goes into these things- a fiver a year is not a lot after all.
This is a great site and I don't see why you shouldn't take an 'honorarium' for your time!
If there's a surplus it could be carried over to defray future costs.

Ian

HI again,

I think it's best we stick with having a free website for all.

One of the main and most attractive features of this website is the fact it's free for everyone to use. At the moment you are restricted on what Images and sections you can view as a non-member, but I wouldn't like to add further restrictions until you donate... unless... maybe a one off for the private messaging functionality??

A lot of people use the private messaging just to request plans and this happens in the background all the time. Maybe free to reply, but a one time only donation to have the ability to send new private messages to other members. it would also stop members being nagged for information all the time.

I agree about the caps too, they would have to be bought in groups of 10 ideally and my price estimate based on internet prices is it'll be between A£6 and A£10 to make each one which makes it non-viable.

But back to my original question too... if the donations go above A£70 what could that money be put towards?


Stephen (Website Admin)

Same here Stephen,I agree with Mr.Devlin,I thought that all site 's were mainly financed by the advertisers.
That is why I have not donated to any of the forum sites that I am a member off.I am a member of quite a few site's of different products and would be very difficult for me being a pensioner .However I do feel that this site should be done on a bases of the length of time that you are a member,say one month and you have to donate to access the forums or any other information.
It is one of the best model boating site's that I have found on the web.
So.A£15.00 pa from advertisers
A£05.00 pa from members
No fees for the first month.
Gerry

never even crossed my mind Stephen, sorry!

ideas:

forum membership charge, even as low as A£5.00 per year would at least secure yearly charges, and some wages for you to put the time in!

nominal charge to traders having links on the forum particularly those who sell bits for Aerokits and Fireboats

nominal charge to clubs with links from this website

many of us are not affiliated to a club, so me for example I secure my own insurance, anybody got any specific insurance ideas that can benefit this website?

as for caps etc, not for me, I think it might fail, as they will have to be made and stocked etc, modelboatmayhem certainly have not had any success with merchandise and its a big forum.

😀 😀 Thank you once again to those of you who donated to get us up to the target!!! 😀 😀
I'm very surprised that in less than a week it's reached the target amount!!! it's gone from 1 donation in 5 years to 5 donations in 1 week!! 😯

So now that everything's in the GREEN!... what happens if? anyone else donates even more???

I have had a thought about this, but I would like your ideas too...

There has been a suggestion that it could go towards speeding up the website, possibly on a server upgrade, but having looked into this the next step is to go onto a virtual server which is a massive overkill for a comparatively small website like this.

The other idea (posted a short while back by another member) would be to have custom designed t-shirts, caps, badges etc for anyone who might like such a thing? (If anyone would??) 😛

T-shirts are awkward due to the various size variations, but I am thinking of caps? Would such an item appeal to anyone???

What would be your ideas for the usage of further contributions as it would be great to find a way where it can be pumped back into the fireboat community 😊

Please let me know below!! 😀 😀

Stephen (Website Admin)

Hi,
I think it's possibly because people don't think that much about it- certainly was the case with me. I value the site and hope you can continue- keep up the good work!
Ian