Active Captain / eBoatCards

[Godot]

I haven't seen too much talk about it here; but one of my favorite boating sites is ActiveCaptain.com. It's one of those online cruising guide sites that somehow seemed to pull it off (I know the concept has been tried and failed a number of times).

They just started a companion site, eBoatCards which is half electronic boat card (the rough electronic equivelant of a boat's business card), and half social media site ala Facebook without all the BS (and much tighter privacy controls).

I'm not sure of the eBoatCards usefulness yet, or how the social media aspect of it is going to mesh with other social sites (for instance: sailfar); but it's an attractive idea. At least to me.

I thought I'd throw it out there for anyone interested.

[CharlieJ]

I get stuff from Active Captain, and used to follow. But they have gone a whole lot "techie" lately and I've pretty much lost interest. Not terribly into touch screens all over.

Still get the email updates, but pretty much I just read and delete.

[Godot]

The emails are emails. They do have some good Defender deals from time to time. I'm more interested in the site itself.

[s/v Faith]

The concept is good, and the input is as good as the contributors... Mixed.  For example, read about mile hammock anchorage near the new river in NC... Reviews are all over the place with folks saying contradictory info as fact...

Another tool in the box, but not one I use much.  Glad it fits for others though...

[Captain Smollett]

Been discussed here a few times over the past few years.

[Auspicious]

I think quite highly of ActiveCaptain and the Siegels (we're getting together for drinks tonight!).

If you use ActiveCaptain regularly you start to get a feeling for the quality of the reviews and the reviewers. If there is question I often drill down to the reviewer information and look at their other reviews. Then I can decide what credibility that person has with me.

How eBC works remains to be seen. I'm certainly going to give it a fair shake. I expect it will be more social, ephemeral, and less technical. The fora like SailFar, SSCA Forum, SailNet, CruisersForum and others will continue (I expect) to be the better resources for technical discussions.

It wouldn't hurt to suggest a SailFar group on eBC. It could help turn up more small boat sailors and drive them to SailFar.

[Grime]

If it wasn't for Active Captain our trip to New Orleans would have been a lot harder. For example: Lock names, bridge names, this made it easy to contact them. There is a world of good information. I would like to have AIS just so I could contact the tows by name. Just makes it life simpler.

As far as the eBC I think in time I'll go there more than FB.

[marujo_sortudo]

Taken with a dose of salt, AC was quite useful on the ICW, especially for shoaling hazards.  I probably ran aground a couple fewer times than I might have, thanks to AC ;)

[Cruise]

The active captain app for Android is handy as it can be too. You get it free using the nautichart app.

[cap-couillon]

A prudent mariner does not use one aid for navigation.... 

Heading toward anywhere I obtain all the info available, then make (and live with) my own decision.
In the states, AC is on the list for information

[s/v Faith]

Has anyone used the new "boat cards"?

[Travelnik]

Has anyone used the new "boat cards"?

I signed up for it, but I haven't really done a lot there yet. Too many other things going on right now.

[CharlieJ]

nope

[Godot]

I'm on the site, and signed up. I'm not really cruising, so boat cards, electronic or paper, aren't a big part of my life at the moment, although I have run across a couple people I've exchanged with. I think a few thousand  people have signed up for eboatcards so far, and I don't think it has reached critical mass, yet. But I check the site daily and use it on the rare occasion there is a reason. My early impressions are positive. It's social networking with a narrower focus than a facebook. I think it will be valuable going forward.