Proposal for a Seagull Owners Association

[Collector Inspector]

Noted!

[Keith.P]

Sorry I couldn't help myself





What more do you need

[Charles uk]

Keith, around 50% of the humans on this forum are guests & to find us they had to search on the word Seagull, now I don't suppose they just did it out of interest but hope 90% have a Seagull & are just visiting here to learn enough to use it.

Perhaps if we can aid them they might sign up & catch the bug.

If you look at our 1000+ members you will see that less than 5% are regular contributors, so it's reasonable to assume that they came here looking for something, found it, thanks very much, bye bye, as must most of the visitors.

An easily found, free idiots guide might well serve 2 purposes, get their motor back to a good running condition, & publicise the fact that Saving old Seagulls are a major supplier of Seagull parts world wide.

We depend on John's benevolence to provide this site, pay for it's running costs & spend a considerable amount of free time helping us, it would be nice if this guide helped keep his business viable & in a position where he can commission things like 102 tank transfers where he has to order 50 & only sells 6 a year, no business for profit would even contemplate such a silly move.

Excuse me John for poking my nose in your business practices.

[John@sos]

Hi All,

I've been watching quietly and pleased the tone is more cheerful!

An idiots guide would be a great idea. A lot is already on the site in all sorts of places, but collate it and I could make a page just for that, (or our friend Brendan could!)

Really like the graphic Keith! just the Ticket!

And yes Charles, I don't do this to just make money, I would fail any business course thats for sure! If I did get mercenary I would have an eBay shop and be vieing with the lads who want to triple the price of a part and add £10 P&P. I am happy for it to tick along and be a place owners like to rummage to find out info!

Would be nice to sell a few of the pile of new, accurate 102 transfers though! But Hey, that would mean me having to work, and it's fitting out and antifouling time now!

Happy Seagulling
John

[Keith.P]

The picture is only my original Avatar I made up.
Any help needed, just ask.
Don't all rush at once

[Charles uk]

Can you do one that has Century or 40 details for the idiots guide so we can label all the components in a none clutch version?

That was a lot of work! Nice!

[Keith.P]

If you would like, I have a 102 I started some time ago, could do a 40 as will, I will look in to it.

[Rex NZ]

Buzzook

Suggestion. Maybe publishing a 'Dummies Guide' might act as a catalyst / promo tool to get some Ozzy events going. I created the website http://www.regattaevents.co.nz primarily to help co-ordinate & promote events here in NZ. It does that job very well. That's despite the site being quite basic.

There's some content on the website under the button 'Tips & Tricks'. Some of that would be suitable for a 'Dummies Guide'. You are welcome to copy / modify relevant parts of that content to help you get started.

http://www.seagulloutboard.com/1_5_Tips-Tricks.html

Rex

[Todd]

Just for the sake of conversation, I might point out that there is a "Seagulls for Dummies" of sorts already on the market. It's not perfect, the guy, Don Meyer, is not a writer, but as a Seagull newby I found it useful.

http://maddenterprises.com/index.htm

Todd

[John@sos]

Sadly you are correct, it is not perfect, indeed I spent a lot of time with Don, after he published it, trying to correct it. The sad thing is he never has had the corrections printed as the first run was large... When the new one is printed it should have a large reference to me here at SOS for sorting out the text and technical stuff.

It is just the sort of book that is needed, but is you are really persistant you could find a copy of the 'Clymer' Seagull handbook, that was better! (Not perfect!!)

Been out of print for years though.

Regards,
John

[Hugz]

I can't edit either! Better do some research.

[Robin Anderson]

Thanks to all who have chucked pearls of wisdom into this thread which I have found very interesting. Not surprising that some posts have got a bit heated as some folk around here are very serious in their Seagull fancying and don't take kindly to loose spanners being chucked about. Must in particular thank Keith P - that cut away drawing has answered many of my nagging questions re "naming of parts" - it makes it all so clear thank you . The sticky- out bit at the front for example I now know is actually the "hold onto thingy". I will now be able to impress new crew members with the proper technical term for the various lumpy bits that stick out all over my little engines. We need more of such clarity in our confused and overly complex world.
As to the need for an association - I inherently avoid all forms of clubs - of course not wishing to be associated with any club that would have the likes of me as a member and I appreciate the SOS site and forum etc just as they are. Can't help feeling however that there is an argument regarding the need for Representation . Government at all levels these days tends to be by and for pressure groups and special interest groups of one form or another - hence we get so much rotten legislation and over regulation which panders to those who pay the right people off or who make the most noise for their particular cause. Our cause - if I may be so bold as to speak on behalf of Seagull owners - is probably something along the lines of being able to own and use our Seagulls as and how we wish without undue hindrance from or offence to anyone. Although we are currently ok in our ability to get along without an Association I can envisage a day when some prat wants to ban us using our engines because of perceived harm to newts, water voles, seahorses, global warming or whatever. We could write individually to an MP, MEP, Councillor etc but to get anywhere these days I imagine that one would be much better off as part of an organisation or association. So perhaps in the event of a doomsday situation where aTsunami of rotten legislation threatens our Seagulling we might be able to quckly whip our "membership" together to form a Seagull Owners Action Group. Of course a decent acronym would be essential - perhaps we could be the SOSAG (pronounced "sausage" ) -for Saving Old Seagulls Action Group.)
Robin

[Keith.P]

Just a little more work to go on this one, if this is the sort of thing needed.
Only part picture shown.

[John@sos]

Great Robin,

I'm often called a 'silly old sausage'!

Cheers,
John

[Keith.P]

Finished playing with some pictures.