sailingpj

"At all levels from pre K up, courses should include the study of foreign languages, mathamatics, science, and philosophy...my 2 cents... "

 

I totally agree with that. What does it say about our educational system that we have 12 years of learning english, then most college degrees requires an additional 1-2 years of english or writing.

 

The biggest problem with most math course that I have seen is that they don't teach logic. Logically analyzing a problem can lead to the right answer even when you don't remember the right way to do it. Take a simple multiplication problem: 9*12, now say you forgot you 12 times tables so instead you think 9*11=99 99+9=108 108=9*12.

 

A little bit of logic and understanding of how multiplication works goes a long way.

 

I have been tutoring middle schoolers in math, and none of them have any understanding of how multiplication works. It is just some magic thing that does what it does. Very few of them get that 5*5=5+5+5+5+5. They understand it when I show them, but it is not something that has been taught to them.

Below I have proof that Tau is better than Pi.

 

 

Given that one tau equals two pi.

Tau = 2Pi

 

And two Pi is greater (better) than one Pi.

2Pi > Pi

 

Then Tau must be greater (better) than Pi.

Tau > Pi

BadenP,

 

Where are you getting that quote from? Not counting where you wrote them, those words do not appear in that order anywhere on this page.

 

eisely actually said:

 

"I think most people (like 99.99%) would understand that the requirement is for five different references. The boy should be required to come up with more names. "

 

I took that to mean that he thinks the boy in question should be required to use more than just his two parents for all five references.

Speaking as a representative of the class of 2015, it would be AWESOME to have Ferris Bueller as my father.

That wasn't even counting sailing.

 

The Koch Cup next summer could very well end up looking something like this:

 

Sea Scouts still do plenty of things that require going 20+ feet in the air.

 

Breeches Buoy -

- This crew had a ok time, not great though, and I am pretty sure they got a couple penalties.

 

Rope Climb - Climb a 18'-25' rope.

 

Boatswain's Chair - Tie a french bowline around yourself and with the aid of another crew member ascend 18'-25' feet and touch the block.

 

Scuttlebutt - Not something you climb on, though we have used people for weight in the barrel when practicing. -

The first one would actually be pretty awesome.

Our ship currently has one coastie, and one auxiliarist. Unfortunately both have very busy schedules, so they can't help a whole lot.

 

The Coast Guard and the Auxiliary are also willing to take Sea Scouts out on their boats.

OGE, There are two answers to that question. What the manual says, and what actually happens.

 

According to the manual we have three for the youth, and three for the adults.

 

Dress Whites (Youth/Adult)

Dress Blues (Youth/Adult)

Work Uniform (Youth/Adult)

 

Most ships make a ship t-shirt, and either use one of the above three for a dress uniform, or they make their own dress uniform.

So a big thing people have mentioned is the expense. I am here to tell you that Sea Scout Ships can be run so cheaply that they don't even need a ship bank account.

 

I was part of a ship for a few months last year that did that.

 

We had three small boats that we used at least three times a month, we went diving at least once a month, and every so often we would help someone who wanted their boat moved.

 

We attended all the regattas in the state (That cats point regatta was a blast), and most of the time we were in the top 3.

 

We were actively doing something 3 weekends out of every month, and it was all youth planned and run. The only time our skipper ever told us we couldn't do something was two days before a dive when the waves were perfect for surfing (makes a shore entry hard). So we went sailing instead.

 

The big difference I saw between that ship and others I have been a part of was the amount of adult participation. We had enough adults that no one person was required to go to everything we did.

Eamonn said:

"I've had Sea Scouts join the Ship from this large district and it's not unusual for kids to be on the bus for two hours each way!

That makes for a very long day!! "

 

This is exactly why we need more Sea Scout Ships. Where I currently live the closest ship is 28 miles away. 35-50 minute drive, and 2 1/2 hours on the bus. All the other ships are somewhere between 40min - 1 1/2 drive away. I live within 10 miles of 4 marinas and at least a half dozen yacht clubs.

 

Where I was living last year it took 40 minutes minimum to reach any ship. That was mostly freeway driving.

 

I really don't get it. The program is a lot of fun, and can be run pretty inexpensively if you try.

 

My title say it all, we need more ships. If people are willing to travel 2+ hours one way (and not just crazy people like me) for a ship there must be something good going on there.

That ties in with what my mom started saying years ago, if you aren't on the internet you don't exist.

 

I know that I joined the ships I've been a part of because of their internet presence. If they didn't have a website with pictures of scouts having fun, a calender, and contact information, I didn't contact them.

There is definitely no comparison between roasted marshmallows, and burnt marshmallows.

 

As for the flaming ones, if you blow them out fast enough they are still edible. It doesn't take much to blow them out either, just a good solid puff of air, such as one might use to blow out a big group of birthday candles.

Thats good to know. My ship if cruising up the sacremento river for summer cruise starting friday.

Every year during the summer there is a weekend chosen where most ships meet up at this on cove on the Delta. Most years some ship throws a boat in the water with a handheld GPS and anybody who wants to can follow them in circles around the cove for a mile.

The post I span this off from said:

 

"In the time it takes to read this entire thread, most of you could have invented at least a half dozen games involving water guns where the primary target isn't another person and the probability of staying dry is zero."

 

Here is your chance to do just that.

 

I'll start if off with something we do at Safety at Sea every year.]

 

It is called fire hose practice. The Coast Guard hooks up a couple fire hoses to the hydrant and hangs a big round fender from a line. Teams man the hoses from either end of the line and play reverse tug-o-war.

 

It is impossible to stay dry, and it is more fun than any water fight I have ever been in before.

 

Over the years all officers have learned to stay away from this event. Any who comes within range of the hoses ends up soaked. Of course new officers are not warned to stay away.

"As for Sea Scouts, Yep they use NAVMC2691, and I've seen some Sea Scouts kick JROTC and Sea Cadet butt!"

 

That is a new one that is starting to filter in here. For the longest time most ships used the drill taught in the 1912 Sea Scout manual. It evolved a little over time in each ship though as it was passed along from generation to generation.

 

Since the Southwestern Rendezvous adopted that Marine Corps drill manual as their standard, some ships have started using it.

 

As for Boy Scouts doing flag ceremonies, I went to this camporee and all three flag ceremonies we watched were hard to watch. On two of them an adult came out to help them attach the flag to the halyard after the scouts had been struggling for a couple minutes. While the scouts were respectful toward the flag they did not seem to even try too be impressive at all. One of our officers who worked at a summer camp told me that that was pretty normal. Apparently at the camp she works at every day a different troop is responsible for colors.

 

That was a big surprise for me. In Sea Scouts most color guards do their best to be impressive. This is their time to show off to a bunch of other ships. Of course they also know that if they mess up people will give them a hard time about it for years to come .

Yes, when done right drill can be fun. We do it in Sea Scouts all the time. We even compete in it at some regattas. I like having drill as part of Sea Scout regattas because it is an event that any crew can win. Even a crew of complete newbies can do well in drill if they practice a little before the regatta.

 

You don't need any special equipment, you can learn it from a book, and it really isn't that hard.

 

"Frankly, I cringe often when I see scouts doing flag ceremonies in public."

 

I second that^^

"or in today's youth parlance, "whatever"."

 

Nah, It's "whatevah dude"

 

You also have to sigh, shrug your shoulders, and turn away just right at the proper time. Also if the situation is right an eye roll may be called for.

 

Personally I didn't get much of a spammy vibe from the first post. A little, but I didn't really notice it until I read Beavah's posts.

 

I am also guessing that the mods didn't see this as spam or an ad because they didn't close or delete it.

Your welcome.

 

I would also suggest that you add a written quick reference guide. I much prefer to read directions than watch them. Usually by the time I get around to reading directions I am just looking for how to do a specific task, so i just want to skim through until I see what I need. A series of videos does not do that.

 

I am not really getting a clunky vibe here, more of a work in progress vibe. It feels a lot like a google site, something made mostly from templates.

 

I agree that the price is a bit steep for the functionality that is currently offered. What you currently have is a fancy version of what I made on Excel for my ship. That Excel doc can do everything your site does, and all it cost me was a few hours work and some paper and ink when I need to print it out. When I need to show it to someone I bring my computer, email them, or share with them the copy on Google docs.

 

With that system I have all the functionality that is on your site with no money out of pocket for me or my ship. Of course my Skipper still insists on keeping his binder with all the signatures in it.

 

I believe that all of that is part of the reason nld says your site is overpriced. It is just a slightly fancier way to do what every unit already has some system for doing (keeping a roster with everyone's contact info, and keeping track of advancement; neither are really complicated tasks), and it doesn't actually do a whole lot. Unless your site can put out some insanely awesome reports, I doubt it will catch on.

I am on the fence about advancement tracking software. On one hand it is really cool, and in many cases can make stuff easier; especially if the software is mobile, and also serves as an address book.

 

On the other hand, I am glad none of the adults in my ship have found anything like that for Sea Scouts. We already have this problem of people getting signed off on requirements without knowing it. The Skipper keeps track of everything in this big binder and often signs people off on things without telling them. We have had people be done with Apprentice and not have any clue about it until they were given the award a couple months later. I think software of any sort would just make that even more common.

 

As for features like paying with credit cards and Paypal, they all come with fees for whomever is collecting the money. That cost would either have to be eaten by the unit, or passed on to the families.

 

That's my take on it. I like all the other features you mentioned though. Most of that would be very useful.

Ok, but you cannot add a new person to to the unit without an email address. You site allows you to add a person without a name, but not without an email address.

"The problem with using a folding rigging knife is you need two hands to operate it. If one hand is holding onto the rigging to keep you from swinging circles around the mast while the vessel rocks in the swell, that could be a problem."

 

This really depends on the knife. I have several rigging knives that I can open with one hand quite easily. Also, I have yet to meet someone who would go up a mast without a way to tie themselves in. I'm not saying that a fixed bladed knife has no place on a boat, I just wouldn't normally take one up a mast with me.

I am going to insert a slightly off topic thought here that Eamonn will understand.

 

On a similar note, we have a company that want to fund a project on our boat. A large scale project. New engines is one project that we will be submitting. Our Skipper asked me and the Officers to come op with other project ideas to submit. I just spent the past hour looking at some navigation systems that would be so awesome to have. The set up I want us to submit is this chartplotter with integrated radar and weather maps. With that system you can overlay your radar and weather info directly onto the charts, or view them separately.

 

Back to my original thought, it does tie into this thread a little.

 

You all have been talking about how expensive camping gear is, consider yourselves lucky that you aren't into boats. There are so many options for customizing different things, making this lighter, that stronger.

 

I knew a guy who swore that this new mainsheet he bought made the boat a 1/4 kt faster (it did, but not for the reason he thought it did). Then you have blocks and sails and travelers and bearings and and and.....

 

All this stuff that you can spend thousands of dollars a month/week/day/year (depends on the size of the boat and how much you use it) on. Yet, just like with camping, it is still possible to go out and have fun for cheap. The trick is to never walk into West Marine; or get hooked up as crew for some rich guy, all the fun but none of the cost.

 

Another trick that I am certain also applies to camping is to search craigslist and ebay. All the time people decide to start a hobby, buy a ton of gear, use it once, then it sits in their garage for a few years until they get around to sell it for less than half what it would cost new.