Well, after months of debating which board I'd join, I've finally made up my mind (after putting up with a harrassing jerk on a DIFFERENT board for too TOO long - today was the last straw).

So, I've made my switch to full-time OSO'er!

And very glad to be here as a real poster. Now I can't wait to see all these pictures I've been missing ;)

BK, let me get you started:D

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...?s=&forumid=98

Thanks Steve!

Welcome, BK! :D :D

Thanks guys!

But I guess I have to wait 24 hours to see anything since I paid for the membership today....I guess i can wait. ;)


But...about that censored section.....are those pics of scantily clad ladies in there?
If so, just ought to let you know....
I'm a girl. :) And I love boats.


http://www.hydroprop.com/photo/03madison/Saturday08.jpg

<------now taking donations for OSO 6month membership.

hey most porn sites are $20 a month.

and i know 95% of the members here have porno site memberships.

So, my .02... I thought that the (forced) jump from Gold to Platinum for the same bennies was - at first - a bit harsh, but then I thought about it for a few minutes and figured for $50 where else am I going to have a boundless resource of info for what I enjoy most, performance boating!? Taking just that into consideration, it is worth the $$$ to me. However, if I can learn something new, teach someone something new, save some money or find a good company to do business with, I am waaaay ahead of the game! I think we can find a happy medium with member fees as well as patronizing the PAYING advertisers here, and be happy with it. With 15K members, how many are at the Platinum level, the Gold level and the "I can get it for free so screw 'em level"? I don't think, in fact I will BET that Steve and Jeffrey are not getting rich off of this site. And if someday they are are pulling down a couple hundred G's a piece from this site - good for them! They stepped up, made this site happen and keep it running - everyday. They give back plenty in the way of events, the DVD's and everything that they do to improve this site everyday. I look at it as an investment, if you think that you will get decent returns from your investment, make it, if not - don't. How many times have you walked into a bar, paid $50 for a round of drinks, (at Touch that will get you 4 Chopin's on the rocks - BTW:eek: ) and never batted an eye!?

Chris, you and most of the others that have posted have made good points, and I think that if we - as members take care to help manage the site by doing our part to improve it and maintain it's quality and credibility - like working with the paying advertisers ONLY, we will help make it a better site than it already is. Screw the bottom feeders, we are what this site is all about and what makes it the great community that it is, but if it wasn't for Steve & Jeffrey creating it all, it just wouldn't be - period!

"Anything worth doing is worth doing for money"
-Gordon Gekko, Wall St.-



:)

basically my use of OSO is as follows

I'm here everyday checking out the general discussion and tech. I like the crowd and there are a lot of knowledgeable people in there for boating and off topic stuff. Now that I can't start threads....I'll just look elsewhere for the info I need. I visit a lot of other sites....cars, etc that allow me to do the same functions. Generally I liked hanging out here and shooting the breeze with other boaters.

In all honesty....I can't afford it. For what I use the board for which is hanging out and just general chatting with fellow boaters I can't see paying for that. I agree that certain sections, "uncensored" and maybe some race stuff should not be allowed for users like me. I've picked up on, and posted some good info in my time here and I'll continue to. I'll only be able to reply now but thats ok....I'll just post until those rights are taken away which at that time, I'll either have to pay, or go somewhere else.

Not griping....just stating the facts from my standpoint and I know there are some others out there in the same boat as me. Small boaters that enjoy hanging with the crowd and just enjoying basic chit chat with other fellow boaters.

The parties every year in Miami are WELL WORTH the price of membership alone! The benefit is the awesome commraderie that comes about by sharing boating stories, tips, and sales. Way to go Steve and Jeff! Love the site... even though I hardly get to surf much anymore.

You've got my membership for the third straight year!

You must be smokin crack there puder. Why would I ever pay $20/month when I get it here for a little over $4/month. I'm savin to repair the hole that appeared in the side of my block with a rod hanging out of it!! I'd guess more like 90%;)