Links at top - shopping on iBoats?

[kd4pbs]

Please forgive me if this has been discussed ad-nauseum before, but I've noticed over the past couple of months that the SHOP, BOATS FOR SALE links at the top of the page are inop. I'd love to contribute to those who make this forum possible by patronizing them, but it seems this forum's shopping service is no longer available. (yes, I have been living under a rock for the past 12 years or so)

 

[Scott Danforth]

the iBoats name, website, forum, etc. have new owners

 

[kd4pbs]

Thanks, Scott. I seem to remember buying some boating paraphernalia on the iBoats shopping site 10 years ago or so, so that explains that.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

the iBoats name, website, forum, etc. have new owners

For how long? They worked when I first joined not too long ago.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Not sure when the ownership changed legally. the site has been undergoing changes for a few months now

 

[StewartL]

Yes, those links and the associated store have been inactive for a long time. The forum is primarily supported by sponsors and advertisers now. To support the site, engaging with the sponsors you see on the pages is the best way.

 

[tpenfield]

It has been a few years that the new owners have deactivated the store-front portion of iBoats. It may return at some point, but we do not know anything definite.

 

[redneck joe]

When all this started I did some digging and iirc the new owners are in a similar, if not online, business.

Obviously there is value in both this forum and the (former) sales site to initiate a purchase. Last numbers I found pre sale was 7.3M is revenue annual so there was a good amount of product velocity. 18 employees.

This forum can't make a huge amount of money on just ads so there imo there has to be an integration plan of the iboats sales business into their business.

Some communication to us would be appreciated.

This site is hands down the best for overall info. I joined THT as my first forum in 2005. Brand or activity centric site like BOC or Club Searay or Duck Boats etc all are good for very specific things however from an overall boating site that encompasses all things boating and most importantly maintenance because as boater we all know that is what is the most impotrant, time consumingand costly part of boating. A mercruiser alpha xx or a Johnson xx hp is the same no matter what brand boat it is on and brand specific sites are weak on that stuff. This place fills that knowledge gap better than anywhere I've ever found.

 

[tpenfield]

The new owners are in a similar line of business, but in a wholesale/distribution capacity. Whereas iBoats had been in a retail capacity.

We (the Mods) are not sure of the future plans, so for now, it is steady-as-she-goes.

 

[Scott Danforth]

yes.... us mods are along for the same ride as the rest of the members.

 

[kd4pbs]

I registered a little while ago, but just recently started posting because... life.
I used to be on BoatingABC quite a bunch 20+ years ago, but apparently that went North. Also was on the FourWinns forum until I got fed up with one moron who constantly posted stupid ignorance (and didn't even own a FourWinns) and left. I've often searched the archives here though, because, well, there's just a bunch of amazing, talented, smart, technical savvy advice here from all the amazing, talented, smart, technically savvy users. Very akin to what BoatingABC was.
Thanks, mods. You are appreciated!

 

[tpenfield]

I was on BoatingABC for quite some time as well. IMO, the technical level here on iBoats is much higher, and probably one of the highest among the popular boating sites.

BABC went away one day without notice. There was just a handful of people who frequented there an I would imagine the admin got tired of running it.