How Accurate is the Information You Receive Here?

[fwebster]

We have just gone through several weeks here on CSR with a pretty active "industry professional" where there were several posts that were inaccurate or just plain wrong.

If the methods in at least 2 of the procedures are followed, you very likely could have a significant repair facing you in the future. So, I'm wondering if any of you ever attempt to verify the accuracy of the information you get here and if you do, how do you do it?

 

[dpvandy01]

New to the board but I take most things with a grain of salt (actually sea salt it's better for my blood pressure.)

 

[Pirate]

Frank, there is a lot of good information available here. I think, for most of us, it is pretty easy to discern between the fluff and the real info. Certainly, your experience and credibility conveys in your posts.

 

[Morpheus]

If the methods in at least 2 of the procedures are followed, you very likely could have a significant repair facing you in the future.

So now I'm curious to know what it was so I can avoid it :grin:

And certianly if I ever say something that is wrong I would hope someone would point it out to me.

 

[Weave]

I agree with Frank......I usually cross reference and post the same question on two or three reliable forums. I find this forum is great for chat about boats, crusing, lifestyle, etc. :smt038
When it comes to engines and drives....I ALWAYS cross reference:smt024.

Bottom line that I have learned is that other than experience, nothing beats reading the manual, it's great winter read

 

[Quint4]

I am on this forum a lot...but only post when I am very sure of my info....I also read other forums to help gain more knowledge and to read more opinions on the same topics.

 

[chuck1]

Good point Frank. Usually will talk with mechanic / dealer since they do most of my work. I'm still under warranty on the current boat. I think all free information should be taken with a grain of salt. What is the old saying "You Get What you Pay for"

 

[Sundancer]

There are a few folks who know boats very well and I trust there advice. Others here don't carry that weight or expertise and the grain of salt applies. I'll double check on another board depending on the cost of the repair involved and worst case scenario. A new motor and I'll validate on a couple of boards where swapping out bulbs for LED's won't. Sometime it's just a common sense "DUH" moment.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

So fwebster, what was the post in question as posed by Morpheus prior to me asking? Curious minds want to know....

 

[cr0ck1]

well i see it like this.. Most of the time if your getting the advice from someone who has the exact same boat at you and had the exact problem and already had it fixed or knows the fix for it, then take the advice..

 

[fwebster]

I prefer not to direct you to the posts that prompted me to ask this question since it would, no doubt, create some fireworks. That is, in fact, the reason I didn't raise the question when the information was originally posted.

However, I will tell you that there are some very good technical and mechanical reasons for following the winterizing procedures contained in your Mercruiser manual. You may get lucky, but to abbreviate those procedures because you are in a hurry or because someone else said they did it that way may well cost you some $ come spring when your boat won't run.

 

[First Born]

The information provided on the board is only as good as the poster posting it. There are several people on here that you can take their word to the bank 9 times out of 10 and then there are some that you wonder what they are even saying (and like Frank I am not commenting on who I am talking about) but that is for you decide. Most of the time if someone post information that is incorrect someone will jump in and challenge them on their thoughts.

I would ask that if you see something that could cause harm to someone's boat due to following the advise that the person (without calling the person an idiot) question their posting. That said I probably just made my job harder. I can't wait to see one of Gary's posting saying "Wesley told me to question you cause you sound like an idiot."

Wesley

 

[Turtlesboat]

Always be Leary of the alligator that informs you that you are sick and that the cure just so happens to be a swim

 

[Four Suns]

I have enough edicate to know I shouldn't call someone an Idiot.

 

[MAKC]

I find the information here to be very accurate as its posted (most of the time) by people with experience. I agree that the information can be misleading and sometimes wrong alltogether. But i would sincerely HOPE that if something were posed that was incorrect, that the people in the know would speak up and say so. This is a community and being a good citizen of a community means i should speak up when i know information posted is wrong. If people have egos that cant take being corrected (albeit in a constructive manner; im not talking about rude or obnoxious posts), then you shouldn't post here. The things ive done, and the experiences ive had, i can certainly share them here for others to avoid the pitfalls ive encountered. But if i ever post something wrong, i sure hope some with more expereince than me would step up and say so. Someone knowing a post is wrong and not saying somethign about it, is more troubling than someone posting incorrect information with good intentions...

Mike

 

[jg300da]

Always be Leary of the alligator that informs you that you are sick and that the cure just so happens to be a swim

Sound advice if you're a gingerbread man too....

 

[Weave]

I think with a little inference.....and some searching in certain threads, one can find the info Frank is referring to........I particularly was given some of this "questionable info"

 

[comsnark]

OK. .. I am now BUBBLING with curiosity. I bet it was something I wrote

But seriously, I find Turtle Tones comments to be spot on.

I was very frustrated a few years ago when my SeaDoo dealer insisted that I should only use the $30/gallon seadoo oil in my ski. And my mechanic (the guy who fixes it) insisted that the oil grade doesn't matter. At some point. . .you have to trust your gut (I use the expensive oil -> but still use the mechanic).

I have gotten some advice from this board, and used that advice to help "direct" my SeaRay mechanic regarding a throny overheat problem. He was totally stumped and prompted by my questions ultimately brought his buddy with him (another mechanic. . with a few more grey hairs) to solve the problem.

 

[Dave S]

Isn't the real question here how do we protect the less knowledgeable folks from getting bad information?

Each one of us has a certain level of expertise on a particular subject matter and I feel it is our obligation to question certain advice given by others when it runs counter to everything else we have been told or have experienced ourselves. You will either validate your own opinions/methods or you will learn something new and different (and both of those things have happened with me personally).

My recommendation is if you are seeking any advice is to wait until several posters give you the same advice or until the advice in dispute (as to which way to do things) is resolved.

 

[fwebster]

Dave,

As you know, disagreeing with someone or asking them to explain themselves has never been a problem for me, but it isn't my job to censor others. What do you do when the author of the questionable information is so over confident or arrogant that, thanks to the relative annonymity of a forum, the discourse quickly escalates to a contentious exchange that isn't healthy for the message board?