Newsletter #18 - July 1, 2009

ActiveCaptain Gets a Facelift...


In This Issue:

- ActiveCaptain Web Site Update
- Boat Cards From a Fellow Captain
- By The Way...
- Current Awards for Points



ActiveCaptain Web Site Update
==========================================
We've been working hard on a major update for the ActiveCaptain web site. Our Captains have not been shy about giving us feedback and suggestions and we're happy to listen. We have completely redesigned the web site to make it easier to use. It looks a lot nicer too. Our new logo is a part of the redesign!

We will also be adding an ActiveCaptain store. From the strength of more than 10,000 Captains we are able to provide you with some of the best prices on the web for marine items. Use ActiveCaptain points and you can save even more. Product selection will start small and grow as we add new items. Stay tuned for more information.

We will start to put the new site up over the next two weeks. You might see changes or have problems accessing some pages as we connect everything up. The store will also start to appear - our first set of products will be handheld VHF's. If you're looking for one and have more than 100 points, consider waiting until you see our prices!

We'll send another newsletter when the new web site is up and finished along with specific information about the new store.



Boat Cards From a Fellow Captain
==========================================
Do you have a "boat card" for your boat? You know - a business-like card that you can give to the people you meet along your cruising travels. We found that one of our Captains owns a Sir Speedy in Rockville, MD. She specializes in designing and producing boat cards. They are full color, glossy cards on thick stock. Really nice - the type of thing you'd want to give to others.

As we're getting ready for our cruising, we decided to have Peggy create our cards. We wanted something simple. The results were exceptional. Send her a photograph of your boat along with whatever information you'd like and she'll create samples to email back to you. Once you decide on the card, the prices are:

250 cards - $33.00
500 cards - $38.00
1000 cards - $58.00

There are other options for printing on the back of the card. Shipping
costs between $5 and $15. It takes one to two weeks for the whole
process.

If you'd like to learn more, contact Peggy:
SirSpeedy.Rockville@verizon.net

She and her husband cruise all over the Chesapeake Bay. I'll bet they
have really nice cards!



By The Way...
==========================================
When we mention a product or service from one of our Captains, we're not being paid for it. We pay full price for anything we purchase too. We only mention things that we've used ourselves and that we know are good. If we talk about something to try, it's worth checking out!



Current Awards for Points
==========================================
There's no standard place on the "old" web site where the points awards are listed. Here's what we currently have:

1. When you reach 50 points (5 easy reviews) you'll receive a set of PYI Clamp-Jackets. You'll fall in love with these things!

2. When you reach 100 points, you'll become eligible for nice discounts in the ActiveCaptain store. Wait until you see how good our prices are when you have 100 points.

3. When you reach 250 points, we'll send you a free ActiveCaptain hat. Proudly wear it to let marinas know that you're one of the people who writes reviews!



We thank all of our Captains for your continued support and encouragement! Keep adding those reviews and anchorages. Follow our blog as we prepare for our next cruise!
http://www.takingpaws.blogspot.com/


==================================
Karen and Jeffrey Siegel
aCappella
Castine, Maine

www.activecaptain.com
The Interactive Cruising Guidebook

2010-07-21	#35 - My Card, messaging, and more...
2010-06-29	#34 - New ActiveCaptain award...
2010-06-02	#33 - MaxSea Time Zero v1.9 Released
2010-05-18	#32 - ActiveCaptain loves the iPhone/iPad
2010-04-27	#31 - Coastal Explorer Now Available
2010-04-14	#30 - ActiveCaptain Loves Coastal Explorer
2010-03-16	#29 - ActiveCaptain Co-Ops - This is big...
2010-02-23	#28 - ActiveCaptain "X" is now live
2010-02-15	#27 - ActiveCaptain Loves MaxSea/Furuno
2010-01-19	#26 - ActiveCaptain 2010
2009-12-10	#25 - ActiveCaptain X goes beta
2009-11-17	#24 - Quick Lists
2009-10-20	#23 - A fresh look at the iPhone
2009-09-22	#22 - Are we the wave of the future?
2009-08-19	#21 - ActiveCaptain Sets Sail
2009-07-21	#20 - Rescue Tape for 150 Points
2009-07-14	#19 - ActiveCaptain Rocks!
2009-07-01	#18 - ActiveCaptain Gets a Facelift
2009-06-02	#17 - Another ActiveCaptain award!
2009-05-19	#16 - Hats off to you!
2009-05-06	#15 - Twitter, New PodCast, and more
2009-03-17	#14 - Using phones in the Bahamas
2009-03-03	#13 - The best fuel prices
2009-01-28	#12 - SAIL innovation award
2009-01-05	#11 - Power accessories article
2008-12-02	#10 - Bluetooth headsets article
2008-10-28	#9 - The next wave
2008-09-13	#8 - ActiveCaptain Mobile news
2008-06-15	#7 - Mad Mariner
2008-03-12	#6 - ActiveCaptain Mobile
2008-01-21	#5 - Inlets
2007-09-19	#4 - Boat ramps
2007-07-09	#3 - Local knowledge released
2007-04-14	#2 - Global support
2007-02-11	#1 - Anchorages released

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