A Marinette Registry would be a lot more useful if it was in the form of a Google Map, so that the relative positions of our boats would be clear to see.
Anyone can overlay this information onto their Google Maps or Google Earth by simply going to the application and importing a KML file with the information. The KML file is a text file in an XML format, but once set up it should be easy for members to add their boat information to it. The file itself could be made available here on the forum.
To start things off, I have made up a KML file with my boat information. Note that it is written in html embedded in an XML-format to form a Google-maps-compatible KML file (if you don't know what this goobledygook means, join the club...):
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2">
<Document>
<Placemark>
<name>"Tin Lizzie"</name>
<description>
<![CDATA[
<p>32' Flybridge Sedan</p
<p>Perkins 6-354M naturally-aspirated direct-injected diesels</p>
<p>Skipper: Doug Rose</p>
<p>Marinette Forum ID: dougrose</p>
]]>
</description>
<Point>
<coordinates>-80.709475,+28.4061</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
</Document>
</kml>
If you want to see the info on my boat, highlight the text above (from the <? to the </kml> inclusive) and copy it and paste it into a simple text editor (not a word processor that changes the format) and call it registry.kml (anything.kml will do).
Go to maps.google.com, choose My Maps and then Create a New Map. Select Import, then choose your registry.kml file in the KML UPLOAD window. Select Upload and voila!, you see my boat in its berth in Merritt Island, FL.
It would be nice to get everybody this way. To do this, we need a place to put the .kml file where everyone can get it, and a way to add new folks to it. This is a fairly easy job for a computer guy, an input screen and a downloadable file. Anybody up for it?
Note that to add someone else, the text from <Placemark> to </Placemark> needs to be duplicated, and the new code edited to incorporate the new information.
1975 32' Flybridge Sedan, twin Perkins 6-354 diesels, 1:1.53 velvetdrives, 16 X 19 props. Merritt Island, Florida