: Likely would self-host. We are a volunteer organization without a
: lot of money so ...... Did find a place or two where we could
: rent space but not sure how that would work. I like the idea of
: setting up, getting it going and turning it over to someone else
: once we see how it is being used -- but I suspect that is a
: backward way of doing things. Thanks for the reply.
: best
: don

Hello Don,

I recently developed a wood surfboard forum which actually hasn't yet been launched. I used PHPBB's software and it's a little tedious, but with no programming experience I was able to set it up, and even figured out through creative Googling the way to download custom skins for the forum, and then to take my own banner and replace the crappy one the skin had.

I guess I can go ahead and post the link, but just FYI folks, it's online, but not quite finished yet. Feel free to log on if you like. I am going to launch it officially soon.

www.schweizersurf.com/forum

Don, once you sign up for an internet host (I use ipage.com and was very VERY pleased with the service and ease of getting started) You can start your forum. With ipage I get unlimited storage so I don't care if people want to post pic after pic. Also they gave me free tools and one included a download for PHPBB. Just be aware that the normal skins are kinda plain. The skin I found was in a list of free skins developed by other users. Since it's made free to the public I took the liberty to edit some of the graphics and incorporate my own logo. Honestly I have this weird nack for figuring stuff out. It may be more than you want to do.

My brother is a computer programmer and he reviewed the hosts I wanted to use and reviewed the bulletin board software and I took his recommendations. So far he hasn't had to do anything for me. for the website itself ( www.schweizersurf.com - also not quite finished but live now) I bought a $50 website design kit from Office Max and went to work. I need to pretty it up more but was anxious to get something online for now. There is also a blog that I used another software for that also came with the ipage package. Everything has a link from the page. The gallery doesn't work- not real happy with their 2 meg download per picture limit, and I'm figuring a way around that before it goes online.

Good luck!

Malcolm

P.S. Feel free anyone that wants to comment on improvements to the forum. It's new, and as you see yet to be officially launced.