Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Website Design Opinions/Critiques please

Fellow Axiomites. As always, I like to show my new websites to lots of people to get some "field" research before they go live. Whenever I do that here, I get good tips and pointers.

So, again, I want your much respected opinion on the website.

The client is really happy with how it looks, and I think I am too...but staring at one thing for about 12 hours gets your brain "trained" to the image.

Anyways, the new website is located here:
http://www.renegadecharters.com/newrenegade

The old (current) website:
http://www.renegadecharters.com

Some other competing Lake Michigan Charters:
http://www.salmonoid.com/illinois.html (complete list of them)

Some of the only decent designs of the "other" charter boats:
http://www.addictioncharters.net/
http://www.anastaciamarie.com/
http://www.kingolaf.com/
http://www.crabbycharters.com/
http://www.memorymakercharters.com/

Basically...what I'm looking for is honest critique. If you think a page sucks, let me know. If any table/text/image seems a bit off, I'd like to know as well.

I haven't optimized the website specifically for 56k users (if some still exist). But if you have 56k, I'd like to know if the site is eating your connection for lunch, or if it is actually viewable.

Thanks guys! This helps a lot!

- Dan

First thing that stands out is that in Firefox 2.0 on a Mac running 10.4.8, there are two bottom link lines.

Also, FAQ's should be FAQs or just FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions--plural already!)

Same here with Safari and OS 10.4.8
Still makes me want to go fishing.

Fixed the double bottom links.

Thanks!

looks good to me, and the pages loaded quickly.

I dont know much about fishing,
but some testimonials from people who have used the service and caught some big fish , may lure some more business. Maybe the captain can take a camera and snap a shot of lucky customers and congratulate them and tell them they will be on the website.

Definitely fix the "FAQ's" link. Big pet peeve. NEVER add a 's when you're pluralizing something. Take Ken's advice and go with just FAQ. (also fix it on the FAQ page).

Another thing I noticed is that the photos page loads slightly to the right of the rest of them. When clicking through the header links on a fast connection, the whole page shifts over a few pixels to the right. (in Firefox ans Safari).

Back on the FAQ page, I'm sure you're just putting in the content you're given, but I don't understand the reason they follow each FAQ entry with " ... ?" Why not just have the question mark?

Other than that, it looks clean and polished, and no Flash intro!

The reason the page shifts to the right is because the scroll bar (on the right side of your screen) goes away. Other than adding a ton of huge space I don't know how to fix that.

I'll get to fixin' the FAQ's...err FAQs link :-)

Oh, did anyone find the Google links handy? Have both a map of his actual boat (I thought that was really cool) and of the marina itself. They are on the "directions" page. If you were looking for directions, think it would be easy to get there from what is on that page?

If you go under the FAQs (Not FAQ's or FAQz...or even FAQS's) page and then click on "recipes", I added new "recipe" cards. Do they show up properly for everyone? I cant find a computer with IE6 to test it on.

Quote:

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If you go under the FAQs (Not FAQ's or FAQz...or even FAQS's) page and then click on "recipes", I added new "recipe" cards. Do they show up properly for everyone? I cant find a computer with IE6 to test it on.

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I still use IE6 for some reason. (I think you just inspired me to move on!)

The recipes page looks fine. Nice work!!!

The recipes looks great, but I'm move the named anchor just before or after the horizontal rules, so the tab graphic doesn't get cut off on top of the screen.

Wow, its pretty cool to see my web site for Addiction Charters list as a descent web site.

From the looks of the new site Rich should like it. On the boat page, you may was to add a pic of the back of the boat since that is where all the action takes place

Thanks for all the good tips guys!

It's looking great...I think I'm finally done. There were definitely a couple things that I would have looked over inthe coder/designer's point of view.

Dan,

Just a couple of notes of things already noted but maybe not understood.

You have two FAQ links, one in the top menu and one in the bottom menu...both should be the same link with the same acronym being used...currently you have FAQs in the top menu and FAQ's in the bottom. Both should be FAQ and that the correct acronym is static for all menus across all pages...

You also need to correct FAQs to FAQ on the FAQ page.

Just from a design perspective, on the FAQ page, you may want to try to eliminate the extra white space between the "Recipes" and the "Table of Contents". Moving the image up so that it is on the same level as "FAQ" may allow the rest of it to fall into a better position...

The FAQ issue needs to be fixed...the FAQ page is a subjective thing.

Hope this helps,

WhatFurrer