Are yachting mags becoming more like soap operas

[Guest]

Soap operas - I loathe 'em.

I have it on good authority (BBC radio 4 - "The Message" programme) that Government money goes into them! Consequently they all trot out the same propaganda - the flu jab, unmarried mothers, gat issues - the list goes on. Moreover they're brazen about it, and all do it at the same time. Less a type of entertainment and more a kind of mass brainwashing. Wasn't it Marx who said that religion was the opiate of the masses. He was wrong - its bloody Coronation St.

OK - my point - I've been yachting mags (YM, PBO, ST) for 2 years now, every month (is that sad?). I do get a lot out of them (despite my moan elsewhere). BUT - increasingly lately they seem to be running the same articles and now in the same month. That's not good - its boring.

A thought comes to mind. Now that Sarah Norbury has gone to PBO, will this get even worse. Note, that is not a criticism of Sarah - I happen to think YM is the best of the bunch.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Dunno about soap operas

But this month's crop (december) are just about the most boring collection I've seen for a very long time. In fact the only things I can remember from them is the Tom Cunliffe x-word (good) and ST's reprint of builders blurb for 4 new boats (very, very, very bad).

 

[kgi]

I think the problem may be that they all come under the same ownership,

 

[SimonD]

Well I wasn't going to mention it, but.....the review of a Maxi 95 in this months ST is (IMHO) particularly hopeless. Never mind the copy (which is somewhat less than informative) the boat is so cluttered (no disrespect to the owners) the pictures are well nigh useless. And as for including a picture of aforesaid owners...!

 

[plopp]

noted I only though it was me that tought about soaps plus also repeats of tests.we`re back to MOB recovery gear and mast ladders again only had tests of this kit not so long ago must be more to sailing than this

 

[rhinorhino]

Agree about sameness, same kit reviews same articles and the boat reviews are they written by the agents? Can't remember ast bit of real critisism I saw in a review, ST surpassed itself this month.

 

[Twister_Ken]

>ST surpassed itself this month.<

Presumably, this is irony?

 

[Chris_Stannard]

I admit interest

As the co-author of a recent article on passage making for PBO we tried to find an unusual angle. But in view of the Solas regulations coming into force I guess everyone was into passage planning. The real question is, if you would like to see different articles what would you like to see. I have fpound when I have suggested a topic it is being covered or maybe it is thought to be of little or no interest.

Funnily enough I had a recent request for my views on the layout and content on where to Ski and Snowboard, which I found interesting.

The trouble with reviews of boats is that they tend to be by people who do it for a living, as opposed to people who are prepared to speak their minds. then of course the Magazines need the advertising if we are not to pay a great deal more for them, so they do not wish to be too damning. And of course new boats do not come out all that often so it is hardly remarkable that more than one magazine features the same boat in a short space of time.

However, if you have any bright ideas for articles, send them to the editor, or to me and I will see what I can work them into.

Chris Stannard

 

[Peppermint]

I\'ve stopped reading them

I realised that if you don't need the classifieds you don't need the mag.

 

[Jacket]

Re: I admit interest

>And of course new boats do not come out all that often so it is hardly remarkable that more than one magazine features the same boat in a short space of time.

Having said that, if you spend a bit of time searching the internet or looking at foreign sailing mags, there's a lot of very unusual but rare boats that don't get reviewed. Sure, not many people are likely to buy one of these boats, but then most of us aren't reading the reviews because we're considering buying the boat, but because we're interested in boats in general. And because of the same argument, how about reports on some of the many one-off custom boats, as well as some of those built by people in their back gardens?

 

[rhinorhino]

Re: I admit interest

Alright,
Try these;
1. Long term boat tests on popular makes, mag to purchase (as an ordinary customer), commission, use for a year or so, sell (monthly report on what had dropped off, needed doing, had really impressed etc.) Not original car mags have done this for a long time.
2. Long term gear tests not just a rewrite of the manufacturer's press-release.
3. Serious version of "Confessions" along the lines of the airline self reporting system.
4. Decent humerous articles.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: I admit interest

How about postponing boat tests until the forecast has some sixes and sevens in it. Any old bath tub will sail nicely in 15kts of wind, and we don't need to be told that.

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: I admit interest

Absolutelelyagree. PBO did an article on form stability a few months ago. After telling us of the likely problems faced by flat bottomed boats in big seas, they put the theory to the test - in a F3 in the Solent! For me, this was one of the poorest articles in a long time and there was no excuse for it. OK for a new boat test, the date is arranged some time previously and the tester has to take the weather he is given. For the form stability article this was clearly not the case. It's not as if there is a shortage of strong winds in UK.

 

[rhinorhino]

Re: >ST surpassed itself this month.<

No, but this may be!

 

[extravert]

Re: I admit interest

I agree on the lack of reviews of less common boats. Just how many times do they have to review Centaurs, Contessas and Beneteau 33somethings? And some of the boats and manufacturers that they seem to overlook are hardly unusual either, but new ones sold today and which you see around as well.

For example, X-Yachts have a range of about 10 boats imported into the UK; I've not seen a review. Corsair have been building a range of trimarans for 15 years; any reviews...not that I've seen.

I can't believe that the manufacturers/importers are unwilling. You'd think they would be falling over themselves to get some free advertising.

 

[rhinorhino]

Re: I admit interest

I agree with a wider range of boat tests, but "free advertising"? That is just the problem isn' it? The articles are more advertising than review let alone a test.
Why don't YM (or whoever) buy a boat put in charter, use it hard, suitable races etc. Test after sails service etc then sell it.
I think there are a good few articles in that idea over a year or so.
Also proper boat tests, polars, heeling angles, turn rates, noise levels under power, spares costs etc. Yes it would take longer than an afternoon but ...

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Re: I admit interest

Perhaps I gave the wrong impression, I am not an employee of PBO or any other magazine. I am retired and my views are my own, I did the article because I enjoy writing and used to write for trade magazines when I was working. I do however know one of sub-editors on PBO and will email this to him.

As I see it, and hopefully taking the points made, there is a requirement for :

more 'confessional' type articles

tests of unusual boats that are not produced in large quantities, since nost of us have a boat and liitle intention of changing it

long term tests - although with so many boats around it is hard to see how this can be done. Perhaps people who have a had a nearly new boat for a year or so would write up their experience and this could be a way a fulfilling this requirement.

Humourous articles

I must say I also like the tests when a number of non professionals all sail three or four boats.





Chris Stannard

 

[Celena]

Re: I admit interest

When we were "personalizing" CELENA the gear tests were reasonably interesting but what I really wanted to know was how others incorpoated it into their boats and what they thought about after 6 months (a la "Which"). Boat tests and opinions from ordinary independant boaters rather than paid journalists would be welcome; many of us like writing about boats (otherwise this forum wouldn't exist!)

 

[rhinorhino]

Re: I admit interest

Long term tests, I don't see why the number of boats should be a bar to this, select a couple of the top ten selling hulls, buy them, sail them, sell them (without letting on who you are) write a "warts and all" report on the whole thing, manufacturer to get right of reply.
Of course it will never happen because (god forbid) it might upset an advertiser. This is i fear a funstion of the very small circulations of the mags.

 

[Peppermint]

It\'s not really new

But its better than we have now.

YM used to do "One Man & His Boat" for example. ST used to look in depth at the fittings experienced owners had employed on either one off designs or heavily customised production models.

In addition great care must be taken not to "enhance" the excitement value of these real life adventures that are so popular these days.