Calling all prospective Blue Water Cruisers

[Guest]

I am currently going through the process of selecting a boat and equipment for a circumnavigation over three years departing later this year. Such an endeavour strikes ma as a fantastic opportunity to do some long-term product tests, which could be published by one of the yachting magazines. Things such as wind steering gear and watermakers are a huge investment and I have never read any tests, which are carried out over a good long timespan. If four or five people in a similar situation to myself co-operate in selecting a variety of the available makes of such product and then report back to YM on their performance, we may be able to achieve a proper long term test of the different products available. As well as getting our boats equipped at cost price perhaps!

What do reckon Kim?


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[tcm]

Re:Nice Try...

hm. But if a company's business is making and supplying gear for blue-water cruising or racing, then your venture is merely their bread and butter? Oh, it's adventurous and outlandish to you of course and to many other mere mortals like me, but not an outrageous test for equipment designed to do the job, is it? When an item of gear does break down, I spose you should buy another, or have another already on board as a spare. I think (hope) that surely you should want to use tried and tested gear, not flaky beta-test stuff with no warranty. Shall we mark this down as a hopeful punt?

 

[Guest]

Re:Nice Try...

I am not thinking that they should sponsor us, there are more deserving candidates for that than me going on a jolly! But if the three/four most popular brands of watermaker, wind steering, ssb, sat phone etc, are all taken out for a 1, 2 or even 3 year test by three or four different boats. As long as they are doing broadly similar things, and the users report back on how satisfied they were with each item, it could make interesting reading in say Yachting Monthly. At least we would be testing the items over a long period of time in the manner that prospective purchasers will be using them. Admittedly the manufacturers will only be interested in it, if they know there product will get publicity - which is where YM comes in by the way Kim!!!. There will also need to be some sort of moderation from a YM journalist to ensure the different users are singing from the same hymn sheet etc. But if the manufacturers believe in their product and think it will get a good review, giving one away at cost could lead to increased sales when the article is published. The key to it is getting four boats and a yachting publication to say they will do the article, getting the manufacturers to sign up should then be a piece of cake - shouldn't it? Come on Kim - how often does YM get a chance to do a LONG-TERM test like this - it’s an opportunity not to be missed!

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[NigeCh]

But all the tests have been done ...

Is there anything on the market that is used by circumnavigators that has not been already tested by circumnavigators or has not already been published in Cruising World, Practical Sailor, YW etc. ?

Just take what equipment that is your preference and see how it performs ... How you market the results as bits fail is up to you. Calder and the Parry's are past masters at this.

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[Heckler]

Im going to buy a Ford Mondeo

I am currently going through the process of selecting a car and equipment for a three years rep test starting later this year. Such an endeavour strikes me as a fantastic opportunity to do some long-term product tests, which could be published by one of the motoring magazines. Things such as mobile phones, in car faxes, power steering gear and cupholders are a huge investment and I have never read any tests, which are carried out over a good long timespan. If four or five people in a similar situation to myself co-operate in selecting a variety of the available makes of such product and then report back to Car Mechanics on their performance, we may be able to achieve a proper long term test of the different products available. As well as getting our cars equipped at cost price perhaps!

What do reckon Kim?





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[Sybarite]

Apart from the equipment bit it seems ambitious to me to be starting on a world cruise this year if you are still only going through the boat selection process. A world cruise is a big project that takes a lot of planning and preparation - and sorting out the boat you finally get.

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[tcm]

Re: snigger! nm

.

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[Heckler]

he he he !!

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[Guest]

mayday mayday mayday

I'm going down in flames!!!!!

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[kimhollamby]

Few pointers

1) the minute you start talking discount you enter the world of implied favours. Potentially lethal territory;

2) valid group tests are only really valid if the equipment compared is subject to the same environment and operator;

3) for three years now one of our magazines (Yachting World) has gone a long way down this route by surveying all equipment used on the ARC yachts. We are currently in the process of assisting the magazine with the compilation of the database of results from the 2002 event (Claire is going cross-eyed typing in the results). It always makes very interesting reading but we have discovered several anomalies that come from using such a relatively small sample (circa 100-150 yachts), each with a different crew aboard;

4) in terms of proposals for YM you are best firing off e-mails to the editor (paul_gelder@ipcmedia.com) and tech editor (michael_kopman@ipcmedia.com). Quite apart from your specific proposals YM has close contact with many readers and I'm sure that both would be interested in your plans.

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[tcm]

Re: aw, sorry

I feel a bit bad now!

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