MBM - Just A Thought

[Lawsy]

Never bite the hand that feeds you. Through MBM I've made many friends in the boating world. Some are real people I've met & some I only know of, via this forum. Thus, I hate to appear critical of MBM, but why do I buy it? I look in the January edition & see articles about boats I'll never be able to afford; cruising reports about areas I don't ever expect to visit; and technical articles on subjects that, if the work needs doing, I will never have the knowhow to do myself. OK then, what would I (as still a newcomer to the boating scene) like to see in a publication? Well for a start, is there not a case for a weekly boating publication (a newspaper if you like) dealing with current & topical issues - such as weather propects for the week ahead; club & national gatherings & races; ongoing work at marinas or harbours, etc. In other words a publication that is relevent to my boating in the immediate future & not a historical (for the most part) record of what happened on the day importer X let the MBM staff loose with a new toy? Before the manure hits the fan & I get PMed by any number of loyal MBM readers, let me say that, firstly this post is not a crticism of any individual member of the MBM staff; secondly, I'm not trying to set up some rival to MBM via this forum; thirdly, I think I accept that there will always be a need for an MBM type publication. It's just that currently I wonder how relevant the magazine is to me & the majority of 'ordinary' motor boaters.

 

[photodog]

I think that you will find the online YBW stuff is what you are looking for....

There is no way in the current climate that you are going to be able to produce a weekly newspaper/magazine of anywere approaching a reasonable quality... the total production costs will exceed by a good margin what you will recieve in advertising and sales revenue in this specialised market....
The online editions I suspect are at this time loss making, as IPC etal are still trying to find a online model that is actually profitable.

 

[oceanfroggie]

It's a coffee table mag, but I enjoy about 6 issues a year. There's only so many times you can repackage and recycle content after all. MBM seemed more in touch with typical moboers, but MBY is truely of little use to the majority of professional/middle income readers, but interesting eye candy nonetheless while in the dentists waiting room. PBO seems to have more interesting technical stuff for DIYers which is equally applicable to sail and motor. I've never seen a truthful equipment test in any UK mag, instead they are really unpaid advertising and tickling of major advertisers. You'll never see a UK mag tell you some product is "rubbish", nor that one is clearly the "best". USA mags on the other hand tell it as it is, praise good products and tear appart poor products in their reviews. It's such a hugh market they don't have to worry about "peeing" off advertisers, who at the end of the day pay everybody's salary and keep the lights on.

As lawsy said for advice and tech tips this forum is a great place.

 

[Nick_H]

[ QUOTE ]
USA mags on the other hand tell it as it is, praise good products and tear appart poor products in their reviews.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have any examples of this, most of the american reviews i've red are even more glowing than the UK mags, even about boats that I know to have some flaws. I actually think MBM/MBY have been a bit better in this respect recently, declaring outright winners in some recent group tests

 

[hlb]

Well for a start, is there not a case for a weekly boating publication (a newspaper if you like) dealing with current & topical issues - such as weather propects for the week ahead; club & national gatherings & races; ongoing work at marinas

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It's called. The Conway Marina News Letter. You can get it by email. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Philiz]

[ QUOTE ]

It's called. The Conway Marina News Letter. You can get it by email. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

What's in it? Gate's broke, Gate's fixed, Gate's broke, gate's fixed.................................... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[sterntube]

we're singing off the same hymn sheet lawsy

 

[gjgm]

I think my interest in each months mag varies, and of course, what exactly is a typical moboer?
I quite like Neale's foray into some slightly off the wall gear, that maybe isnt marine specific. As regards boat reviews, there are only so many new boats to review , and they do an article with individul's recent purchases. If I had a criticism of that, is that , either these people are bloody brilliant at choosing their boat, or they are a bit blind perhaps to their boat's foibles. Mind you, we only see the journo's finished article. I think it would be of more benefit if here was a bit more criticism in the reviews. I ve really enjoyed every boat I ve owned, but I can tell tell you what, to me, was crap.
I also keep reviews of boats I might not consider now, but might do in some years to come.
But what does it cost ..£18 for 6 months? Thats about a bit over a mile of boating per month, in fuel!

 

[ari]

[ QUOTE ]
Thus, I hate to appear critical of MBM, but why do I buy it? I look in the January edition & see articles about boats I'll never be able to afford; cruising reports about areas I don't ever expect to visit; and technical articles on subjects that, if the work needs doing, I will never have the knowhow to do myself.

[/ QUOTE ]

I see. So what you're saying is that before producing an issue, they ought to be phoning you up and checking what your budget is, where you do your boating and what your technical limits are? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I get Evo every month and have done for many years. It's cock full of Lamborghinis and Aston Martins and 911's that I'll never ever be able to afford. But I'm a car enthusiast so I love reading about them, and enjoy increasing my knowledge about them. Be a dull old read if they never featured a car over £15K.

Same goes for MBM. And expecting them to never cover any cruising grounds except my own could perhaps be seen as a tad narcissistic!

 

[stefan_r]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
USA mags on the other hand tell it as it is, praise good products and tear appart poor products in their reviews.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have any examples of this, most of the american reviews i've read are even more glowing than the UK mags, even about boats that I know to have some flaws.

[/ QUOTE ]


Ditto. I subscribe to a number of US mags and only very infrequently do they criticise a product...to the point of reading the same review in US UK mags and you wonder how they can ignore stuff. I have a mate who works in publicatons and he explained to me the US mag business model being very different to the UK/Europe; driven by distribution/advert revenues....but I was very, very drunk at the time and cannot remember the detail - sorry. But what he said did make sense!!

Suffice to say if I want a review I will look at MBM MBY PBO YM....US stuff is pure entertainment only.

 

[goochie]

[ QUOTE ]
As regards boat reviews, there are only so many new boats to review , and they do an article with individul's recent purchases. If I had a criticism of that, is that , either these people are bloody brilliant at choosing their boat, or they are a bit blind perhaps to their boat's foibles. Mind you, we only see the journo's finished article.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have to say that I, along with a couple of other forumites, ahve contributed to the My Boat features. It was done in the form of an emailed questionaire which I answered in my own way. The article was published in full, with no edits. If it sounded as though I was pleased as punch with our boat, it's because we really are.

 

[Sneds]

I love the "my boat" bits, far more interesting hearing "real" stories and experiences.
I also enjoy the buy used section in MBM.
Can't afford a new or bigger boat but still enjoy reading about them, especially some of the fuel consumption figures, makes my 40 L P H seem quite frugal /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[gjgm]

I cant think of any boat I would rather own that the one we do presently, but I can tell you its shortcomings, both in terms of its compromises and a few things that they really ought to have got right, or addressed. Things like the middle cleats only being of a size that accepts sewing thread.
But I can tell you what its bloody brilliant at too !

 

[ari]

That should of course have read "chock full..." /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Too late to be able to edit now.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PhilipF]

Regarding boat related publications, I'm a bit intrigued at the distribution of "Boat News" - or rather 'non' distribution of this paper - I have a feeling there may two of these free sheets, but so rarely are they available I forget about them.

When I was at SIBS they were handing them out, but the racks at our marina are almost always empty.

 

[PCUK]

Never heard of it so you are probably right!