MBM lost the plot

[DAKA]

[ QUOTE ]
Lets face it, all the good stuff is here, even if here is not half as good as it used to be.

The problem is, we've made a far better job of it, than all the journalists in the world could have.



[/ QUOTE ]

good point.

Photos and cruise reports better and more appropriate.
Also more interesting to read about someone who has been somewhere I have a chance of going.

HOWEVER

Since the search engine has been sabotaged most the best information is lost.
Who can be bothered to retype for the sake of a few days and then gone for good ?
Any duplicated posts no longer get the helpful links as they have disappeared.

 

[mm1]

JFM - the question was ' is MBM worth the cover price?' to which you can only have 3 answers - yes, no or don't know. Don't see where the double negative is??? but glad to see that you agree with some of my thinking. regards mm1

 

[mm1]

Stewart - as you can see from a lot of the responses it appears that you might have been given some food for thought! I will PM you with some of my own specific thoughts as to possible future content but I must agree with the comments regarding stories of real people, real places and real experiences. Also useful current information would be appreciated such as the problems being encountered by the dredging in Cowes at the moment - had to find this out from the Forum - perhaps the magazine could notify boaters of upcoming potential problems at marinas etc.. Regards MM1

 

[MapisM]

[ QUOTE ]
...how many of you think this magazine is not worth...

[/ QUOTE ]Is this maybe what jfm meant?

 

[benjenbav]

I haven't read MBM for a while but have really enjoyed the last couple of issues of MBY. I particularly liked the new style in the latest one. And the fact that the boat reviews now tend to say this one is better than that one, or this one's a bit feeble, rather than pushing out ever so slightly bland superlatives by way of a stinging critique.

Also, the May edition had a brilliantly perceptive comment from some forumite called benjenbav on the subject of CO poisoning. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Hugo: I believe that this entitles me to a free Mochi Dolphin 54 - Would you wrap it up nicely and send it straight over please? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[BarryH]

Well they used to pay for tips/ good ideas. I had 2 included and got payed for them, but don't tell'em I don't buy the mag.............bugger!

 

[hlb]

Plus, it's not sanitized here, you get the raw, as it happened, warts and all.

I've hardly ever used the search engine, even when there was one. Anyway, the forums like live tv. Theres no seach engine on that either. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bloater]

The magazine hasn't really changed a great deal over the last 10 years that I've been reading it.
A few pages of news, some short reports, a couple of in depth reviews and lots of adverts...

I do think that it is an overkill having loads of pages devoted to listing all the new boats. It's the same every month. The information is meaningless as the prices are 'base' prices and do not reflect actual costs.

I would like to see much more reviews of 2nd hand boats and interviews with real boaters.

I think I spend more time reading the forum than the magazine - perhaps it's because it's more in touch with real boaters.

If we don't speak up then IPC won't get any feedback to help them improve the magazine.

 

[Sixpence]

[ QUOTE ]
Well thats what it used to be. No idea if it's gone up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe one of the editorial staff can comment on that, but if that's still the payout it aint worth wasting my time checking it, might as well go here instead

 

[mm1]

Hi all thank you all for responding&so quickly,ihope it has been of some use to i p c ,certainly opened my eyes,i'm of to buy the magazine now as it will still make good holiday reading(gran canaria)next week,have a nice w/end& see you all in a couple of weeks,regards mm1.

 

[gjgm]

sense of deja vue here...
I m not that interested in someone's cruise; I m mainly interested in boat reviews and equipment tests. I think the reviews have got better, and are more critical than they were.
Often it is the small details that make a difference.. handrails where you need them, engine access and so on.
BTW in MBY did I misunderstand the photo of engine access on the Prinz...you had to crawl underneath and slide into the engine bay? Are they NUTS ?

 

[longjohnsilver]

Used to buy the mag each month from about 1986 onwards. Stopped doing so about 3 years ago cos I got fed up of much the same stuff appearing year after year. Also thought the standard of journalism had declined along with the actual knowledge and interest in boats.

As other posters have already said the bits I enjoyed most were the personal experiences of people using their boats. It's those accounts which make this forum interesting and many of the posts a much beter read than your mag.

Have you come across Passagemaker, an American mag which is almost entirely devoted to cruising along with really practical advice as well as in depth reviews of new boats, not just skimming the surface which I'm afraid is all the UK mags seem to do. To my mind Passagemaker knocks all the Uk mags into a cocked hat, it's well written, interesting and has lots for everyone and best of all it's written by people who obviously have a passion for boating. If you could replicate that then you'd certainly get my money again.

But I'm probably wasting my time even writing this as I suspect that it won't be read by anyone from MBM/MBY. I suspect most of you have no real interest in boats at all. It's just a job. Which is fair enough and understandable but inevitably leads to just an ordinary end product.

 

[adrianm]

[ QUOTE ]
sense of deja vue here...
I m not that interested in someone's cruise; I m mainly interested in boat reviews and equipment tests. I think the reviews have got better, and are more critical than they were.

[/ QUOTE ]

There in lies the problem for magazine editors. I'm not the slightest bit interested in new boat reviews and only have a passing interest in cheaper bits of equipment.

I want to hear about nice places to cruise, peoples experience in looking after their own boats and useful tips to keep the costs down.

PBO does that very nicely but not enough for motorboaters.

Perhaps IPC needs to define what market each of their magazines is trying to reach and stop the constant crossover, especially between MBM and MBY.

 

[SimonA]

The problem I find with all the boat magazines is that none of them are aimed at the sort of boating I do. I'm a river boater with a modest budget.

It seems you choose between the Canal magazines that are mostly aimed at Narrowboats, Practical Boat Owner which is mainly aimed at sailing or MBM which does have a small section on inland boating, but is mainly aimed at those spending over £100k on a sea going boat.

Maybe it's time for a new magazine aimed at the many thousands who boat on the Inland Waterways / Norfolk Broads, but are not interested in Canals or Narrowboats.

I do buy MBM from time to time, but usually it's full of reviews on expensive boats. As much as I like to dream, these aren't the sort of boats I can afford. Having said that in the past they have included features on some River Boats and I have enjoyed reading about these. I also like the hands on approach of PBO, but it has far too little on motorboats to make me part with my money.

I do enjoy reading some or the articles in MBM, but feel there is too many reviews on new boats.

A magazine is never going to please everyone.

 

[Argonautical]

I think its a good read, BUT, I am new to most of the stuff covered!

For some crazy reason, I keep receiving monthly copies of Sportsboat & Rib, FOC! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks whoever you are for sending it!

Jas.
N.B. I buy Motor Boat & Yachting too, just cant get enough!

 

[PCUK]

Sounds like you need Boat Mart, Cattleya!

 

[Mattwalker]

Strange that so do i..

 

[Questor]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, the May edition had a brilliantly perceptive comment from some forumite called benjenbav on the subject of CO poisoning. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

And I got a mention too. Dreadful pic though.

 

[mm1]

quite agree sir very well put mm1.

 

[jfm]

[ QUOTE ]
JFM - the question was ' is MBM worth the cover price?' to which you can only have 3 answers - yes, no or don't know. Don't see where the double negative is???

[/ QUOTE ]

Jeeze. The question was "do you think this magazine is not worth the cover price". (My emphasis).