MBY....

[petem]

I disagree. Nick Burnham has a regular column on running his 25ft boat. They're always doing "best boat under £100k" type articles as well as reviewing sub 30ft stuff. Not to mention articles on running a boat in a budget.

 

[Boat2016]

I have to say that after subscribing for I guess about 20 years or more I think the latest attempt is not so good, I just tend to skim though it now and stop at anything I find I might want to read and that’s becoming quite rare now, if anyone finds a good alternative I would be pleased to hear, it’s a same motorboats monthly ended as that was always my favourite, although I had always subscribed to both.

 

[julians]

I just flick through it mainly.

I like the reviews of kit and equipment, engines etc and reviews of boats up to about 40feet long , anything beyond that is so far out of reach that it's pointless for me.

I don't like the articles about how to handle a boat , how to use an anchor etc as I feel that sort of stuff is so basic( or at least should be) for someone who owns a boat as to not be worth putting in print ( although I appreciate that others may be new to the hobby and appreciate it).

I used to like the stories on the back page,but I don't like the fantasy fleet articles much.

I like the maintenance articles they run every now and again.

The mag can't be all things to everyone though,so I'll keep flicking through it even though I hardly read any of it .

 

[Greg2]

To be fair I guess it is tricky producing a boating magazine that is relevant to all and attracts sufficient readership to remain viable because ultimately revenue has to be a key factor. I never voluntarily subscribed to MBY - I was automatically switched upon the demise of MBM, which I really enjoyed reading. I have kept with it and usually pick out the articles that catch my interest and will probably continue to do so as it is the only print boaty magazine that at least partially covers my interests and the stuff out of my price range is still of at least passing interest.

I agree that a proper magazine beats online but I do subscribe to the Motorboat Owner online mag, which has some good stuff as Neal and Claire do a cracking job.

 

[benjenbav]

Bring back “What now, skipper” !!!

 

[Firefly625]

indeed MBM was a better publication for us mortals. I guess income stream from advertisers was greater with MBY so if one had to be dropped it was MBM... ?

I subscribed to both MBM and MBY when they were out, (used to enjoy getting a new magazine every 2 weeks), and MBY ever since so a loyal customer for probably 17 years...

I have put on this thread that it is no doubt my unusual taste in boats (and distain for anything new...) rather than a fault of the magazine, I didn't intend a knocking MBY thread as obviously many enjoy, but I am just annoyed that I will no longer have any boat mag to read...

 

[jrudge]

I think they do a fair job, but i was surprised that the magazine grew and then shrunk just as fast!

There has to be an element of fantasy in any magazine. Car magazines do have Mondeo's but also lots of exotica.

Quite a few contributors now seem to be forumites which is nice - but it does highlight the challenge they have in not keeping the forum software up to date, hosting their own images ( and making posting simple etc).

On a personal basis I would like more improvement type articles as opposed to basic boat handling which now seems prevalent.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

indeed MBM was a better publication for us mortals. I guess income stream from advertisers was greater with MBY so if one had to be dropped it was MBM... ?

I subscribed to both MBM and MBY when they were out, (used to enjoy getting a new magazine every 2 weeks), and MBY ever since so a loyal customer for probably 17 years...

I have put on this thread that it is no doubt my unusual taste in boats (and distain for anything new...) rather than a fault of the magazine, I didn't intend a knocking MBY thread as obviously many enjoy, but I am just annoyed that I will no longer have any boat mag to read...

I have subscribed to both MBY and MBM since about 1991 and I was very sad to see MBM go. For me, MBM did the practical side of boating and MBY did the dreaming side (both of which are important) and it was indeed great to have something new to read drop through the letterbox every 2 weeks. MBY have certainly tried to cover both ends of the spectrum since MBM went under; it works for me but I can well understand if it doesnt work for others. I have to take this opportunity to say that I dont like either the new MBY layout nor the paper quality. The layout seems to be optimised for reading on an iPad or other device and I find it less attractive in print than previous layouts. I also dont like the weight of paper being used now. I guess the idea is to make the magazine feel weighty and authoritative but it just makes the whole thing far too heavy to lug about and the pages tend to stick to each other making reading it more tricky than it should be

 

[vas]

Its only £5.50 a month which is only a pint.

sorry for the OT, is a pint indeed 5quid?
I remember leaving it at around 2-2.20 when I left in 2000, that's a bit of a hike!

V.

 

[wellf100]

I've subscribed for years and also find myself wondering whether it's worth it. It's hard to put my finger on why exactly as it's always had million £+ boat reviews but it definitely doesn't hold my interest as much.

Regarding the new format, as much as i try to like it I just don't find it as easy to read. I just compared it to Power Boat and Rib and 2 differences stand out...

1. the thicker paper is now also whiter so the contrast between the black text and the very white paper i personally don't think is easy on the eye.

2. there is an awful lot of paragraphs of black text on white background with no breaks. Whilst it may look 'clean' i find it monotonous. In PBR there are a lots of breaks in the text with info boxes with different coloured back grounds and good use of pictures to break up the text.

I subscribed to Power Boat and Rib 6 months ago and also find it far more relevant and with a wider range of subjects.....thinner and lighter also! More like MBM used to be.

 

[Firefly625]

sorry for the OT, is a pint indeed 5quid?
I remember leaving it at around 2-2.20 when I left in 2000, that's a bit of a hike!

V.

yes V... £5.00 to 6.50 for premium stuff.. London pub prices. Cheaper Up north and in weatherspoons!

recently paid £21.50 for a large glass of white wine and a bottle of Bud at a Hotel just round the corner from my business... made my eyes water that did.

 

[Hugo Andreae]

I certainly do keep an eye on the forum not least because I find it just as useful as all of you do. And of course I'm very sorry to lose any reader as you are the lifeblood of the magazine.

We do try to keep a broad mix of news, boat tests, cruising destinations, equipment, boat handling and feature ideas in every issue but it does tend to get a little distorted at this time of year due to our reporting on all the new launches at the Southampton and Cannes boat shows as well as our bi-annual Custom Yacht supplement (also the reason why our Oct issue was unusually big). Normal service will resume in the coming months. The new design and paper is simply intended to give it a cleaner, fresher, classier look – it does not signal a change in direction or subject matter.

In fact the latest issue has got a feature on secondhand 30ft cruisers from £29,995 a test of a 26ft Glastron and a 27ft Windy as well as winterising a small single engine diesel boat, getting your kids into boating, how to berth a boat with a duff engine and plenty of other content that doesn't require a lottery-winning budget to enjoy.

Of course, if you have suggestions of story ideas or types of stories you'd like to see more of please let me know. We're not going to abandon the bigger stuff completely as that is the way the market is heading but I will do what I can to keep it relevant to all motor boat owners – after all my own boat is a 22ft outboard powered Karnic that I share with my three brothers to keep the running costs down.

 

[rafiki_]

sorry for the OT, is a pint indeed 5quid?
I remember leaving it at around 2-2.20 when I left in 2000, that's a bit of a hike!

V.

This is one of those "it depends" answers Vas. I was in London on Tuesday evening, in an off the beaten track pub. Real beer at £4.20 a pint. Decent food too, a couple of courses at £20 ish per person. Local to home, beer is £3.5 ish a pint. Frankly I do most of my drinking on board, bottled beer, gin and wine, £2 a bottle for top notch beer.

Back to the mag. I am a grazer, taking a couple of weeks to read while I eat my breakfast, at about 5-10 mins a session, unless I am flying, at which point it becomes a binge once seated. I no longer wait by the doormat for it to fall, and it might take a few days until I open the pack and discard all the unnecessary guff and flyers. I read about 80%, all the boat tests, new and old, some of the gear reviews, the news and the boataholic. Some of the cruising I don't read, unless it is on regions I know, or are interested in visiting. I would be interested in hearing readers and forumites views on marina's, and their local cruising areas, in the same way that the used boat reviews include a "real owner". I love the owners upgrade articles. I too gloss over the boat handling articles, not because I am a brilliant helm, but they don't focus enough on real world issues. I would love to see Jon park Rafiki with a strong breeze, and the current ripping. It isn't easy. I'm sure he would do a much better job than me, and be less stressed too!
On the new format? I don't really have a view. It is OK, and I can live with it. A different world, but The Autocar is very well laid out, and easier to access. Hugo knows this, as that is where he cut his teeth.

 

[AllanG]

recently paid £21.50 for a large glass of white wine and a bottle of Bud at a Hotel just round the corner from my business... made my eyes water that did.

I'm afraid I'd have said "thank you, but no thanks", and gone elsewhere where they're not trying to rip you off!!

 

[mcanderson]

Sorry, I’m on the side of MBY. Just flicked through it and once again I will read it cover to cover. I’m particularly looking forward to the article on Corsica. We are only 90 nm from Corsica so it’s on the list of summer cruise destinations.

The reviews are always interesting and I don’t care if it’s for a 15ft day boat or a 50ft+ cruiser.

Besides without the power of the organisation behind all the magazines we wouldn’t have this forum and that would be a disaster!

£5.50 is a snip.

 

[Hurricane]

Actually I found this issue interesting - especially the Ferretti 670 - much the same size as our old girl.
Interesting to read that it is aimed at the three cabin 20m market.
As I said on another thread, having a huge number of cabins isn't everyone's cup of tea.
Refreshing to see that this new Ferretti makes good use of the space - still no internal stairs though - hey ho - those days are gone anyway.

Back to the point though, I still like the printed copy - especially in the smallest room in the house!!

 

[markc]

I've enjoyed MBY for years and I still enjoy reading it every month. Sure, I won't be spending £3 million on a boat in the foreseeable future, but that doesn't stop me enjoying reading about them. I think the mag is very balanced across what is a very broad and diverse interest. Every month my issue magically makea it's own way to the bathroom and gets a daily thumbing.

 

[petem]

Is it me or is the typeface getting smaller? Hugo, please note, none of us are getting any younger?

 

[MrB]

Is it me or is the typeface getting smaller? Hugo, please note, none of us are getting any younger?

Just visit the opticians more often Pete.

 

[Assassin]

yes V... £5.00 to 6.50 for premium stuff.. London pub prices. Cheaper Up north and in weatherspoons!

recently paid £21.50 for a large glass of white wine and a bottle of Bud at a Hotel just round the corner from my business... made my eyes water that did.

Bloody hell, was there a trip to see the original grape growing included in the price?