Motor boats monthly

volvopaul

volvopaul

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Just had my mag through the door, cant believe how thin it is, I dont want to read it as im saving it for the beach in Alcudia this coming Sunday, looking at how thin it is I dont think its got a days reading in it! how very dissapointing.

I know companies are really stretched these days paying for adverts but the lack of them really makes the mag look sad, at £4.40 retail price im beginning to rethink is it value for money these days, how do you all feel about it?
 
I think the content has been better of late
I'd rather have quality than loads of adverts and dross.
The mag is brighter and better imho
Plus there has been a tendancy to feature vessels more akin to the 'worker' than the multi millionare.
Not to spoil it for you
There is an article on practical Engine servicing this Month
Betja can't wait now!!!!!!
 
I sense amalgamation in the wind. It's the only logical step. They can't make the paper any thinner.

But then I looked at my copies of PBO 1 - 12 (bound) :D:D:D - a lot less print area all in black and white, but many tiddly adverts - Build your Own Hovercraft Kit £85, and that long magnetic pick up tool was only 7/6d.
 
I must admit I thought it was a bit thin, last months was 152 pages, this month 120, so where have they all gone? Over to you Richard!
 
If I'm totally honest, I used to subscribe to MBM, but I found it got much of a muchness and I found the forum a better read than the mag!! So I stopped my subscription and I haven't regretted it!! Sorry!!
 
I know what you mean Paul, blame it on the tintanet! At least when you in Alcudia there will be lots of nice shiney boats to look at!!
 
tamarind said:
I know what you mean Paul, blame it on the tintanet! At least when you in Alcudia there will be lots of nice shiney boats to look at!!
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I fear your right about the tinternet!! I think the way forward is to take a step backwards with loads more bikini clad ladies!! :)

I remember as a young teenager one of the first editions of MBM.... they tested (I think) a SS Portifinio 31 and it was draped in almost naked ladies with a captin hatted male at the helm complete with gold braid...... and I seem to remember the sky looked very grey for such a shortage of clothing...... but to a 13 year old it makes a clear statement as to why you need a boat!! :)

Think I might need to run for cover now!!
 
volvopaul said:
Just had my mag through the door, cant believe how thin it is, I dont want to read it as im saving it for the beach in Alcudia this coming Sunday, looking at how thin it is I dont think its got a days reading in it! how very dissapointing.

I know companies are really stretched these days paying for adverts but the lack of them really makes the mag look sad, at £4.40 retail price im beginning to rethink is it value for money these days, how do you all feel about it?
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They are all going the same way Paul - aviation mags are pretty thin these days too.

Have a great holiday in Alcudia!
 
I guess retail is priced so high as its almost a one-off purchase off the shelf. Subs make more sense. I just started a 6 month sub for the boatshow tickets, so its not bad value then ! Except then I got the invites in the post afterwards...
Anyway, I thought it was an OK read.
 
nicho said:
They are all going the same way Paul - aviation mags are pretty thin these days too.

Have a great holiday in Alcudia!
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Thanks Mike will do, will be having a look around what on the market over there too.

On the subject of mags, can you remember when it was "boats and planes for sale".

It made a rich man not know which toy to go for.
 
motor boats monthly

I remember being so pleased when MBM was first launched - a magazine dedicated to motor boats - rather than having to take MBY which included sailing vessels in the main, here was a magazine I looked forward to receiving. However - over the years MBM has not only reduced in the size of non-advertising content but also no longer provides the once free supplements on e.g. Navigation and Weather. It now seems more akin to a sports car magazine for dreamers. I have over the years suggested that many motor boat users would prefer a magazine more like PBO but dedicated to motor boats.
 
I subscribe to both MBY and MBM and will continue to do so but I agree with you; MBM is looking very thin these days whilst MBY seems to go from strength to strength. I think the internet and the recession is making advertisers think harder about magazine advertising these days and I guess some have concluded that MBY offers better value in terms of circulation. Most mags can't survive on subscriptions alone and I think the lack of revenue is reflected in the quality and quantity of editorial in MBM currently
 
nicho said:
They are all going the same way Paul - aviation mags are pretty thin these days too.

Have a great holiday in Alcudia!
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I think it probably reflects a lack of advertising, rather than a reduction in editorial content. Generally speaking, there will be the same, or a similar, number of editorial pages each month but the overall number of pages in the issue will be determined by the amount of advertising. Last month's edition will have had lots more adverts because SIBS was coming up - and December will be thicker for similar (LIBS) reasons. The next couple of months' issues will probably be fairly slim because peeps will be laying up for the winter and (a) not spending much on boaty toys and (b) not looking to buy something, only to pay for 4 or 5 months on the hard.

All imho
 
534l4rk said:
I remember being so pleased when MBM was first launched - a magazine dedicated to motor boats - rather than having to take MBY which included sailing vessels in the main, here was a magazine I looked forward to receiving. However - over the years MBM has not only reduced in the size of non-advertising content but also no longer provides the once free supplements on e.g. Navigation and Weather. It now seems more akin to a sports car magazine for dreamers. I have over the years suggested that many motor boat users would prefer a magazine more like PBO but dedicated to motor boats.
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I'm a fairly recent boat owner and must admit I find it difficult to fathom who MBM is aimed at. I'm not poor by any means but a substantial amount of space is dedicated to reviewing boats I will never, ever, even be able to dream about owning, and, well it just isn't value for money. Let's call a spade a spade here and accept that since the digital revolution it has become so easy to produce professional looking magazines - I mean just look at how many there are on the shelves compared to 30 years ago - the quality of the journalism has suffered terribly. Manufacturers of new boats want the publicity, journos want to test drive flash boats, there's no research to do and it doesn't cost much - what's not to like, except that it's irrelevant to most boat owners/potential owners. Pretty much all the boys toys mags have gone the same way, unfortunately some of them have also adopted the street speak slang that passes for english these days, at least you can't accuse MBM of that.
When you do get a "practical" article, it is usually far too brief and not enough detail.
For me, the point of reading a "hobby" magazine is that it makes you want to get out there and do it. I'm sorry, but reading MBM just makes me feel inferior to the rest of the boating community.
However, I have enjoyed the "life in boats" pieces, and the accounts of cruising experiences. I've just read Dominic and Nicola Gribbins account of their UK cirumnavigation in a 20 foot Hardy - let's have more of that stuff!
 
Deleted User said:
I subscribe to both MBY and MBM and will continue to do so but I agree with you; MBM is looking very thin these days whilst MBY seems to go from strength to strength. I think the internet and the recession is making advertisers think harder about magazine advertising these days and I guess some have concluded that MBY offers better value in terms of circulation. Most mags can't survive on subscriptions alone and I think the lack of revenue is reflected in the quality and quantity of editorial in MBM currently
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On the whole, doesnt MBY review bigger boats.. ie manufacturers with bigger advertising budgets? And so doesnt it cater for the higher priced boats?
I used to prefer MBM to MBY, but now find myself reversed. Maybe I ve been boating longer so MBM tips are often knowledge already gained.
Each edition of a mag is going to have bits of interest and bits that someone finds of less interest. Personally, I didnt even bother reading the flybridge review, coz I would never ever want to own one, but I did read the review of the Tornado- though its the third time I think I seen it reviewed. Equally, I expect some swapped what they read the other way. I cant see its possible to please everyone all the time.
I would agree that MBY is a better written and produced magazine though, and takes more than ten minutes to read.
 
I think it is interesting to note that quite a few mobo-ers (mainly of the Nelson (serious boating) ilk) read PBO which despite the efforts of Keith Colwell many years ago to introduce some motor boat material is predominantly sail. So there is a demand for more hands-on stuff. The problem for the staff is that boating is a finite subject making it impossible to produce totally new material and so older readers will have seen it all; apart from new boat reports!
Anyone remember Popular Motor Cruiser? Probably too down-market for these days but a 'chummy' little read of its time!
 
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