PCUK
Well-Known Member
I don't know how to go about it, but I'm sure some on here will have the know-how to run a campaign to bring IPC to their senses and give the new look a fair chance!
Save Motor Boats Monthly
- Thread starter PCUK
- Start date
landlockedpirate
Well-Known Member
I feel for the staff, but....
petem
Well-Known Member
I don't want it saved either. Better to focus efforts on writing the best YBW possible.
Jurgen
Well-Known Member
Best way to save it is by folks subscribing
oldgit
Well-Known Member
To survive a publication needs new entrants to the market. A look around will tell you that the boat market is contracting in general merely by looking at the number and types of boat available to the market.
The trend has been constantly upmarket to ensure profitability and with disposable income being eroded by living expences less people will be able to afford a boat. Especially folks with family and mortage.
Virtually everybody I know with a boat is fairly "mature" with younger boaters being few and far between.
Many older owners are looking to get rid of the boat but with prices on the floor feel unable to sell a boat for peanuts.
Most like me simply do not buy the mag anymore (unless we are in it).
Doubt very much that many MBM customers will transfer to MBY either unless it provides more localised cover and starts to deliberately appeal to those to whom £300K for an entry level boat and £150 for pair of boat shoes,is an interesting concept !
The trend has been constantly upmarket to ensure profitability and with disposable income being eroded by living expences less people will be able to afford a boat. Especially folks with family and mortage.
Virtually everybody I know with a boat is fairly "mature" with younger boaters being few and far between.
Many older owners are looking to get rid of the boat but with prices on the floor feel unable to sell a boat for peanuts.
Most like me simply do not buy the mag anymore (unless we are in it).
Doubt very much that many MBM customers will transfer to MBY either unless it provides more localised cover and starts to deliberately appeal to those to whom £300K for an entry level boat and £150 for pair of boat shoes,is an interesting concept !
julians
Well-Known Member
I read both ybw and mbm, and find interesting articles in both, so maybe combining the best of each into a single magazine will work ok.
Ybws occasisional off the cuff remark about the latest 300k sunseeker being a great starter boat does grate a bit though ( my starter boat was a 3 metre inflatable with 8hp outboard) , it has to be said, but maybe im not their target audience. I very much doubt ill ever be in a position to buy most of the new boats that ybw reviews, but maybe when theyre 15 years old they might be on my radar, but at the moment Im just not interested in a cruising boat, day boats/sportsboats are more my thing.
I also find that some of the 'guidance' articles seem at odds with the boats being reviewed, ie how to anchor correctly, how to come alongside etc etc, if youre spending 300k+ you really shouldnt be using a magazine for tips, you should already know the principles, but maybe this goes back to tbe sort of people thT do spend 300k on their first boat. Are the majority of 300k boat buyers absolute beginners? Maybe they are, its a frightening thought though.
A little more focus on the smaller (<30foot) day boat end of things would be good, and when they do cover these I find these reviews useful, but theyre few and far between.this should be in addition to the bigger stuff not instead of it.
Ybws occasisional off the cuff remark about the latest 300k sunseeker being a great starter boat does grate a bit though ( my starter boat was a 3 metre inflatable with 8hp outboard) , it has to be said, but maybe im not their target audience. I very much doubt ill ever be in a position to buy most of the new boats that ybw reviews, but maybe when theyre 15 years old they might be on my radar, but at the moment Im just not interested in a cruising boat, day boats/sportsboats are more my thing.
I also find that some of the 'guidance' articles seem at odds with the boats being reviewed, ie how to anchor correctly, how to come alongside etc etc, if youre spending 300k+ you really shouldnt be using a magazine for tips, you should already know the principles, but maybe this goes back to tbe sort of people thT do spend 300k on their first boat. Are the majority of 300k boat buyers absolute beginners? Maybe they are, its a frightening thought though.
A little more focus on the smaller (<30foot) day boat end of things would be good, and when they do cover these I find these reviews useful, but theyre few and far between.this should be in addition to the bigger stuff not instead of it.
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grant_goulding
New Member
I have subscribed and purchased MBM off and on for the last 20 years. I have felt that the last few years there has been less articles of interest in the magazines in general and the view that the boat market is contracting is also true. However I also feel that MBY is not going to fulfill my reading desires and I will probably just do with the free digital Motorboatowner. If they wanted to make MBM more viable then it needed classified adverts which were free for boat owners, small ads from suppliers and more how to articles. As mentioned here those who spend 300k plus on a boat are hardly going to be interested in "how to do this" type of articles but for the rest of us who have normal budgets we are. IPC could make MBM viable. Lose the huge costs of being published in London, so many on-cost staff they have and get back to basics.
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
Too many double boat tests in my view, the same boats in mbm and mby of late years, which I'm sure has not helped sales.
The mag had less content every month, you could literally feel its thickness when it popped through the letterbox.
I think mbm covered more for the average boater where mby covers the larger end boat owner.
The mag had less content every month, you could literally feel its thickness when it popped through the letterbox.
I think mbm covered more for the average boater where mby covers the larger end boat owner.
kennyh
Well-Known Member
I've not heard the news; is it ceasing publication?
Update: I've found the other thread with the announcement.
Personally, I think it would be a loss to have it cease publication.
MBM and MBY, in my opinion, are targeted at two different markets. Unfortunately I am not a millionaire, and thus will not be buying any boats >£200k, which is where MBY appears to be focused.
I do agree that the recent facelift is not necessarily an improvement, but I still look forward to each publication of MBM.
I think that if MBM does cease to be, then MBY should adapt to cover the lower/middle part of the market also.
Kenny
Jeanneau Prestige 30s
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Bertramdriver
Well-Known Member
Lost cause. Best you can hope for is an epublication to your PC/tab.
Just had a radical thought. There must be a Forumite with pro editing skills. Why not publish our own with contributions from forumites and published quarterly. I for one would be happy to contribute as there is limited media for grumpy old blokes who have to get the hands dirty and spill blood to keep their boats afloat. Takers?
Just had a radical thought. There must be a Forumite with pro editing skills. Why not publish our own with contributions from forumites and published quarterly. I for one would be happy to contribute as there is limited media for grumpy old blokes who have to get the hands dirty and spill blood to keep their boats afloat. Takers?
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Montemar
Well-Known Member
If the money shortage for younger people is having an impact and no doubt it is then wouldn't this be balanced by pensionistas who have paid off the mortgage, kids left home and have some financial provision. This is my situation and at last I have the time and enough (just) dosh to indulge in a fantastic hobby that I can share with my wife. Five years ago I didn't even own a boat!
Whatever happens I would move more towards PBO than MBY as the former appears to live in the real world.
Whatever happens I would move more towards PBO than MBY as the former appears to live in the real world.
kennyh
Well-Known Member
I agree.
I think if there was a PBO for power, then that would be just about perfect.
boatone
Well-Known Member
After half a lifetime boating on a budget, even the onset of old age and some surplus funds doesn't make it easy for me to even consider spending £100k on my next (possibly last) "new" boat !
In this country I get to use it for about 6 months of the year - maybe less if the Thames is having a spat - and it costs a minimum £5k a year of disposable income to pay the annual costs.
It makes absolutely no financial sense at all - either you want to do it and can afford to do so or its not for you.
In this country I get to use it for about 6 months of the year - maybe less if the Thames is having a spat - and it costs a minimum £5k a year of disposable income to pay the annual costs.
It makes absolutely no financial sense at all - either you want to do it and can afford to do so or its not for you.
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burgundyben
Well-Known Member
MBM we're planning to write an article on this weekend's Cowes Classic Powerboat Rally, a freelance journo was coming to do it, not sure if that's happening now!
Plus, MBM had asked me to write a column about me and Playtime which I had completed and submitted, perhaps now that won't go to print. My five minutes of fame will have to wait.
Plus, MBM had asked me to write a column about me and Playtime which I had completed and submitted, perhaps now that won't go to print. My five minutes of fame will have to wait.
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
ari
Well-Known Member
It seemed to me that to a large extent that's what MBM became after the refit. A massive focus on practical hands on features.
Ian tan
Active Member
I would do that, why not also have a projects section in the forum where DIY upgrades could be posted?
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
I will regret the passing of MBM, having been a subscriber till last year, but transferred to MBY. I don't think the issue is lack of money in the young, my daughter and peer group are much more affluent than my generation at the A&E age, but things have moved on. The young all get their info from smart phones and tablets, as even us dinosaurs do these days, and magazines and newspapers no longer seem relevant. My concern is for the future of this forum. If MBY goes the same way, will IPC sustain this freebie forum?
wipe_out
Well-Known Member
I agree with a lot of what is being said..
I wonder why the decision was made to discontinue MBM and keep MBY going.. Surely there are far more "low end" boaters than "yacht" owners that would be buying the magazine? Maybe we haven't heard the full story and MBY is going to be restructured as well.. As it is I have very little interest in buying it..
Anyway, as others have said it's the smaller boats in the ~20-35ft range that I would be far more interested in reading about because these are possibilities to own in a 5 or 10 (or more) years when they get into my price range.. The 40+ ft boats are of no interest unless I win the lottery and that's not likely because I don't play..
Again like others have said the free online magazine is positioning itself much closer to what I am interested in reading about..
I wonder why the decision was made to discontinue MBM and keep MBY going.. Surely there are far more "low end" boaters than "yacht" owners that would be buying the magazine? Maybe we haven't heard the full story and MBY is going to be restructured as well.. As it is I have very little interest in buying it..
Anyway, as others have said it's the smaller boats in the ~20-35ft range that I would be far more interested in reading about because these are possibilities to own in a 5 or 10 (or more) years when they get into my price range.. The 40+ ft boats are of no interest unless I win the lottery and that's not likely because I don't play..
Again like others have said the free online magazine is positioning itself much closer to what I am interested in reading about..
wipe_out
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't worry about that.. Any number of us on here could pick it up and start a spin off forum if they wanted to shut it down..