Unmovable Engine

[FlyingSpud]

On at least two occasions recently, reference has been made in PBO to Pat Manley having noted that in ‘a modern production line’ boat, it would be impossible to get the engine out without cutting into the structure of the boat, the point being that the boat was effectively built around the engine.
However, PBO seems rather shy about saying which boat this is. Why this may be we can no doubt guess, but it seems odd in view of the Magazine’s apparent wish to be a protector of the consumer (confirmed in an editorial about two months ago – though, to be fair, that editor suddenly seems to have gone).
Why won’t the magazine tell us which boat? After all, can you imagine ‘What Car’, or something like that, saying that they know that one car cannot be repaired but refusing to say which car.

 

[BarryH]

IMHO, none of the mags will "bad mouth" any of the products that they test. The company in question will get the hump and take thier advertising budgets elsewhere. Its the same for any mag or publishing house that gets the bulk of their revenue from advertising. Take another hobby of mine, I got the mag through the door, opened it to find a test of a recent new product. It got a glowing report. Yet the "trade" and people who had used the product had quiet a different view. Guess what company has at least a douple page ad and a half page ad in every issue!

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[rhinorhino]

Hear, hear. Boat and kit reviews in PBO, Yachting Monthly and Sailing Today have become bland to the piont of uselessness. I can't remember the last report that really made any critisism of a boat.
Its a bit like an American personel report where the worst you can say is "outstanding".
Should we have a campain for "real information"?

 

[FlyingSpud]

But isn’t there a danger from YBW’s point of view here of upsetting everyone? After all a ‘modern mass produced boat’ is probably seen by most PBO readers as being shorthand for one of about 4 different marques. The overall effect of the comments to date would be to make me doubt all these. If I were one of the ‘innocent’ producers, I would be miffed about what has appeared to date because it seems to tar them all.

 

[FlyingSpud]

True, though t be fair there were comments over the Ovni and her stability curve: though, I suppose the cynical may say that Ovni are hardly a major advertiser.

 

[kgi]

Its a pity Jeremy Clarkson doesn't sail boats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BarryH]

Its the phrase "modern mass produced boat" that causes the confusion. I'm not talking about all boats/products. Its the bad/not so good ones that still get reviewed as good, altho they're crap. The fault lies with the mags/testers/editors. Basically the cover price does not really amount to much in the scheme of things. Its the advertising revenue. So if you've got a companies product to review/test and that company just happens to spend X amount of thousands per annum with you in advertising, are you as a publisher slate his product. Look at it logically, could MBM afford to buy a brand new Sealine on the cover price alone!

What I'm really saying is that we need a totally impartial test/review mag to give an impartial view. Not until then and only then will the manufacturers of boats, yachts or whatever wise up and listen to the public and their needs.

Now I know what the mags are gonna comeback and say, "we do comparative testing and give our views on best buys". Yep they do, but when was the last time that you saw your big three selling yachts head to head. Smaller stuff yes they do, but smaller stuff is normally dinghy's and such like, not 35k yachts. I'd expect to keep an investment like that for quiet a few years, whereas a dinghy has a life of what 6-7 years before it fall to bits!

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[FlyingSpud]

The other side of the argument is that if we do not take the mags seriously, and I agree with you, that is the increasing trend, then we won’t buy them and then the advertisers will leave them
Anyway, do you sometimes get the feeling that there may be some conflict within the magazine though. Pat Manley has been able to put down about the problem, albeit in code, and Andrew Simpson has mentioned the same thing twice now. I note he says that it is a saildrive. Does that cut down the suspects at all?