Update on Yachting Monthly and PBO

Time Out said:
I don’t think you need to direct that at me, direct it at others in this thread.
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I don't think there is much misunderstanding, really. Everyone knows that Facebook is an advertising company which grabs as much personal information as it can in order to target adverts and charge advertisers more. The difference is really just that some people are happier than others to spread their information around in that way, and reticence in this respect no means the exclusive preserve of wrinklies.
 
JumbleDuck said:
Meh. Just wait a year and all the articles from past magazines come round again.
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Come come now, we are trying to be positive here... :)

PS if your Drascombe is the one I think it is, it looked nice and shiny at the weekend...
 
Mark-1 said:
I've always thought that the absence of trip reports on YBW was unfortunate, as you say it seems typical on Kayaking/Motorcycle/Dinghy Cruising forums. It would be good if more of us shared our trips so we can vicariously share in each others adventures.
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They do this over on the mobo forum.

Pete
 
ctva said:
PS if your Drascombe is the one I think it is, it looked nice and shiny at the weekend...
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Mine is on the water at the Galloway Outdoor Centre on Loch Ken. We were all set for a picnic with friends on Sunday, but the weather was mince. (Actually it was shite, but we probably aren't allowed to say "shite" on the forums, so I am playing safe by not saying that it was shite.)
 
JumbleDuck said:
...We were all set for a picnic with friends on Sunday, but the weather was mince. (Actually it was shite, but we probably aren't allowed to say "shite" on the forums, so I am playing safe by not saying that it was shite.)
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It was...

I'll be down again on the 21/22 for some more sh1t weather... :)
 
When I was a subscriber to PBO it regularly included MAIB reports. These were always interesting and insightful. Could relevant ones be copied - without editing - into the print editions of PBO/YM?
Seldom buy either magazine these days, too expensive, too repetitive and not as engaging as this forum. Exception was August PBO which had an article and cover photo by a friend. Otherwise only perhaps 20% interests me in either.
Main advantage of print editions, swapped through marina offices/laundries, is they can be read outwith internet access (where I spend a lot of time) and in the heads.
 
Humblebee said:
When I was a subscriber to PBO it regularly included MAIB reports. These were always interesting and insightful. Could relevant ones be copied - without editing - into the print editions of PBO/YM?
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MAIB reports are available free on the internet, why would you want to buy an expensive magazine to read them?
 
I've just ploughed through the whole of this thread and probably forgotten half the comments I wanted to make. It's great to see some interaction on the forum from a couple of the journalists and I think that should be continued. I know Snooks has ventured here quite often but rarely anybody else. You just may get some good ideas for articles by joining in some conversations.
It's illuminating to see how interests change with time, but obvious really I suppose. I started sailing at 12 and raced dinghies and catamarans for quite a few years. Y&Y served needs well. Then I got into the boating industry and was sent copies of all the mags each month for quite a few years. YW and PBO were my favourites, along with Y&Y. When I finally had my own "real" boat, an old 35' cruiser/racer Y&Y was dropped and PBO much more important but I still followed all, including MOBO mags from a professional interest. When I left the industry my interest in active racing dropped away as well although I still follow what is happening. I've owned several older cruising boats over the years and done a lot of my own maintenance, but, like for many others, PBO has become less relevant. Not just repetitive but less relevant to my needs. Now I'm semi retired but not quite old enough for a pension I have bought a bigger boat in the sun to live on much of the year. Well over 40' so an object of derision for STATUE but it's my main home. It's 20 years old but in good condition and recently had a major refit but still needs constant maintenance.
Nowadays the forum is my main interest and I visit at least 5x a week. Loads of wonderful advice here whether I ask the question or not. You need to exercise a little judgement over some of the advice but usually pretty easy to see through the waffle I think. I took a decision several years ago, with a view to living on a boat, to avoid printed books and magazines wherever possible. My kindle is invaluable and always with me and several times I have subscribed to either PBO, ST or YM but always digitally and nothing for a couple of years. Saves space on the boat, but also great for long haul flights and hotels which I still do too much of. Nothing will get me back to printed mags but I could subscribe digitally again if I see value in it.
All the magazines have some good journalists, sadly also some ones, but even the good ones can't know everything. What they all do know is how to write in an interesting way. Loads of good ideas already in this thread but how about encouraging some of the forumites to write their own articles then the journalists edit them to make a more intersting style? Articles could be product tests / comparisons, maintenance, trips made or anything else. Elaine has already commented on Flaming. I agree his contributions are always worth reading and could be expanded considerably. Others will have similar levels of expertise that could be used. Most importantly, I expect most would be willing to share their knowledge and experience for little or no reward as they already do on this forum.
 
Kelpie said:
To get edited and relevant highlights, plus additional commentary?
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Not wishing to be controversial here, but in my opinion (and that's all it is) I don't think the standard of journalism in the online "news" section is even close to the standards most sailors would require to base any serious safety decision upon.

As magazeeney tittle-tattle it is fine and the cost of upgrading to more formal journalistic standards would probably be non-trivial.
 
JumbleDuck said:
Years ago one of the mags ran an extended series by Prof Marchaj about sailing aerohydrodynamics. OK, it was unreadable, but it did at least show good higher-level aspirations.

Things (in both mags) I have enjoyed recently:
  • Hantu Biru - best thing in years, because of the sheer range of topics covered ("Last month we painted the hull. This month we fit an alternator to the engine. Next month we make a sail.")
  • Tim Bartlett on diesel engines. In fact, Tim Bartlett on anything.
  • Stuart Davies' diesel engine reconditioning
  • Richard Stilgoe's circumnavigation of Winchester
  • Sam Llwellyn, especially the Minimum Boat
  • Libby Purves, always

Things (in both mags) which have recently bored the arse off me
  • Almost all accounts of cruises
  • The current PBO project ("Last month we stuck some wood together. This month we stick some wood together. Next month we'll stick some wood together. Eventually we'll have an ugly modern version of a Silhouette")
  • That truly terribly article on the IRPCS illustrated with model boats. What were they smoking?

Things I think the mags should give up on
  • Manouvering hints like "Britain's Trickiest Berths" (aka it's a bit grim oop t'Hamble) because they are always unfollowable and would be far better done in video.

Things I think the mags should do more of
  • Aim at the chartering classes. Huge numbers of people do their sailing in chartered boats and there is stuff-all explicitly for them.
  • Honest new and long-term product reviews, with the sort of humorous cynicism Sailing Today used to bring to them

Finally, I will subscribe for a year on the spot in return for a solemn promise not to mention That Bloody Race for the full twelve months.
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...if you were the editor I'd buy your magazine..... :D

I don't disagree with any of that.... in fact I couldn't agree more about the new PBO project - what were they thinking?? - so I would add under "do more of", another Hantu Biru type project but this time doing it cheaply.on a budget - instead of using top of the range marinised products get down to B&Q/Homebase/Halfords and do tests on the type of stuff I am more likely to use in maintaining a boat...

doug748 said:
Javelin is one of the more sensible and entertaining contributors here. If a tame Yacht Surveyor could be found for a similar, regular column that could be good. And perhaps a Broker as well, though they tend to be a rather tight lipped breed.
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...agreed, but Javelin writes regularly for PBO now - one of the better columns...
 
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Fantasie 19 said:
...if you were the editor I'd buy your magazine..... :D
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Send me a cheque and I'll get started on it ...

I don't disagree with any of that.... in fact I couldn't agree more about the new PBO project - what were they thinking?? - so I would add under "do more of", another Hantu Biru type project but this time doing it cheaply.on a budget - instead of using top of the range marinised products get down to B&Q/Homebase/Halfords and do tests on the type of stuff I am more likely to use in maintaining a boat...
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I like that idea.

I wonder if the Project Boat will be abandoned now, since everyone involved with it (as far as I can see) has gone and the office has closed. Still, bonfire night coming up, so not a complete waste of time.
 
mjcoon said:
So you are ignorant of the fact that it is not all "social". There are closed user groups on Facebook with technical topics, such as (to take one at random!) long-horn beetles. Quite like a forum, really...

Mike.
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..indeed...

I host a boat owners closed group on FB, my sailing club has four or five groups (for differeing interests), and I use FB regularly despite being too old (apparently) to use it... :)
 
pvb said:
I hope Mr Zuckerberg doesn't monitor this forum!
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I think Mr Zuckerberg may have more to worry about. Da kidz are perhaps not going to be as keen on social media long term as he would like. Maybe they'll start watching TV again.

Almost two-thirds of schoolchildren would not mind if social media had never been invented, research suggests.

A survey of almost 5,000 students, mainly aged between 14 and 16, found a growing backlash against social media - with even more pupils (71%) admitting to taking digital detoxes to escape it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41509402​
 
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