Yachting Monthly features

[mjcoon]

... Pick one, and check with the manual whether you need to configure it to emit NMEA 0183 at 4800 baud or whether it does that by default.

Job done.

Er, how come you do not mention NMEA 2000? I only have NMEA 0183 experience myself, but believe 2000 is different in all sorts of ways.

And BTW it is standard to connect positive to negative when connecting batteries in series! ;-)

Mike.

 

[JumbleDuck]

now that I have a centaur is is about time they gave me a column

then I could treally blag some good ****

You might get her up to Anstruther on a low-loader.

 

[laika]

I haven't bought PBO or YM for a couple of months but the question which keeps coming up is "How do I get my boat data onto my tablet?". You've got almost a whole issue right there:
- Software for tablet navigation (a comparative review)
- Devices for translating between NMEA-* and wireless: A group test. Actually I've really been wanting to get my hands on a few of these to test a theory about the quality of some of the programming...
- How to do it the home-brew way (using cheap hardware, free software and no actual programming)

Lots of people want to do this. Lots of people don't know where to start. And there's probably plenty of people who have an idea but think that *surely* a box they spend £400 on must be better than something they've cobbled together with a raspberry pi.

Preferably written by someone who at least has a clue about Nagle's algorithm and not some numpty sailing "personality"

Oh and I'd definitely like to see a KTL column replace one of the columnists that nobody at the PBO focus group I went to seemed to like

 

[dunedin]

Any article on electronic gadgetry which does not invole Apple iPad (a current fixation)

 

[snooks]

Er, how come you do not mention NMEA 2000? I only have NMEA 0183 experience myself, but believe 2000 is different in all sorts of ways.

Mike.

If it's N2K it "should" just be a case of plugging the new item into the backbone.

Or if you have a N2K chartplotter and a 0183 VHF, the chartplotter should be able to output 0183 sentences. Then link output of one to input of the other and vice versa

 

[viva]

Anything that doesn't get repeated 2 months later in PBO.

 

[lustyd]

If it's N2K it "should" just be a case of plugging the new item into the backbone.

lol you never used old ethernet then obviously

 

[lustyd]

Any article on electronic gadgetry which does not invole Apple iPad (a current fixation)

To be fair, it's a global fixation not just the magazine. They write what people want to hear about, and right now the whole planet likes iPads. Yes, other tablets do exist, but given the messing about they had to do to publish the mag on Android I can understand a certain reluctance to ever go near it again!

 

[Whiskey Bravo]

I haven't bought PBO or YM for a couple of months but the question which keeps coming up is "How do I get my boat data onto my tablet?". You've got almost a whole issue right there:
- Software for tablet navigation (a comparative review)
- Devices for translating between NMEA-* and wireless: A group test. Actually I've really been wanting to get my hands on a few of these to test a theory about the quality of some of the programming...
- How to do it the home-brew way (using cheap hardware, free software and no actual programming)

Lots of people want to do this. Lots of people don't know where to start. And there's probably plenty of people who have an idea but think that *surely* a box they spend £400 on must be better than something they've cobbled together with a raspberry pi.

Preferably written by someone who at least has a clue about Nagle's algorithm and not some numpty sailing "personality"

Oh and I'd definitely like to see a KTL column replace one of the columnists that nobody at the PBO focus group I went to seemed to like

In answer to the original question, articles that don't contain anything about the much overrated tablets or chartplotters or anything electronic. :sleeping:

 

[robmcg]

See April's issue then. Starlight 35, surely the least bland cruising yacht ever built?

AWB in sheep's clothing?

 

[Koeketiene]

Any article that doesn't feature the same old same old Mr Blandly cruising yachts would get my vote.

Bland is all the rage these days - apparently it is what punters want

To be fair, it's a global fixation not just the magazine. They write what people want to hear about, and right now the whole planet likes iPads. Yes, other tablets do exist, but given the messing about they had to do to publish the mag on Android I can understand a certain reluctance to ever go near it again!

Well, our own Richard Shead (IPC Marketing bod) has an iPad - and not an Android device.

 

[Robert Wilson]

AWB in sheep's clothing?

But it's BROWN! Who on earth wants a BROWN boat?...................................

 

[JumbleDuck]

Bland is all the rage these days - apparently it is what punters want

Just look around you on the roads - 80% of cars are metallic silver or, as we used to say, grey. Bland anonymity is the new interesting.

But it's BROWN! Who on earth wants a BROWN boat?...................................

The Premier 45 is the brown one in the current YM. The Starlight 35 is the bland white one which looks exactly like all other 90s yachts but which I gather goes somewhat better than most.

 

[Koeketiene]

Bland is all the rage these days - apparently it is what punters want

Just look around you on the roads - 80% of cars are metallic silver or, as we used to say, grey. Bland anonymity is the new interesting.

I agree - but that does not mean that bland is all what is talked/written about.
How about something weird, odd or out of the ordinary for a change?

It may not always be possible when reviewing new built boats as everyone is pretty much similar to the other, but when reviewing used boats surely the possibilities are endless... but no, every time it's an old Moody, Contessa, Westerly, ... What about one-offs or brands less well know in Britain (Trintella, She, or something from across the Pond like Hinckley or Pacific Seacraft...). Entertain us or even just slightly try to educate us about what else is out there beyond the usual fare.
But no, most of the time when it comes to reviewing used boats it's something some broker is keen to shift off his books.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Just look around you on the roads - 80% of cars are metallic silver or, as we used to say, grey. Bland anonymity is the new interesting.



The Premier 45 is the brown one in the current YM. The Starlight 35 is the bland white one which looks exactly like all other 90s yachts but which I gather goes somewhat better than most.

OOoops! That's what comes of a dose of ignorance, and late night posting.
Concentrate at the back, boy :hopeless:

 

[snooks]

It may not always be possible when reviewing new built boats as everyone is pretty much similar to the other

Whoa there

Hang on a minute....I'm looking after the new boat test schedule for YM these days and I'm trying to keep it as mixed up as possible.....

If we start off looking at 2014, the Sense 46 is nothing like the Winner 9.00, which isn't similar to the Sunbeam 42.2, which isn't similar to the Premier 45, which is nothing like the Rustler 33 (May's boat test) and that is nothing like the boat I'm down to test next week.

So in the first 6 issues of 2014 no two boats are the same, similar or share the same market sector. I'd say I'm doing alright

There are some mainstream boats coming later in the year. But when there are lots of these sold, the magazine does really have to serve it's audience. Also if that's what is being bought YM would be silly not to test it.

I can't comment on second hand boats, that's not my bag, though on a personal note I'd rather read about a boat I have a chance of buying one day, rather than a one off which will never become available to me.

 

[dunedin]

Whoa there

Hang on a minute....I'm looking after the new boat test schedule for YM these days and I'm trying to keep it as mixed up as possible.....

If we start off looking at 2014, the Sense 46 is nothing like the Winner 9.00, which isn't similar to the Sunbeam 42.2, which isn't similar to the Premier 45, which is nothing like the Rustler 33 (May's boat test) and that is nothing like the boat I'm down to test next week.

So in the first 6 issues of 2014 no two boats are the same, similar or share the same market sector. I'd say I'm doing alright

There are some mainstream boats coming later in the year. But when there are lots of these sold, the magazine does really have to serve it's audience. Also if that's what is being bought YM would be silly not to test it.

I can't comment on second hand boats, that's not my bag, though on a personal note I'd rather read about a boat I have a chance of buying one day, rather than a one off which will never become available to me.

In which case great job snooks. I had noticed there was more variety this year - and great to cover a wider range of tastes and budgets (eg the winner)

 

[snooks]

In which case great job snooks. I had noticed there was more variety this year - and great to cover a wider range of tastes and budgets (eg the winner)

It's not all been my own work, and Chris will still be resting the odd boat here and there.
I really liked the Winner, they have sold 34 of the 9.00 in 12 months, and they announced at Dusseldorf they'll be launching a new 8.00 at Southampton this year.

 

[Koeketiene]

I can't comment on second hand boats, that's not my bag, though on a personal note I'd rather read about a boat I have a chance of buying one day, rather than a one off which will never become available to me.

Why?
I watch Top Gear and I full well know I won't ever be able to afford 99% of the cars they feature.
Personally, I like quirky boats because often they have weird but really practical features. Something that might even be useful on my boat.

 

[dunedin]

To be fair, it's a global fixation not just the magazine. They write what people want to hear about, and right now the whole planet likes iPads. Yes, other tablets do exist, but given the messing about they had to do to publish the mag on Android I can understand a certain reluctance to ever go near it again!

Actually Android tablets overtook iPads globally - though Apple still the largest single brand. No issue with some iPad stuff (I have one, as well as three Android devices), but with sales 60:40 Android, and lots of people with less cash now buying things like the Hudl it is odd that YM is 99:1 Apple ;-)