Boatbuilder sunk

Just received a no return address on the envelope (usually tossem) note from Boatbuilder magazine that after 26 years of publication they have suddenly swallowed the anchor.

It sounds like the reason was lack of interest, lack of subscribers. The publication came off as a very down home kindof unsophisticated journal that depended on amateur writers for content. It seemed too basic for my taste, like it was aimed at highschool level readers.

It mostly suffered from poor quality photos. And a sub price probably too stiff for beginners: $30 a year for 6 issues. Sad to have a boat magazine die!:(
Strange, little did I know that Boatbuilder's older sister (35yrs) is Practical Sailor. They have signed me up for a consolation subscription. I've let P.S. lapse and haven't missed it really.

One would suppose this rich man's sailing game would generate a well funded nautical Consumer Reports to keep suppliers honest. But I think Practical Sailor has $$$ problems too. They don't do commercials like their lubberly cousin. And they aren't really aimed at small craft.

Certainly the best boat mag going these days is Small Craft Advisor out of Port Townsend. Lot of good things seem to be centered here - perhaps Practical Sailor should relocate.

(Just reached into the two foot deep boat magazine pile to pull out a black-n-white P.S. from May 2005.)
Big-screen chartplotters are reviewed.
Here's a "review" of a Hunter 38. There's an article on white bottom paint. An article on Harken ratchet blocks that really is a promo, a page and a half on a patented deck-cargo strapping system that doesn't seem it would stand up to green water (dinghy, liferaft). AND a nice snap fitting for the bimini. Typical? I think so.
Expensive curiosity value..... but it's pretty thin on port townsend!:rolleyes:

Ebb, I think that a lot of print publications are facing that same problem;

There's just so much Freely Available Content on "teh internets" that competing in hard copy is almost impossible, unless you turn your magazine into a catalog with some other content, as is the case with pretty much all the major mags, from what I see.

The big slicks still sell to the doctors and lawyers and stock brokers, what with the double-page spreads of full color goodness promoting the idea that they can take their midtown Manhattan apartment to Bora Bora, for just this small 6-figure amount... :rolleyes:

Those big-spending advertisers aren't going to support a little mag that promotes an entirely different mindset, one more of self-sufficiency and simpleness, as opposed to "the more you spend, the happier you'll be"... :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Maybe those small mags should look at the newer tech, put their mags into secure PDF format, and sell subscriptions reflecting the cheaper cost of paperless production and distribution... Or perhaps look at other novel ideas, like the Furled Sails podcasts...

Kurt,
Good points there.
I haven't thought about this much...But take Small Boat Journal, which was around in the '80s. Loved it, anyone interested in boats could relate to it - would want to at least pick it up, leaf through it, look at the diagrams and pretty pictures. And the ads. Dentists too!

Like any group effort, a magazine runs on (money, of course) energy, purpose. attitude and personalities. Maybe 'values' also. Often there is someone at the helm who is the keeper of the vision and as in the case of S.B.J. the crew included visionaries and designers like Phil Bolger who inject the mundane with thought-provoking surprises.

Hard copy magazines will always be around. Survivors like Wooden Boat, and Good Old Boat, give the reader anticipation of pleasure when it comes to hand. It's a touchy/feelly thing, combined with visual excitement - even the heft of the magazine and its perfume of ink and paper. It's a sensual package that you own as a subscriber. a ready personal reference.

A modern magazine has to be a resource. I'm given copies of Sail magazine each month. I give it a quick look: boats, gear, tips and recycle it. Don't save it. I must admit that when Herb Payson's tip page stopped appearing without announcement I lost all respect for the publication. And I don't believe that Sail itself thinks it is saved for reference by readers. Imco.
It happened to Small Boat Journal``````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````````````was sold while in publication - there was an immediate sea-change - people you wanted to hear from were gone - the energy flagged - lo-and-behold subscribers didn't renew!

Every sailor wants to know what goes on in the spectrum. Even Hunter owners. There has to be something in his hands that he'll lean back with in a stuffed chair to spend a little time. Somehow the computer don't fill the bill.

Ultimately, one day soon, the computer and it's busy family will receive publications and spew them out in collated, bound and covered form in your home office or on your boat. What goes around comes around. It'll be different. It won't be the same. We'll still hanker for the good old days.:eek:

You know, are you really happy with your West Marine/7-11 experience? Or would you rather be stepping into a fully stocked working chandlery, with a metal and rigging shop in the back? That's the separation between Sail and Advisor.

My Good Old Boat these days arrives cleverly encapsulated in polyethylene skin. When you pull it open you get a puff of SeaBreeze. Very clever indeed!