A Boating Message

Cruisingdad · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

I have always liked Cruising World. Is it fair to say that reading that magazine was of the principle drives that really got me back into sailing and wanting to cruise. I remember TOm Neale used to write these On Watch's and they were absolutely hilarious - I don't care if you are a cruiser or not. In general, my feeling for that magazine has not changed.

However...

ANyone read the latest CW? It is on Cruising Catamarans. I am sure SD will jump all over this one, but I have always liked Catamarans - despite some inherent problems with them. One of those key problems is something I would like to throw out here: Cost. Any of you check the price tags on those boats?

Now for those of you that have not outfitted a cruising boat, let me give you some advice: the boat payment will be cheap in comparisson to all the crap you will put on that boat. Now, maybe ole CD here is a bit extreme - but most of my purchases are from my past experiences and frustrations (like water and power). My point being, the average (AVERAGE) price tag on one of those tubs has to be over half a million. THrow in the costs of outfitting, you got a 700k+ boat, easily.

I can't remember exactly, but it seems like their subscribers are over 100,000. Now, what percentage of those can afford a 700k boat? Now, what % of those don't already have a boat? Now, what % of those would even want a catamaran so they can go cruising? Now, what percentage of those have enough cash left over after that purchase to take off and go cruising?

See my point?

It is not that I am against those types of articles, but almost the whole magazine?? I also look at these boat reviews and many of them are on boats in excess of 1 million dollars? Who are you marketing for?

I like CW. Always have. Beautiful pictures and typically good writeups. But I am concerned when we live in a global society that markets 1 million dollar boats that appeal to only a very small percentage of those that can even afford them (which in itself is even a smaller percentage). And I do not just blame CW... everyone seems to be doing it. I would love to see an emphasis (and not the occasional article) on used boats that can be outfitted... new boats that can go cruising without breaking the bank. AN EMPHASIS, as in that is the norm!!

In general, I'd like to see a focus on the common man and average family. Lord knows we can use a few more families out here. It is a beautiful life and great way to live - we need to attract more people to it not scare them away.

Thoughts??

- CD

Freesail99 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

I also enjoy CW and I also like Sail. I like very much the cost of these two magazines. It cost me $19 bucks to re-new to BOTH. I also enjoy reading the "On Watch" first thing I turn to, each month.

Bump · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

Try Good Old Boat "The Sailing Magazine For The Rest Of Us" Great mag.

Cruisingdad · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

Quote:

Try Good Old Boat "The Sailing Magazine For The Rest Of Us" Great mag.

That was funny.

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

CD-

While I am a fan of multihulls, I am not a fan of people who have to spend that much money just to go cruising. Most average people can not afford to spend upwards of $500,000 on a sailboat, and I am among them.

Also, I am generally not a fan of the big cruising catamarans, since most of them sail like crap and have far too much windage to sail well in light winds. Granted, there are execptions, but for the most part, the mass-production large catamarans often are found motoring, since they have fairly poor sailing characteristics.

The large living areas and such, which make them such wonderful platforms for dockside and anchorage entertaining and living, also force them to have a very tall bridgedeck, and reduce their ability to sail to windward, and increase their tendency to slam in heavier weather. Yuck.

Although my boat doesn't qualify as a Good Old Boat, I do like that magazine quite a bit, as it is far more realistic about getting people in to boats that they can afford to own and cruise in. Sailing around the world doesn't require a 40'+ boat for most people. Is it going to be more comfortable than doing it in a <30' boat? Yes, but that is really a moot point if you can't afford a 40'+ boat, isn't it?

I've found that among the sailors I know, the better ones tend to prefer more reasonable sized boats, rather than the mega-mansions on water. The people who generally feel a need to bring everything including the 42" flat panel HDTV with them are trying to make up for something missing in their lives IMHO. One of the reasons I go sailing is to get away from the rat race and its insane materialism.

Cruisingdad · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

Quote:

Also, I am generally not a fan of the big cruising catamarans, since most of them sail like crap and have far too much windage to sail well in light winds. Granted, there are execptions, but for the most part, the mass-production large catamarans often are found motoring, since they have fairly poor sailing characteristics.

I knew the larger catamarans have issues going to weather and are not as good performers, but I did not know they had generaly poor sailing characteristics. Intersting.

- CD

poopdeckpappy · #7 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

I agree CD, there has to be something in between CW or Sail and Good Ol' Boat, I love the hell out of GOB, cause I love the hell out of Old boats, but somebody otta focuse on the reality of the real world of sailing and the real world of the vast majority of sailors.

We all want to live the dream, but my dream doesn't include being a Sadi millionaire or the Hire to a 200yr old shipping firm

danjarch · #8 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

James Wharam designed a few large, basic catamarans that have good sailing abilities, but they're mostly amateur builds or one offs, I don't know if it's still being published, but Messing About In Boats was a good magazine.

Cruisingdad · #9 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

Again, I like CW. I think they have a lot to provide. But there just seems to be too much emphasis on boats that few people can afford... at least it seems that way to me.

h16Sailor · #10 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

CD, I completely agree with you.

Most boat reviews seem to be paragraph in length, unless the boat costs over 500k.

Aren’t these 500k+ boats just dreams and don’t dreams keep us going? However unrealistic they may be...

‘but somebody otta focuse on the reality of the real world of sailing and the real world of the vast majority of sailors.’

I wax the bottom and wash the sails, not because it is in a magazine. But because its in the real world. How much real world could you put in a magazine?
(I reread this several times it sounds negative. This is Not my intention.) I am curious and would like to know what would a real word magazine have in it? Isn’t this website real world sailing? Its communication, ideas, relationships and escape from reality. Isn’t it real world sailing?

Most people end up with a trophy wife, I started with one