Cruising World Magazine?

[svHyLyte]

At this point Cruising World is recycling paraphrased versions of prior articles. Some of the pieces are worth while but, in my view, very few. Most are too superficial to be of any value at all and the boat reviews are laughable--(yep I sure am interested in a $1.2 million Boat of the Year). At this point the only two magazines I find of value are Sailing and Good Old Boat although, unfortunately, GOB has recently developed a kind of reverse, low-brow, snobbery that I can't fathom. Never-the-less, Don Casey contributes a good deal of information that is very worth while and the mag is perfect for those sailing 30' or smaller yachts.

And--if you decline Cruising World's latest $28/3 year offer, they'll be back. After repeatly declining Yachting's continuously reduced subscription price offers, they just sent us an offer of 3 years for nothing (so theat they can maintain their circulation base for the advertisers which is where they make their money vis-a-vis Latitude 38's no cost business model).

FWIW...

[SabrinaKS]

We get several sailing mags -6 to be exact. Cruising World is ok. However did anyone notice in the Jan 2010 issue that the annual Boat of the Year Awards had not one but two winners priced at over $1 million? Come on. Seriously? That really turned me off.

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Sabrina

[6string]

I enjoy Cruising World. Interesting destinations, some good articles on boat handling and Fatty Goodlander has an interesting take on life. I find it a good way to melt away the cold Wisconsin winter when I can't be on my boat. I also enjoy Blue Water Sailing for many of the same reasons. Good Old Boat and Practical Sailor are also good but a very different read. More Consumer Report like for Practical Sailor and How to for Good Old Boat. Sail has become less of interest to me. Seems that they just don't give me the same fun as Cruising World.

Jeff

[Joesaila]

CW is a favorite. Capt. Fatty is a world class writer, though his personal take on some things is 180 degrees from mine and I don't care for the mags push on the new politically correct 'green religion'. I am simply interested in reading about sailing and cruising. I like Good Old Boat but the $39 a year subscription is likely hurting any hope of big circulation.

[WanderingStar]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will subscribe at the cheap rate. As you say, less than a buck a copy. By the way, I read Woodenboat (all of mine are wood) and Soundings. No one mentioned Soundings. Even though it's also become slimmer, it's a great source of boating news.

[sailingdog]

Personally, I think that Good Old Boat is a far better magazine with far more real world utility than Cruising World.

[mollyspinsheet]

I read Cruising World every month. It's filled with pertinent articles for cruisers and dreamers alike. You'll enjoy it!

[night0wl]

Originally Posted by Joesaila

CW is a favorite. Capt. Fatty is a world class writer, though his personal take on some things is 180 degrees from mine and I don't care for the mags push on the new politically correct 'green religion'. I am simply interested in reading about sailing and cruising. I like Good Old Boat but the $39 a year subscription is likely hurting any hope of big circulation.

There's a reason that the subscription is $39...they're not beholden to any advertiser or are operating with lower margins...so they're more candid and honest about products.

Have you *EVER* seen a negative review of a product or boat in Cruising World? Most times, the negatives of any boat are glossed over...including production boats (which I do own one). Thats not to say that the boats are bad...but if you're not absolutely candid about the limitations of a given vessel, it can be downright dangerous if you're a trusted authority.

Also, what drives me crazy...all the boats reviewed are from the major builders of our time...but all the articles about exotic destinations have owners of vessels that are definitely not often reviewed in the pages of the magazine. Custom steel pilothouse doing the Northwest Passage on pp 10then a Hunter 39 review on pp 11.

[mstern]

I recently re-subcribed to CW because of the absurdly low price. I stopped reading it years ago for many of the same reasons expressed here. Now, I really like Captain Fatty, Yacht Style and the Classic Plastic features. The rest of the magazine is very spotty. I find that my subscriptions to sailing magazines run in cycles: I now get Sail and CW; at various times, I have also subscribed to Latts and Atts, and to Sailing, and I will occasionly buy Good Old Boat. I imagine I will circle back to those at some point.

[Valiente]

I started with Sail and CW in 1999. After five years, I dropped them and got Practical Sailor and Ocean Navigator, which are far more suited to my interests and needs. I will occasionally buy a Good Old Boat if there's something on fuel systems, electrics or a nice designer's article, but it's a pricey mag.

I just eventually found SAIL and CW too stuffed with ads and too focused on boats I didn't consider appropriate for the direction...offshore...that I was moving. Your mileage, etc.