magazines?

[SunfishLove]

What magazines do ya'll suggest future sailors read? There are just too many to choose from, I need some advice.

[mstern]

what are you interested in? there are magazines out there that cater to every segment of sailors. Racing? Cruising? Technical? Lifestyle? Low rent? Luxury? As with anything, the more info you give, the better advice you will get.

For me, I am interested in classic plastic boats, so my fave is Good Old Boat. This mag focusses on the boats themselves, not owners or their voyages. Because it relies on subscriptions and not as much on advertising, it is one of the most expensive magazines, but it is worth it.

I also get Cruising World and Sail, but mostly because they are practically free. I think my two year subscription to Sail was $12, and my two year subscription to CW was like $18. I am guessing they are giving away the subscriptions so they can claim high readership and thereby boost their ad rates. Sail is sort of a general interest sailing magazine, that tries to cover boats, voyages, old and new boat reviews, and maintenance too. I usually find a couple of articles of interest every month, but not always. CW is mostly about places to go and stories from those that have been there. Sometimes some articles about boats too.

And in a similarly priced although unexplainable fluke, I have a complimentary subscription to Showboats International. This mag is for the ultra-luxury crowd, and shows megayachts and the issues that go along with owning one of these beauties. Mostly motoryachts, but there is usually at least one 100+ foot sailboat in every issue.

Another mag I like that is different is Latitudes and Attitudes. Like CW, it focusses on voyages, but its editorial viewpoint is much different. CW is "corporate", and L&A is definitely gonzo, anti-establishment. Lots of fun, especially the columnists.

There are others mags I like too; Sailing is a large format magazine that lends itself particularly well to photo spreads. Some gorgeous photo stories of very pretty boats. Its focus is more Great Lakes (it started out as a local rag), but it also has stories and pictures from all over.

There are others too: Sailing World is for racers, Wooden Boat (self-explanatory, I hope), Small Craft Advisor is what it says, etc. Try a couple and see which ones you like.

[MarkCK]

I agree mostly with mstern's views on magazines. Good old boat is my favorite even though it is the most costly. I really enjoy Sail and the low price is a bonus. I have a subscription to Cruising World that I will probably let expire. It seems to be a great magazine for a beginer sailor who is dreaming of sailing around the world. But as my experience has increased it seems less relelvant to the kind of sailing I actually do. I get a complimentary subscription to Sailing with my membership to ASA. I like a lot of things about the magazine but I have had some issues with it so if I actually had to pay for it I would probably decline. I find Lattitude and Attitudes kinda cheesy. I used to read it when it was free online but not enough to pay for it.

I really like Small Craft advisor but the price tag is too high for a bimonthly subscription.

Practical Sailor is also a nice mag. Its kind of the consumer reports of the sailing world. I think they do a good job, but I can come to sailnet and ask a question about a product that is relelvant to me right now and get just as good of an opinon of what to buy.

[Waltthesalt]

Consider checking out libraries. A good place to go for magazines instead of buying them. The info in boat magazines isn't timely. Usually I find myself hunting back when someting comes up. Libraries also saves having stacks of magazines around the house. Some Boat US/West Marine stores have Practical Sailor available to use when you're shopping.
Example: I live about a 40 min drive from Port Townsend in Washington. It's a very boaty place and carries about all the sail boat magazines. Much more than I'd ever subscribe to. So I can scan them and cherry pick the articles of intreest to me. So now I only susbcribe to one that they don't carry. That's a Brit magazine.. Practical Boat Owner. Good but pricey

[Mobnets]

Good Old Boat is tops on my list. I don't care what it costs.
Sail would be number two. Inexpensive subscription.
Cruising World. Inexpensive subscription.

I enjoy browsing Sailing, Lats and Atts, Wooden Boat, and Small Craft Advisor at Barnes and Noble, but don't usually purchase unless there is some specific content I don't feel I can live without.

1973 Paceship Chance 32/28

[JoeDiver]

I get Sail since it's so inexpensive and a good general sailing magazine.

Go to the bookstore and grab a handful, find a chair, and start looking through them. You'll find one you like, that fits your style and what you're looking for. That's the one to subscribe to.

[Joesaila]

I like Good Old cause I have a pretty good old. Cruising World next because of Capt. Fatty Goodlander's great articles. Lats and Ats next because it's fun

[BarryL]

Hello,

I love Good Old Boat.

I used to get Sail, but stopped after they raved about how some big fat slow typical type boat was a bargain at $250K. And kept on doing the same thing issue after issue. And how if you even consider leaving the dock without a PDF on with strobe, PLB, tether, and life raft, you must be crazy.

Now I get Sailing, which at least has prettier pictures.

I also get Cruising World although I'm not sure why.

Lastly, I get Practical Sailor. That contains good information, although they are little pompous to me.

Barry

[SVAuspicious]

Good Old Boat, Ocean Navigator, and Maritime Reporter

[Sabreman]

Someone gave me a subscription to Chesapeake Bay magazine, but that's not really a boating mag. I flip through it once and then toss it.

The only other mag that interests me in this locale is Spinsheet. It's free, gossipy, informative, and actually useful.

I have no other boating mags - they're all boring to me. They write about boats that I'll never own (ever read a "bad" review in a boat mag??), trips to places that I'll never go, or gadgets that are fluff. Just my opinion, please don't be offended.

The "best" boat mag for me isn't about boats at all. It's Naval History. A real gem.