I would like to know which magazines you folks read to get information on products and materials reviews and recommendations, as well as instructions and tips aimed at the DIY boat owner. I need to keep my older 27 sloop with a Yanmar YSE8 in tip top shape for Great Lakes sailing. Currently I have subscriptions for Practical Sailor and Good Old Boat. But I am thinking of dropping the PS magazine since most of the products being reviewed seem aimed at high end (read expensive) boats and offshore sailors, and their isn't much DIY stuff. Thanks for your ideas. Kevin
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Sailing Today
British Magazine that has better and more in depth reviews of equipmment, sailing tips, projects and is geared toward all size boats. Reviews of old and new boats are 300% better than those found in US or Canada. I only get CW and Sail because of my kid's annual school subscription drive. I can get it at Barnes and Noble or you can subscribe. US publishers should be ashamed of their products.
British Magazine that has better and more in depth reviews of equipmment, sailing tips, projects and is geared toward all size boats. Reviews of old and new boats are 300% better than those found in US or Canada. I only get CW and Sail because of my kid's annual school subscription drive. I can get it at Barnes and Noble or you can subscribe. US publishers should be ashamed of their products.
Sailing magazines.
Only wish I could spend as much time sailing as I do reading about it! I am not familiar with Jeff's recommendation. I would have trouble giving up Practical Sailor and I also sail an old Cherubini. "Sailing" is a Great Lakes magazine of the larger format with great pictures that I like. I would give up Cruising World before that one. Hard to beat Good Old Boat.
Only wish I could spend as much time sailing as I do reading about it! I am not familiar with Jeff's recommendation. I would have trouble giving up Practical Sailor and I also sail an old Cherubini. "Sailing" is a Great Lakes magazine of the larger format with great pictures that I like. I would give up Cruising World before that one. Hard to beat Good Old Boat.
Use the Web
Kevin, I used to subscribe to Practical Sailor and still think their articles are good. But I found the magazine was of interest only if they were reviewing something I was interested in buying. I dropped my subscription and now visit their web site when I want to buy something significant. You can download the relevant article immediately for a modest fee. I find this more cost effective and efficient. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Kevin, I used to subscribe to Practical Sailor and still think their articles are good. But I found the magazine was of interest only if they were reviewing something I was interested in buying. I dropped my subscription and now visit their web site when I want to buy something significant. You can download the relevant article immediately for a modest fee. I find this more cost effective and efficient. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Marine Catalogs
...are another good source of information. The Advisors in the West Marine catalogs are very helpful on technical issues, and are especially good on electrical information. (and are also on the web) Browsing through the catalogs also helps you understand what is available on the market. Of course, in addition to magazines, the best round up of boating technical information is Calder's Boatowner's Manual. His newer Crusing Book is a very good companion. If I were to take only three books, I'd bring Calder's two and Don Casey's This Old Boat. Just about everything you need to know are in those, and, of course, a West Marine catalog.
...are another good source of information. The Advisors in the West Marine catalogs are very helpful on technical issues, and are especially good on electrical information. (and are also on the web) Browsing through the catalogs also helps you understand what is available on the market. Of course, in addition to magazines, the best round up of boating technical information is Calder's Boatowner's Manual. His newer Crusing Book is a very good companion. If I were to take only three books, I'd bring Calder's two and Don Casey's This Old Boat. Just about everything you need to know are in those, and, of course, a West Marine catalog.
FYI Sailing Today
If your not familiar with Sailing Today, in the past for i.e. they had a 4-5 fullpage color spread on the Hunter 290, aka Legend in England,comparing the shoal keel vs the twin keel vesions built in England for perforamce, stability etc.. This was after a 4-5 page new boat review of the 290 in an earlier issue. Or a six page spread on folding props or comparing 23 dehumidifiers. While not all products are available in the US many are. How about a nine page full color review of a 1985 Beneteau First 305 with comparisons to other comparable old boats. The seamamnship series had a 5 issue series on handling under power with each issue consisting of 4-5 pages with illustrations and pictures depicting different conditions and keel configurations. That is like a 20-25 page book on handling a sailboat under power. In short, it makes the US rags look like the toilet paper they are, nothing but ads. Count up the number of actual pages of articles compared to the total and it is rip off. Just my opionion but I can read Sail or CW standing up at the news stand in about 8-10 minutes.
If your not familiar with Sailing Today, in the past for i.e. they had a 4-5 fullpage color spread on the Hunter 290, aka Legend in England,comparing the shoal keel vs the twin keel vesions built in England for perforamce, stability etc.. This was after a 4-5 page new boat review of the 290 in an earlier issue. Or a six page spread on folding props or comparing 23 dehumidifiers. While not all products are available in the US many are. How about a nine page full color review of a 1985 Beneteau First 305 with comparisons to other comparable old boats. The seamamnship series had a 5 issue series on handling under power with each issue consisting of 4-5 pages with illustrations and pictures depicting different conditions and keel configurations. That is like a 20-25 page book on handling a sailboat under power. In short, it makes the US rags look like the toilet paper they are, nothing but ads. Count up the number of actual pages of articles compared to the total and it is rip off. Just my opionion but I can read Sail or CW standing up at the news stand in about 8-10 minutes.
Not Satisfied with Practical Sailor
I tried practical sailor for a while. I was less than satisfied with a lot of their stories. For example, they wrote an article on fish finders which described a series of bench tests comparing fish finders. The one thing they did not evaluate is whether fish finders are actually suitable for sailboats. I wrote them about this and I was ignored. For example, they tested an model similar to the Ratheon L365 which I bought. After unsuccessfully finding a way to get an adequate installation on my McGregor 23 which would give an accurate speed, I called Ratheon. Their basic answer was that the L365 is not suitable for sailboats. Dan McGuire
I tried practical sailor for a while. I was less than satisfied with a lot of their stories. For example, they wrote an article on fish finders which described a series of bench tests comparing fish finders. The one thing they did not evaluate is whether fish finders are actually suitable for sailboats. I wrote them about this and I was ignored. For example, they tested an model similar to the Ratheon L365 which I bought. After unsuccessfully finding a way to get an adequate installation on my McGregor 23 which would give an accurate speed, I called Ratheon. Their basic answer was that the L365 is not suitable for sailboats. Dan McGuire
DIY marine maintenance magazine
You might try this magazine. I have their archive cd of all back issues and have frequently used it on projects. You can check them out on the link below Ward
You might try this magazine. I have their archive cd of all back issues and have frequently used it on projects. You can check them out on the link below Ward
Dan, I had a similar experience.
Interesting that you never got a response from Practical Sailor. It must be the way they operate. This past winter I was looking for a new headsail furling system and searched the PS website for reviews. Couldn't find anything which surprised me so I sent in an email with my request and never heard back to either the first or my follow-up email. Funny way for someone to run a business where they want to sell you back articles and reviews via the internet. Kevin
Interesting that you never got a response from Practical Sailor. It must be the way they operate. This past winter I was looking for a new headsail furling system and searched the PS website for reviews. Couldn't find anything which surprised me so I sent in an email with my request and never heard back to either the first or my follow-up email. Funny way for someone to run a business where they want to sell you back articles and reviews via the internet. Kevin
Another British Magazine
I have to agree with Jeff D. that the British sailing magazines put most of their American counterparts to shame. I'm not familiar with Sailing Today,, but I get both Practical Boat Owner and Yachting Monthly. PBO is the more DIY of the two and has lots of really useful articles. So useful that I've let my subscriptions to Cruising World and Sail lapse (and every year I debate whether Practical Sailor really is worth the price). The British magazines are pretty pricey at the newsstand, but are reasonable by subscritpion.
I have to agree with Jeff D. that the British sailing magazines put most of their American counterparts to shame. I'm not familiar with Sailing Today,, but I get both Practical Boat Owner and Yachting Monthly. PBO is the more DIY of the two and has lots of really useful articles. So useful that I've let my subscriptions to Cruising World and Sail lapse (and every year I debate whether Practical Sailor really is worth the price). The British magazines are pretty pricey at the newsstand, but are reasonable by subscritpion.
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