I just got back from Fort Collins, Co. today, happy to be home from a long week of work out of state. In my mail box was a offer to subscribe to Pratical Sailor. In the brochure were many reasons, statements and examples as to why I should subscribe to P.S. I have had problems with P.S.'s attitude in the past about things they have written and not just about Hunter Marine and their sailboats. Well, one of their last statements was and I quote "One manufacture refused to let us review their 27-footer. When we borrowed one from a reader, we found out why. (it was a Hunter 27, by the way.)" End of quote. After reading this, I got kinda pissed. Gee, and I was going to sign up for a year. What is it that P.S. has against Hunter Marine and Hunter Marine sailboats in general? I guess the worst thing about all of this was that, I let it piss me off and wreck my good mood! In what little law backround that I have, that statement P.S. made about Hunter is what I consider, boarder line defamation of character. To alleviate my anger, I ran the snail mail spam through the paper shredder. And now I feel much better!!!!!!!! I just thought that I would share that with you all. Steve, s/v The Odyssey (H310)
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Bashing
Think about the name of the rag " Practicle Sailor". Right up there with irrelevant garbage as oppossed to relevant garbage.
Think about the name of the rag " Practicle Sailor". Right up there with irrelevant garbage as oppossed to relevant garbage.
Don't feel bad, Steve
PS has bashed Hunters for years. Of course, back in the eighties, many people did. Snob appeal, I guess, but back then you would never have guessed that our Hunters would one day be classic Cherubini's!!!But, they are, and they have outlasted many other boats. I remember when PS had to confess that they did not understand how to install Winchers (those devices that make non-self tailing winches into almost-self tailers), I remember when they told me my toilet would obviously not last (it now has four years of constant live-aboard use, without a rebuild), when they admitted that changing the oil through a dip-stick hole was beyond their abilities, and so forth. In my opinion (and I confess to enjoying reading the rag) one has to remember that it is largely an amateur publication, written by amateurs of the industry. If they were pros, they wouldn't have the time to write! And their samplings are always statistically too small. I think you will get a better sampling from the annual gear review of the Seven Seas Cruising Association. My favorite PS story was when I called them to ask about something and wound up talking to their most snobbish writer, one who had bashed Hunters in the past. In the course of the conversation, he let it drop that he had almost bought one!!! Wouldn't that have been fun! Read PS, analyze what is relevant, and enjoy your Hunter.
PS has bashed Hunters for years. Of course, back in the eighties, many people did. Snob appeal, I guess, but back then you would never have guessed that our Hunters would one day be classic Cherubini's!!!But, they are, and they have outlasted many other boats. I remember when PS had to confess that they did not understand how to install Winchers (those devices that make non-self tailing winches into almost-self tailers), I remember when they told me my toilet would obviously not last (it now has four years of constant live-aboard use, without a rebuild), when they admitted that changing the oil through a dip-stick hole was beyond their abilities, and so forth. In my opinion (and I confess to enjoying reading the rag) one has to remember that it is largely an amateur publication, written by amateurs of the industry. If they were pros, they wouldn't have the time to write! And their samplings are always statistically too small. I think you will get a better sampling from the annual gear review of the Seven Seas Cruising Association. My favorite PS story was when I called them to ask about something and wound up talking to their most snobbish writer, one who had bashed Hunters in the past. In the course of the conversation, he let it drop that he had almost bought one!!! Wouldn't that have been fun! Read PS, analyze what is relevant, and enjoy your Hunter.
You're right, they're out
I got the same offer too! Two "free issues" and a book if you subscribe. I was thinking about it, but now that you mention it my mind is made up. I get more "practical" reading out of this website than their rag. (Kudos to Phil $ company). Does PS REALLY have an unbias free opinion like this site? Does the mag have a "search engine"? Can you email the testers and writers? HOW beats PS 3 to 1. Sure we're biased, but you can read before you buy..we don't need no stinkin' magazine that doesn't even have pretty pictures!!!
I got the same offer too! Two "free issues" and a book if you subscribe. I was thinking about it, but now that you mention it my mind is made up. I get more "practical" reading out of this website than their rag. (Kudos to Phil $ company). Does PS REALLY have an unbias free opinion like this site? Does the mag have a "search engine"? Can you email the testers and writers? HOW beats PS 3 to 1. Sure we're biased, but you can read before you buy..we don't need no stinkin' magazine that doesn't even have pretty pictures!!!
on the other hand...
a few months ago PS did a writeup on the h410 that was very positive, perhaps even generous.
a few months ago PS did a writeup on the h410 that was very positive, perhaps even generous.
Bad Advice and Bad Attitude
I have subscribed and let expire P S subscriptions at least three times since the early 80's. On a few occasions when I followed their advice I had less than satisfactory results. They turn on and off their unbiasness as quickly as the Chesapeake does the wind. Several years ago when I last subscribed, they dedicated way too much space to a former editors ramblings during a world cruise. When they published an article on sailboat design and showed the port arrangement of my boat(h376) as modern and unattractive, I felt it prudent not to continue paying for insults. For a group who publish under the guise to judge unbiasly the products and services of others, they should attempt to adhere to the premise. They seem modivated to get their message out and your money in. Their last weeks mailing is now resting in some land fill, what a waste of good space. It's just nice we have HOW where advice is based on experience and hey, it's free!
I have subscribed and let expire P S subscriptions at least three times since the early 80's. On a few occasions when I followed their advice I had less than satisfactory results. They turn on and off their unbiasness as quickly as the Chesapeake does the wind. Several years ago when I last subscribed, they dedicated way too much space to a former editors ramblings during a world cruise. When they published an article on sailboat design and showed the port arrangement of my boat(h376) as modern and unattractive, I felt it prudent not to continue paying for insults. For a group who publish under the guise to judge unbiasly the products and services of others, they should attempt to adhere to the premise. They seem modivated to get their message out and your money in. Their last weeks mailing is now resting in some land fill, what a waste of good space. It's just nice we have HOW where advice is based on experience and hey, it's free!
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