I am not renewing my subscription to Practical Sailor for a couple of reasons. 1) I like to think I have an open mind, after the Practical Sailor remark about "sugar scoop" transoms I don't think Practical Sailor and I think alike. I find the forum here at HOW far more interesting. 2) I am about 99% SURE they sell their mail list. They have a mis-spelling in my name on my subscription and now I am getting junk mail trying to sell me products spelled exactly the same. Anybody else not like having their name and address sold? Cannot prove it, but like I said, strange coincidence if they have not.
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practical sailor
practical sailor's editors questionably are biased in favor of "classic" designs... i find their comparative equipment tests to be useful and informative...however, they aren't necessarily the final word, and i don't accept their articles as gospel...i am continuing my subscription because i feel the magazine performs a useful function...
practical sailor's editors questionably are biased in favor of "classic" designs... i find their comparative equipment tests to be useful and informative...however, they aren't necessarily the final word, and i don't accept their articles as gospel...i am continuing my subscription because i feel the magazine performs a useful function...
Take with a grain, er, scoop of salt
I've noticed the tendency of PS to favor traditional designs also. The scoop tends to be more pratical in the South and the Carribean but in New Eangland and the Northwest down to northern California it is not very pratical - the water is too cold. Everybody has their preferences. Personally, my preference is for stern that is just off vertical so hull volume isn't wasted. I don't need a rule-beater. It doesn't rile me that much they don't like scoops - take what they say with a grain, er, scoop of salt!
I've noticed the tendency of PS to favor traditional designs also. The scoop tends to be more pratical in the South and the Carribean but in New Eangland and the Northwest down to northern California it is not very pratical - the water is too cold. Everybody has their preferences. Personally, my preference is for stern that is just off vertical so hull volume isn't wasted. I don't need a rule-beater. It doesn't rile me that much they don't like scoops - take what they say with a grain, er, scoop of salt!
Useful
I think they really do perform a useful function in terms of their equipment reviews. I generally ignore their articles about boats, although occasionally even these are interesting. They definitely misspelled my name as well, but so far, after about 8 years, I haven't gotten any junk mail with the same misspelling. I might be just lucky. MC
I think they really do perform a useful function in terms of their equipment reviews. I generally ignore their articles about boats, although occasionally even these are interesting. They definitely misspelled my name as well, but so far, after about 8 years, I haven't gotten any junk mail with the same misspelling. I might be just lucky. MC
Opinions are like...
...well...you know how it goes. PS can provide unbiased testing data which is useful most of the time. Editorials, as others have said, must be recognized as someone's opinion, and nothing more. Take the recent article stating what a wonderfully versatile boat the MacGregor with the 50HP outboard was. Well, versatile, yes, but the rest of the article was a bit much. Just take it as "an article" and remember "don't believe everything you read"
...well...you know how it goes. PS can provide unbiased testing data which is useful most of the time. Editorials, as others have said, must be recognized as someone's opinion, and nothing more. Take the recent article stating what a wonderfully versatile boat the MacGregor with the 50HP outboard was. Well, versatile, yes, but the rest of the article was a bit much. Just take it as "an article" and remember "don't believe everything you read"
Unhappy with PS
I was ticked off enough with PS and the issue that had the letters in response that I sent a scathing e-mail to Dan Spurr suggesting they stick to what they do best and let me decide what I like in the looks of a boat. In my opinion some of the boats they espouse are butt ugly but I don't go around putting down those boats to the people who own them. Dan sent me an e-mail saying due to the volume of mail from unhappy people they would not venture the asthetics of boats again and would stick to testing. I had threatened to cancel my subscribtion but on the basis of his response decided to stay with them and see if he's as good as his word. For equipment tests they're hard to beat! Dan Arsenault Serendipity Too
I was ticked off enough with PS and the issue that had the letters in response that I sent a scathing e-mail to Dan Spurr suggesting they stick to what they do best and let me decide what I like in the looks of a boat. In my opinion some of the boats they espouse are butt ugly but I don't go around putting down those boats to the people who own them. Dan sent me an e-mail saying due to the volume of mail from unhappy people they would not venture the asthetics of boats again and would stick to testing. I had threatened to cancel my subscribtion but on the basis of his response decided to stay with them and see if he's as good as his word. For equipment tests they're hard to beat! Dan Arsenault Serendipity Too
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