"Boatworks" is folding its tent with the current fall issue. Apparently, they are going to give all subscribers two issues of "Sail" for every issue of "Boatworks" they subscribed for (or extend subscriptions for current subscribers to "Sail"). They are also trolling to see if there is any interest among current hard copy readers in receiving "Boatworks" digitally starting next spring.
- Status
own fault
I think it's their own fault to some extent. They were a quarterly magazine, so subscribers (I was one of them) had to wait 3 months in between issues. The first year they had some really good topics and articles, then it was no more than an extension of thier crappy brother magazine "Sail" with the same idiotic topics like how do I paint my boat's bottom??? Can I get another decade out of my 20 year old sails?? etc.etc. Then they started to discuss powerboat issues.........that's when it became clear that they weren't going to be around much longer..........
I think it's their own fault to some extent. They were a quarterly magazine, so subscribers (I was one of them) had to wait 3 months in between issues. The first year they had some really good topics and articles, then it was no more than an extension of thier crappy brother magazine "Sail" with the same idiotic topics like how do I paint my boat's bottom??? Can I get another decade out of my 20 year old sails?? etc.etc. Then they started to discuss powerboat issues.........that's when it became clear that they weren't going to be around much longer..........
Well.....
We can all take pictures and we can all blog (blogger.com is free) so we can all do our own DIY articles. Who needs magazines. I have had over 1000 emails thanking me for some of my online articles and most of them say my articles are far better than anything they have seen in a magazine or book because there are enough photos to make it worth while. Magazines don't like photos because they take away from ad space.. During the dead of winter, when I have time, I usually write a few up and post them on my web site. I suppose a links page on SBO for DIY photo based articles would be a good replacement for the Boatworks Magazine. This winter I will be addressing sea cocks & installing a Harken roller furler.. Here's one of my DIY articles and it's FREE!! http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box
We can all take pictures and we can all blog (blogger.com is free) so we can all do our own DIY articles. Who needs magazines. I have had over 1000 emails thanking me for some of my online articles and most of them say my articles are far better than anything they have seen in a magazine or book because there are enough photos to make it worth while. Magazines don't like photos because they take away from ad space.. During the dead of winter, when I have time, I usually write a few up and post them on my web site. I suppose a links page on SBO for DIY photo based articles would be a good replacement for the Boatworks Magazine. This winter I will be addressing sea cocks & installing a Harken roller furler.. Here's one of my DIY articles and it's FREE!! http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box
Why?...
I'll bet they ran out of good articles. Lucky couple who got the boat "rebuild" for free!
And it WAS a good price for the subscription!
I'll bet they ran out of good articles. Lucky couple who got the boat "rebuild" for free!
And it WAS a good price for the subscription!"Boatworks" et al...
The problem that probably conspired to kill "Boatworks," and may result in the demise of some others like it, such as "DIY-Boats" and even perhaps "Good Old Boat" in the future, is that they run on very tight margins and ads. Paid subscriptions are mostly used to demonstrate to advertisers how many people they reach. People like us, who like to take care of our boats ourselves, don't spend a whole lot of money on big new boats or fancy and expensive equipment, either. If we don't buy this expensive stuff, advertisers are not inclined to buy big, expensive, full page ads in these magazines. If you page through "Sail" or "Crusing World," for example, you'll see a lot of ads for big new boats, satellite comm systems, other very expensive goodies. Compare that to "Boatworks" or "DIY-Boats" or "Good Old Boat." I doubt that GOB even has a subscription list of over 10,000 paid readers. I think you'd need at least 10 times that to keep in the highly competitive magazine business.
The problem that probably conspired to kill "Boatworks," and may result in the demise of some others like it, such as "DIY-Boats" and even perhaps "Good Old Boat" in the future, is that they run on very tight margins and ads. Paid subscriptions are mostly used to demonstrate to advertisers how many people they reach. People like us, who like to take care of our boats ourselves, don't spend a whole lot of money on big new boats or fancy and expensive equipment, either. If we don't buy this expensive stuff, advertisers are not inclined to buy big, expensive, full page ads in these magazines. If you page through "Sail" or "Crusing World," for example, you'll see a lot of ads for big new boats, satellite comm systems, other very expensive goodies. Compare that to "Boatworks" or "DIY-Boats" or "Good Old Boat." I doubt that GOB even has a subscription list of over 10,000 paid readers. I think you'd need at least 10 times that to keep in the highly competitive magazine business.
Maine Sail
WOW!! Thanks for the link! Amazing detailed instructions. Who does/will need paper mags if/when YOUR kind of work is common?? Do you have a Mission Statement, Business Plan, whatever?? I'm totally, absolutely FAVOURABLY impressed! Forums are great! Makes the future look bright... Thanks & congrats... Roger
WOW!! Thanks for the link! Amazing detailed instructions. Who does/will need paper mags if/when YOUR kind of work is common?? Do you have a Mission Statement, Business Plan, whatever?? I'm totally, absolutely FAVOURABLY impressed! Forums are great! Makes the future look bright... Thanks & congrats... Roger
No business plan don't need one...
I enjoy sailing, DIYing of all types, photography and "how to" writing so this is an outlet that combines a bunch of my interests and helps others. I have a real job so this is just a hobby and a way for me to help others learn to be self sufficient sailors... http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/root
I enjoy sailing, DIYing of all types, photography and "how to" writing so this is an outlet that combines a bunch of my interests and helps others. I have a real job so this is just a hobby and a way for me to help others learn to be self sufficient sailors... http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/root
Main Sail - GREAT web site!
No wonder they went out of business - they saw your web site and could see the future! Those pictures of Diesel were really good - the ears are something else. And the other dog which was leaping through the air - catching a still like that one can see what a dog does with his tongue when he's running. Really like your new CS-36, she's are real jewel of a boat. Noticed you're into Nikon (but took the picture with a Cannon). I've got an old Photomic-T system that I haven't used in a long time but it doesn't have the AF lenses. I understand that some of the newer digital Nikons can use the older lenses but probably not as old as mine. Keep up the good work!
No wonder they went out of business - they saw your web site and could see the future! Those pictures of Diesel were really good - the ears are something else. And the other dog which was leaping through the air - catching a still like that one can see what a dog does with his tongue when he's running. Really like your new CS-36, she's are real jewel of a boat. Noticed you're into Nikon (but took the picture with a Cannon). I've got an old Photomic-T system that I haven't used in a long time but it doesn't have the AF lenses. I understand that some of the newer digital Nikons can use the older lenses but probably not as old as mine. Keep up the good work!
John...
My DSLR is a Nikon but my pocket camera, or point & shoot, is a Canon. I try to not use my Canon too much because th photo quality is lacking but occasionally I have it in my pocket and snap a decent one. Old SLR lenses are great but the the newer ultrasonic focusing motors are so fast it's ridiculous. I do have a few screw drive lenses like my 50mm f1.8 and my 24-70mm f2.8 and my digital body will drive them but they are slow. You'd be hard pressed to catch those dog photos with a screw drive focus lens. For those photos I used my 70-200 f2.8 with the ultrasonic focusing motor. It's next to impossible to catch a photo like the one below with a point & shoot. Look close and you can see the sand flying. This photo was hand held at 200mm.... http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/74845120
My DSLR is a Nikon but my pocket camera, or point & shoot, is a Canon. I try to not use my Canon too much because th photo quality is lacking but occasionally I have it in my pocket and snap a decent one. Old SLR lenses are great but the the newer ultrasonic focusing motors are so fast it's ridiculous. I do have a few screw drive lenses like my 50mm f1.8 and my 24-70mm f2.8 and my digital body will drive them but they are slow. You'd be hard pressed to catch those dog photos with a screw drive focus lens. For those photos I used my 70-200 f2.8 with the ultrasonic focusing motor. It's next to impossible to catch a photo like the one below with a point & shoot. Look close and you can see the sand flying. This photo was hand held at 200mm.... http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/74845120
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
GOB
Good Old Boat is shortly going to be all that I am left with. Boatworks was great while it lasted but I heard a death tome when they added a powerboat article. Other mags out there that promote our boats are Small Craft Advisory, although it tends to focus on even smaller boats like dinghys, and micro-cruisers. I was reading 'statement of ... circulation' in GOB the other day and was surprised to see that they only print 30,000 copies of which 18,000 are paid circulation with another 7000 through vendors. The rest they give away. Good on them. Lets give them our business! http://www.goodoldboat.com/
Good Old Boat is shortly going to be all that I am left with. Boatworks was great while it lasted but I heard a death tome when they added a powerboat article. Other mags out there that promote our boats are Small Craft Advisory, although it tends to focus on even smaller boats like dinghys, and micro-cruisers. I was reading 'statement of ... circulation' in GOB the other day and was surprised to see that they only print 30,000 copies of which 18,000 are paid circulation with another 7000 through vendors. The rest they give away. Good on them. Lets give them our business! http://www.goodoldboat.com/
to Maine Sail
I wish I knew how to blow up your pictures! I looked at your other site and was on there for hours. The shots are professional, to say the least, and more, they have the right everything to make a novice like me smile. I love the Underdog shot! So did my daughter. I'd love to open an art gallery with stuff like yours. They remind me of those laser-photos a while back that seemed to be selling on every street corner. Thanks for the shots, and take more of Maine, if you please. I visited there once with my two kids and didn't sleep till my eyes were sated with the views. I had to soak it all up, like getting up to watch the fleet go out at 3:00am. Email me, perhaps a Gallery might be in the works. th052mas@aim.com
I wish I knew how to blow up your pictures! I looked at your other site and was on there for hours. The shots are professional, to say the least, and more, they have the right everything to make a novice like me smile. I love the Underdog shot! So did my daughter. I'd love to open an art gallery with stuff like yours. They remind me of those laser-photos a while back that seemed to be selling on every street corner. Thanks for the shots, and take more of Maine, if you please. I visited there once with my two kids and didn't sleep till my eyes were sated with the views. I had to soak it all up, like getting up to watch the fleet go out at 3:00am. Email me, perhaps a Gallery might be in the works. th052mas@aim.com
Main Sail - thanks for the input!
The link was one of these we looked at and really liked. Now that you mention about the sand, yes, we can see it. He had a priceless expression. My folks had a bloodhound and the ears were always part of her character. As a pup her ears would flop down in her food as she ate. Heck, even as an adult dog they would. I totally agree with Letterman's comments - really professional shots and we spent quite a while clicking on photos too. Your web site layout really lends itself to easy surfing. Thanks very much for the Nikon info. That's too bad about my old lenses but good news about the new ones.
The link was one of these we looked at and really liked. Now that you mention about the sand, yes, we can see it. He had a priceless expression. My folks had a bloodhound and the ears were always part of her character. As a pup her ears would flop down in her food as she ate. Heck, even as an adult dog they would. I totally agree with Letterman's comments - really professional shots and we spent quite a while clicking on photos too. Your web site layout really lends itself to easy surfing. Thanks very much for the Nikon info. That's too bad about my old lenses but good news about the new ones.
- Status