Another Victim of the Economy...

That's very interesting. At least in my area WM has cut back on employees and hours. Although they're good for some things but I won't miss these stores. They've turned so much to house brands that a lot of very good products have disappeared. Maybe the day of the local chandlery is returning.

And yet another...

... but this was inevitable. The Net is killing print.

I know this may sound like blasphemy, but I'd hate to see the paper mags go. I always have one in my briefcase for those slow times, and an advertiser can't beat the exposure. Mag ads I often read. Even sitting in a waiting room I'll often be looking over ads that are a year old. Web ads I look on like spam and breeze by. (Of course I go to the web for more info once I'm curious.)

NYCapt,

I know there are others that agree with you, but I believe the demise of print is a good thing. Is it convenient to read a mag in the head, or while waiting at an office, or on a lay-over at an airport? Yes. Do we really need to cut down trees by the millions each month, adding altitude to landfills so people have something to occupy their time while waiting? A BIG, resounding NO!

I completely agree with you about spam. For this reason, we have not allowed flash or animated banners on YF. It's distracting and unprofessional. Additionally, we don't allow businesses unrelated to our industry to advertise here because it dilutes our theme. I believe strongly in community and building a better resource for all of us.

Do you know what spam is? It's shameless self-promotion. Do you know what an online banner is? It's progressive thinking by a company that appreciates YOU.

You know what I call a magazine ad? Old-school, stuck-in-the-sixties, waste of resources. Both natural and financial.

That's just my opinion. But I could be wrong...

The trees that are cut for print are a renewable resource generally grown in planned reforestation areas, and the paper that is produced is both recyclable and bio-degradable (what happens to a discarded computer or I-pod?)
Although I'm thankful for how YF handles advertising, the boating mags handle it much the same way and I can always turn the page which is not an option as I write this. Mag advertising is often artful, and from an advertiser's standpoint it may be seen month's after it was paid for. Flash and spam is subliminal advertising. Thank you for not having it here, but it is all over the net and virtually unregulated. In print ads even the size of the print is regulated.

Isn't that exactly what any advertiser on any medium would say?
And

is exactly what anyone who doesn't advertise would say about their competition. Just look at the ethical debate over advertising for doctors and lawyers.

An opportunity to slow down and relax for a moment.
Don't worry, print will never overtake the internet. The internet is the ideal medium for news, locating information and mass communication. However, if we perceive print and personal interaction as passe' we risk confining our lives to a treadmill in a cubicle.
BTW, don't knock that "old school". I can do math in my head. Your average High School and even college graduate is lost if his calculator battery dies.

Appreciating the past while looking to the future.

Intellectual capital is more credible when in print.

Traditional media is taking it on the chin and there is no going back.
But there will always be a place for a coffee table book

I beg to differ. As the former managing editor of one of the oldest yachting magazines, I was appalled to find the vast majority of yachting media often employed writers with NO actual experience in yacht design, engineering, navigation or maintenance. Mostly, they were hired literary degrees who had never been onboard a yacht, none-the-less owned one.

If you find the ramblings of post-collegiate kids with a passing interest in big boats and larger fascination with seeing their names on newstands more important then your posts, your thoughts and your opinions, then all that we have done here is void. Thanks, but if I want information on a subject in which I'm involved, I'll choose to learn from my peers, people with hands-on experience.

And I'll add one more thing... a lot of people that post here don't give themselves enough credit. I, for one, am proud to be among you.

In New York, it's unlawful for computer and electronics parts to be discarded into landfills due to heavy metals content. Those bits are far more likely to be recycled, since they are smaller in quantity and volume while also considered higher-value, than paper is.

The process of making glossy paper consumes a lot of natural resources, and the inks used in the 3 color process are not generally harmless for the environment. Therefore, I feel neither loss nor lament for the paper mags.

That's just me... and I had stacks and stacks of C&D, Automobile, Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Hot Boat, Powerboat, PMY, and other buff books as a kid right through college.

This is unfortunately true, and the result is that most articles on boats and products amount to not much more than puff pieces for the companies showing their wares. How I'd love open a mag and read "OMG, What a piece of c--- this is!", but that's not real likely. That's why I don't see mags as competition for the net. It's sort of like motorcycles and cars. They both have wheels, but different uses.

I agree with you. Hands on experience trumps all when it comes to boating. However, the anonymity of the internet leaves a big void between what is real (credible) and what isn't.

If experienced boaters were promoted to write for major magazines regarding quality and functionality, Sea Ray would be out of business!

What is writen is more important than who wrote it. Even the most credible will occasionally spew garbage.

And?

There’s something I need to share…

While some may perceive YF’s banners as ‘commercial’, they've been an intrical part of our acceptance and recognition. We don't charge much for banners, which has allowed us to be selective about the companies that grace our pages. They are in fact, a reflection on this community. In the same way as the posts that you & I make.

I have, at last count, invested most of the money from the sale of my house (in 2003) into YF and by 2007, we made our first profit... a whopping three thousand dollars, which I dispersed to our moderators because they've never received anything.

In 2008, we were on target to see the business model evolve, but several of our advertisers forgot to pay us, so now we're right back in the red. But that's OK, because it was never about the money. It's always been about building a better media, a better community and ultimately... making a difference. Together, maybe we are all shaping the future of yachting.

Well, I got to catch up on some of my magazines while this site was down.
One of the biggest problems with the web is getting paid for your efforts. I can't imagine putting in the efforts you guys do (and last night is a prime example) for 5 years without getting well paid.
I believe that magazines have their place and I hope BOATING and it's brethren survive. Obviously, they're more dedicated than profiteering also.
As I think it applies to this and most boating (yachting) sites and mags I do want to take this opportunity to quote:
"It's always been about building a better media, a better community and ultimately... making a difference."
and to say that you do make a difference. Thanks for the hard work to create and maintain such a good site.
P.S. As for the paper debate, my personal experience is that I have never consumed anywhere near so much paper as since I got a computer.

Carl, I think I would speak for everyone here in saying thank you for creating and maintaining Yacht Forums. It is an industry source that I check every day. The news that is posted here beats the print versions by months.
Having said that, I do like to take those print versions to the couch or boat deck on a sunny day with the rod over the side and not have to be confined to the screen (of course, that is because I dont have a lap top!).
My 2 cents

Laptops and sea spray don't play well together anyway.

Thanks Brian, but I'm only one part of the equation. The collective knowledge of our members is what gives YF its greatest value. Which reminds me... some people refer to YF as 'my' site. It is NOT. It belongs to all of us.

For my part, I'm proud of the reviews we do, although I don't sign my name to them. As some of you know, due to my work in the Defense sector, I keep a low profile. It is this work that often funds YF. It's also the reason that I don't join in the discussions as often as I would like.

It does take deep pocket to start a magazine, and because competition is limited they do get more money for the ads. On a second note though, "review" is a misnomer. These "reviews' are just ads. Have you ever seen "WOW, what a piece of c---" in a review? Reviews are what you get here in the posts.