New Magazine

[GordMay]

SAIL launching a do-it-yourself sibling

Another sailboat magazine is on the horizon. Boston-based SAIL Magazine says it will launch BoatWorks for the Hands-On Sailor next spring.

As the name suggests, the publication will be directed at those “who enjoy maintaining and improving their own boats” — a sort of “This Old House” for boat owners, according to SAIL publisher PRIMEDIA Inc.

BoatWorks will be published at least once in 2004 — on April 14 — and may increase in frequency in 2005, depending on the response. It will have an initial newsstand distribution of 75,000, and will be available by direct mail and through www.sailmagazine.com .

Cover price will be $4.99 in the U.S. and $5.99 in Canada, and the magazine will be on newsstands for at least 60 days — possibly longer. Advertising space already is being sold.

Editorial emphasis will be on ideas, projects and tips, says SAIL editor Peter Nielsen, who will hold the same title with BoatWorks. “SAIL covers maintenance, but with all our coverage of other aspects of the sport, we often can’t devote as many pages as we would like to simple boat care,” Nielsen said in a statement.

“BoatWorks will gather and focus the talents of SAIL’s editorial staff and of contributing writers who are experts in boat maintenance,” said SAIL senior editor Charlie Doane, who will directly oversee the content of the first issue. The fare, he said, will largely involve technical issues, but “we will also capture the fun and spirit of working on boats.”

PRIMEDIA calls itself the nation’s leading targeted media company, with more than 250 titles and 2002 sales from continuing businesses of $1.5 billion.