Sail Magazine

[amytom]

I admit I've never read a copy of Sail Magazine. I got on an offer for some cheap price and actually thought about it. Is it worth reading?

[Maddog]

For about a year, then the article cycle begins to repeat. Had a 3 year subscription, 2 years too long.

[s/v 'Faith']

The last 3 years they have been sending me a 'professional rate' subscription for $5 a year.

This year I elected not to renew.... not even worth $5 a year.

Save your money and get Good old Boat. Worth the price of admission, even if your boat is not all that old. They will even send you a free issue to get you hooked. Good Old Boat - Welcome to Good Old Boat Magazine

[mikereed100]

I agree with s/v faith's comments, however I continue to subscribe for $5/year. I figure at 42cents/issue it's worth it to look at the pictures, but I wouldn't pay more.

[AnchorageGuy]

If you have not read it a one year subscription will be worth it. We write for them occasionally so once in a while you will get something new. But the other comments are correct. Like many boating publications they simply rehash old material and throw in some advertisers sponsored material as updated equipment information.

[amytom]

The offer was $15.00 for two years. After the responses I will spend that same money on a HAM book. Or maybe take my 6yo princess to lunch.

[SkiprJohn]

I've stopped my subscriptions to Sail, Cruising World, Good Old Boat et al because I have cruisersforum.com. CF has more information and you can ask questions. They just don't have the glossy photos.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[Sandero]

Print media sucks... online is where it's at.

[David M]

Go buy a copy at the news stand and see if YOU like it. For 5 bucks, its cheap entertainment.

[Liberty28]

I got no money anymore so I go to the library for my reading material. I don't read the sailing/cruising magazines since they're mostly a waste of time unless you're a newbie and then they're good reading for about a year's worth of issues. After that it's the same old stuff served up over and over again but with new advertisements for more and more expensive boats.

[Reality Check]

They spent a large % of effort on racing boats, and larger "dream" boats but very little on cruising type boat or activities. I SAIL come to the office and scan it then place in the waiting room for people to look at pictures. Other mags are more fun ( Lats & Atts) to read although generally not as informative in a detached manner.... but I sometime prefer to read them just for the fun of it. I don't care at all for the pure racing stuff or most coverage of events in SAIL but occasionally a product review will get my attention.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Reality Check

They spent a large % of effort on racing boats, and larger "dream" boats but very little on cruising type boat or activities. I SAIL come to the office and scan it then place in the waiting room for people to look at pictures. Other mags are more fun ( Lats & Atts) to read although generally not as informative in a detached manner.... but I sometime prefer to read them just for the fun of it. I don't care at all for the pure racing stuff or most coverage of events in SAIL but occasionally a product review will get my attention.

Agreed, unless you were one of the competitors, reading about other peoples racing events is as interesting as watching paint dry.

[Christian Van H]

Lats and Atts is online for free now, along with their TV show and a free cruising music internet radio show. Cant beat free!

[Latitude42]

I too had subscriptions to all the sailing magazines... I came to the conclusion that the articles they published were there to support the adds that paid for the magazine. After reading them for about a year I found that to go cruising one would need a 40+' boat less than 5 years old, 6'-8' draft, electric winches, electric windlass, radar, sonar, SSB, VHF, GPS,EPIRB,Sat Phone, Weather Fax, Gen Set,inboard diesel, Hot/Cold press. water, Water Maker, Water Purifier,3 complete sets of sails, storm anchor,storm jib, Danforth Anchor, Plow Anchor,Yachtsman's Anchor, CQR Anchor & take apart fisherman's anchor for a backup. 300' of chain for each anchor, 13 fenders,RIB Dingy with at least a 30hp motor, wind speed gauge,wind direction gauge, knot meter,Depth Gauge,Rudder Angle Gauge,Water temp gauge, $400 compass, wind steering, autopilot,refrigeration, propane stove w/oven, ice maker,air conditioning........
If I had listened to them I would need $826,345.67 to purchase & outfit/provision the boat & $1349.42/ week to sail it!!!!!!!!!
I cancelled the subscriptions, built a SMALL boat and went sailing.

[lannen]

If you don't mind one a month or so old... they always seem to end up in the head at your local marina. You can get it for free that way, just don't try any of the 'scratch & sniff' ads...