Powerboat Magazine
 

What is going on with Powerboat Magazine? I know they have always combined the October/November issue but I got the December and January issues nothing for February and a combined March/April issue. I've called the subscription department several times and they assured me that everything was fine but since several other performance boat magazines have gone away I'm thinking Powerboat may face the same fate. Anyone have any information or thoughts?

The poor economy has hit the boating industry hard and has trickled down and taken its tole on the publishing market as well. Many magazines have failed to maintain through these times. PBM chose to cut back it's issues to not compromise quality.

To continue it's outstanding articles, editorials, photo's and everything else you've come to expect from Powerboat mag, PBM has cut it's issues back to 8 a year during these trying economic times. However, you will see 9 issues for the '09 season. I'm sure once the economy recovers and things start rolling again, you'll see PBM go back to it's standard 11 issue format.

If you have any problems with your subscription or any questions you can always contact those "manning the boat" at PBM through their website http://www.powerboatmag.com/
If you still have issues, let me know and I can hopefully get them resolved for you.

Speaking of their website, look for it to be completely re-done, easier to navigate with added features and a fresh look!!

I re-subscribed back a few years ago just after they were sold to a new publisher. Thought maybe they would improve.... wrong. Same old tired crap and no in-depth articles, mediocre writing. It got so the only excellence in the whole mag was Tom Newby's photography.

After looking at the last issue, I see no reason to renew. Still it would have been the nice if they had notified subscribers that they were cutting back. Somehow I don't think Bob Nordskog <sp> would have done it in secret.

Nice to see some things never change, the customer gets screwed again. Maybe next time I will pay at the end of my subscription instead of paying in advance. :rolleyes:

Powerboat Is Fine
 

Powerboat is fine, i'm sure suffering from the economy in some form like most if not all out there, no one is immune. I believe they have cut back three issues for the remainder of the year due to lack of advertising.

We need to support them & Performance Boat Magazine, the only two that will most likely be around long term.

They might have somone on OSO that can give exact details but I feel confindent they are in the survivor category and our indusrty needs great magazines like this.

Team Shogren

www.teamshogren.com

Fountain & Baja By Fountain

847-336-9037

Give them a break! Lets just be happy they are still here. We have two few choices left lets send the message that we are standing with you and when things pick up will be here until then hang in there we enjoy your mag. and look forward to future issues.

So, I re-subscribed for 11 issues a year, and now I am told it is down to 8 or 9. Wonder if I get any money back, not likely, but I think I am done re-upping mag subs, since most are going to go under IMO.

Magazines, like newspapers are on their way out. Information is to readily available now on the computer, Its simple no advertisers , no print. Don't expect to get any $ back

Seems to be no shortage of adds in the last couple issues.

if we are gonna bust their balz then what other mag are we gonna subscribe too? I enjoy their mag for what ever it cost, $19.00-$30.00 yr. what other options do we honestly have as powerboaters? extreme boat what else?

I wish hot boat would have made it... we need more options in our hobby..

i think p-boat is fading quickly....
not-so past issues (when there were 11 per year) were over 110 pages...latest barely broke 70 (like my boat) with the same re-hashed stuff...and now it's 8 per year for the same price...after 20 years, i'm actually considering not renewing...disappointing, but i guess the internet is taking its toll on things....

It is not the $20 a year, it is the mediocrity of todays Magazine. How many of you remember when Bob Nordskog owned and ran Power Boat?

It's sad really, while on one hand the internet is great but with so much free news out there that is up to the min., it has ruined it for print media. I would not be so hard on them, I bet they are trying to keep their heads above water. What's $20-$30 to most of us I doubt they took money with the intention of screwing anyone. I think our subscription has expired, but I would not mind renewing just so I could help a little, in fact I think we should all do that. Good luck Powerboat, I hope you make it through this hard time

I just can't read about one more F'ing Deck Boat.......

You can't lay in bed or on the boat and read the internet. Print magazines and newspapers may be obsolete in the future but not yet. I subscribe to at least a half dozen mags, including Powerboat, Trailer Boats, Boating, BoatU.S. mag, MotorBoating and National Geographic. Used to get Hot Boat. I would subscribe to Performance Boats if not for the fact that half of the "issues" are on-line only. There is plenty of stuff I can read on-line for free. I won't pay for that.

I guess our subscription is not over yet, we just received an issue they are calling May, it's a pretty good one, lots of offshore stuff. A nice article with Mike from Sterling, a fun article about John Hagan being king of the Krew of wrecks boat parade down on the Tickfaw. Great photo of Hellraiser at the Miami Show Poker run with Dave from Pier 57 on the sticks, boat's owned by an NFL player. Of course there was some articles on some other boats, but plenty of offshore stuff to enjoy.

Actually it's probably better that they are a little more diverse then just the hard core offshore stuff, it will probably help keep the magazine alive longer if they have a broader range of readers.

Powerboat Mag - is cutting back issues but alive and well
Poker Runs America - is cutting back issues
Performance Boats - alive and well
Extreme Boats - TOAST! (good ridence!)
Hot Boat - TOAST! (and a shame)

And I just got Ned's H2o Full Thottle Magazine today and it is KICK AZZ! :evilb: Not just the content but the gloss cover and paper stock is 2nd to none!

Dave,

Do you have the subscription info for H20? I'd like to subscribe.

Thanks,

Kurt

Got my New Powerboats Mag today. May of 09' I got home from work, Got the mail, Sat in my office and read page by page... Flushed :eek::eek: Then came out to see the local news!!

DaveP. So the ones you named are still alive and kickin' I suscribed to Performance boats, and Extreme boats back in November/October and I haven't seen anything. Is Performance Boats just haven't run any issues this year yet??

I understand cut backs and doing what it takes to survive, however, PBM should have informed the customer base. No one likes surprises.

Here you go!

https://www.h2ofullthrottle.com/subscribe.php

Performance Boats's deal is every other issue is a print issue and the issues in between are digital on their website.

Call the Performance Boats office to check the status of your subscription. I think the gals name is Cindy.

She sounds pretty hot too :evilb:

Thanks Dave!:ernaehrung004:

Right now with all the jobs going away she probably would be happy to have any job !

I will call them in the morning.. Thanks

On Performance Boats web site they say the may issue has just been released.

Remember the raffle for the boat for the guy that had the health issues? If memory serves me it was Extreme Powerboats that was offering lifetime subscription for buying so many tickets at the end of the raffle and also as prizes for the raffle.

I don't know whos life the lifetime subscription was based on, but it wasn't mine. I'm still here.

they did. It was mentioned in their march issue and on their website.

And just so you know, you'll still get you 11 issues, it'll just be spread out to a year and a half.

Just renewed my subscription and received the May issue for PBM yesterday.

Good post. Our government is legislating against us, gas prices are killing us and the industry, prices are not moderating much, insurance is getting higher...let's cut one of our only periodicals some slack here people. We don't have much in our corner anymore.

All,

First, thanks, Indy, Dave P and Tank for coming to the "defense" of Powerboat. But I don't see anyone busting too hard on the magazine. (OK, Padraig thinks the writing is mediocre and shallow, and as the guy who does most of that writing I say he is completely entitled to his opinion and I hope I can turn him around some day.)

I'm not surprised most people missed the announcement of the decrease in issues for 2009 in the March issue and on the Powerboat website. Though I knew what was happening, I missed them, too. Rest assured that Powerboat will make good in delivering the issues you all paid for.

I am not the official voice of Powerboat. I'm a freelancer and have been for the past nine years. But a couple of things you might find interesting:

1. We don't take any pleasure in another competitive magazine going out of business. Each magazine in the high-performance market offered something different. Each magazine kept us on our toes. Regardless of what we think of "the competition," we take it seriously.

2. Cutting issues was not a choice anyone wanted to make. No one is "happy" with it. But these are tough times, and we want to be around for a long, long time. Hard decisions have been made.

3. You're not seeing a lot of "new models" tested because there aren't a lot of new models to test. We can only test what we're brought (we can't demand anything). Even in a good year, and we all know this is not a good year, the average builder might have one new model. What do try to ensure is that if the builder is bringing us the same model it brought last year, that the model at least be equipped with different power.

4. We listen to you guys. We read the boards. We've learned what you like and don't (and I'm afraid that most of you East of the Mississippi will never like custom deck boats, but they're a big deal out West and that's part of the market we serve) like. We've had our blunders (remember the Save-the-Manatee public service ad?) pointed out to us.

We don't see Powerboat as a "finished product" and we never will. We appreciate your voices.

Thanks for reading.

:eek:Can I complain?:party-smiley-004::evilb:

Matt,

Great post keep up the great work

You deserve to be heard-speak.:party-smiley-004:

Just received my may issue of Powerboat Mag,:grinser010:

That's good that your taking steps to be here in the long run. I think we all have done that to some degree. I haven't ....nor will I complain about the other mags I ordered and never got anything. I have always been the guy who doesn't want to kick anyone while they are down. I have been there and I got kicked a few times.. Unfortunately some of these magazines went under and got my $40 bucks. I am sure most of us on here spend that in the 15 minutes at the bar on any given weekend.

Good luck to Power Boats and any other magazine that is hanging on. :drink::drink:

Just got mine today. A little thinner yes Because there are not the 6 pages from a certin Beak company in front. O I didnt want to say the F word!!!!

Thats pretty funny right there:drink:

Probably not a good idea.




Matt, nicely put...As usual.

It won't be long if they don't step up and do the right thing