Classic Yacht Magazine

At the end of last year I stumbled upon this new on line magazine. I clicked the "subscribe" button and have been reading it with interest ever since. Why am I writing about it now? Well there are now several issues on line and it looks like it is going to be around for a while for one.

The difference with Classic Yacht is that it is a free glossy magazine with editorial staff. There are, as we know, several business models for publishing a magazine on the net:

it can be a hobby site like our own. A one man editorial staff with articles supplied by readers, designers and other interested parties. It is free (as in beer) and the (very) limited advertising revenue helps pay for some of the editors travel expenses - to boat shows for example. It is not a commercial undergoing.
second we have "pay to read" magazines, just like print magazines - either a full subscription model, you don't pay, you don't see anything. Or, some free pages and then a subscription to get "premium" content. This model works well for porn but I can't see it happening for amateur boat builders.
last there is free with the professionally written content being paid for by advertising revenue.

Classic Yacht is of the latter category, the subscription is mandatory but free and there to permit the publisher to say to advertisers "I have X signed on readers, that is Y pairs of eyes each issue so the advertising spot you want sells for $Z". The delivery is by a Flash powered on line "turn the page" interface (yes I was jealous when I saw how slick it is...). Some people have taken the financial risk, they are gambling on a new business model for delivering high quality content.

What does all this have to do with the amateur boat builder? Well first of all the subject matter of course! All of those ply on frame boat kits of the '50s and '60s as well as the plans from early 20th century DIY magazines are now classics! Browsing through Classic Yacht you may stumble upon a beautiful chunk of mahogany ply that was lovingly crafted in someones garage. Secondly read it for inspiration - great photography of detailing that you can work into your own projects. Thirdly the hull designs shown in Classic Yacht are often economical. Back when the boats were designed gas was as cheap as water and almost as plentiful but... motors were not as powerful. That makes for some easily driven hull designs, just what we need again now. And why not because you love looking at beautiful boats. I encourage you to get over there and sign up for your free subscription, your eyes will not be disappointed. Some of my friends browse it and they don't even read very much English!

Oh, Classic Yacht has found amateurboatbuilding too! So welcome to the world of the amateur builder if you have clicked on a link from there.

Classic Yacht home page

Tony Grant, November 2007