I like the magazine, I learn something from every single issue and I appreciate the effort that goes into putting out a magazine for a grumpy audience like us. I love to learn stuff and have adopted a "take what you need and leave the rest" attitude about everything I read. I don't have the vast experience in sea kayaking that many of the previous commentators have, so maybe I'm easy to please. But compared to other ways I waste my money, Sea Kayaker is a good investment. As to the idea that whitewater is easier to hype because it's so exciting, I would observe that, at least here in Chicago, whitewater paddling is not as popular as it was a few years ago and our club, the Chicago Whitewater Association is noticing a drop in participation as well. Sea kayaking for me is mostly a solitary experience, especially when camping. If that's true for others, then marketing through a magazine is going to be difficult. One reader equals one customer, not a family of potential customers. Another somewhat not-big-group activity is backpacking and Backpacker Magazine has had quite a bit of coverage on sea kayaking lately. So there's a part of the market: people who like light, tiny gear and remote places in small groups. I can't begin to list all the ways my subscription to Sea Kayaker has made me a safer, better and happier paddler than I would be without it. This shameless endorsement is provided without compensation to the author. Cheers, Jim Tibensky
In a message dated 12/22/2004 6:11:33 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm writes: But compared to other ways I waste my money, Sea Kayaker is a good investment. The sense of humor in this crowd is worth the price of admission alone. I know the intention of the thread was not to beat on Sea Kayaker. They are not above criticism, however. Sea Kayaker is still a good magazine. Some issues get on my nerves, but hey, don't I too. The only magazine back issues I keep anymore are SK and Backpacker. I no longer subscribe to Outside as they have slid into the slime of fashion models trying to look outdoorsy, excessive Everest articles, 100 wild places for you to weekend (conveniently located next to a resort advertising), Hot Gear, etc., etc. SK's move into a more trendy image makeover seems entirely puritan compared to Outside's middle age crisis-trainwreck. There are a lot of places to go in the world where you won't have to share a beach, if you can get there. Attracting people into the sport is very important not just for the gear and support of our existing institutions, but also to give us a choice between where we are at and where they will take the sport. Rob G
Over the past several years, I have had subscriptions to both Sea Kayaker and Canoe and Kayak magazines. In my early kayaking days, I would pore over each new issue of both magazines, feeding a thirst to gain a wider knowledge of an activity I enjoy. As time went on though, I didn't embrace the arrival of either with as much enthusiasm. I guess I just got a bit saturated. Anyway, a few months ago, my wife encouraged me to clean up and thin out my holdings (I kept all those years and years of issues), so I decided to throw out anything older than two years. I went through the issues to be discarded and saved some articles, especially thoose on techniques and equipment. I saved all the Sea Kayaker boat reviews and the Canoe and Kayak annual buyer's guides since I use this information to evaluate potential Ebay purchases. In my saving of articles, I also saved the paddling destination articles in both magazines. As I did so, this thought struck me: In general, the destinations in Canoe and Kayak magazine were places I could potentially go to and paddle. The destinations in Sea Kayaker were places I could go to and paddle only if I won the lottery. The above statement isn't necessarily quantitative, it just expresses a feeling I got as I was culling magazine articles. I'm not suggesting that either magazine change. Who knows, after I paddle some of the destinations I've read about in Canoe and Kayak, I'm gonna be damn glad I can research the issues of Sea Kayaker so I can graduate into the more exotic destinations. Your mileage may vary.... Bill Leonhardt
I've got a suggestion... Rather than criticizing a publication regarding it's content on a mailing list that the editors may only periodically read, send your comments directly to those that can actually do something about it. If you feel the content of the publication isn't up to par, write an article and submit it for publication. I found Chris and Gretchen (their email addresses are on their web site) quite easy to deal with. They were very professional yet informal enough that, even though I had never written an article for publishing (at least not as the primary author), I didn't feel intimidated.
I can't begin to list all the ways my subscription to Sea Kayaker has >made me a safer, better and happier paddler than I would be without it. > >This shameless endorsement is provided without compensation to the >author. > >Cheers, > >Jim Tibensky > > Sea kayaker taught me to scull up. Any magazine that can teach me to scull up from a handful of paragraphs and six small pictures is OK by me. As for the mass appeal of the mag when I go into Borders Books they only carry four copies here in Augusta, GA USA. Augusta being the sea kayaking capital of the free world. Jim et al
Hmm, let's see. Sea Kayaker magazine is now; no good/too flashy/too light weight/too heavy/too local/too exotic etc. I grabbed a stack of kayak-related publications at home and did a quick comparison. Sea Kayaker: Some articles were very relevant to me and were subjects I was interested in. Much of it was of little relevance, but I despite this I read some of those articles because they looked interesting, with a good use of layout/graphics/illustrations. Will add the copy to my collection. Newsletter of local sea kayak organisation: Generally articles were of poor quality, but I read them out of loyalty. I learnt a few things, and had an involvement in several issues. Dated layout. Will file the copy, just for the record. Coaching publication from well-known international kayaking organisation: Dismal. A couple of good points, but message is lost by poor writing and awful layout. I tried hard, but despite my interest I didn't finish any article. Will "recycle". Newsletter from national instructor's organisation: Some good articles, many not paddling related. If interesting I read anyway. Layout is classic "newsletter" format. Will lay around for a while and probably be "recycled". I have paid for all of these publications, three as part of membership fees. Sea Kayaker Magazine is the only one I troop down to my local kayak shop to collect. Checking my back copies, they too had articles I didn't like. It was interesting to note that a couple of previous authors were really bagged over issues, they simply stopped writing, and the readers were the losers. A dangerous precedent. Sea Kayaker Magazine may not be perfect, and can not "be all, for all", but looking at what else is around it is a winner. Not too much time for reading at the moment anyway, too much paddling to be done. --------I have disclosed my involvement in the above publications.---------- -- John Kirk-Anderson Banks Peninsula NEW ZEALAND
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