SR Living

[sbw1]

Well, the new "Living" is out with great pictures of cruising in BC. Any of this look familiear to the NW folk?

 

[Alex D]

Haven't gotten mine yet :smt089

 

[Bridog]

Nice article about some of my "dockmates" here in New Jersey. He is on his 11th Sea Ray and it's a sweet 52 footer. Now if I could just hit the lottery I could move over to "C" dock.

 

[Chris989]

BC has some of the finest cruising around. They make mention of Desolation Sound, which is East of Vancouver Island back towards the mainland. In addition to being scenic yet having some challenging areas to navigate, in certain areas, there is a unique feature where during the summer months, the tides and currents interact in such a way that the top 4 to 6 feet of water reach 70 degrees or so. When you dive below this and hit that 50 degree thermocline, you sure do know it!

 

[searay40dad]

Speaking of Sea Ray Living, what do you guys think of the magazine? IMO, tends to be a bit stuffy at times. Lots of champaign, diamonds, evening wear, etc. Boat and exotic location articles are good overall.

I look forward to it but there is another side to Sea Ray living that may be more common and realistic that I don't think they even try to show. Granted, hilighting some of us ugly, partying, poor slugs who boat in exotic places like Kentucky and Tennessee may not be their idea of great marketing, but we need some love too you know.

 

[sbw1]

The mag doesn't do much for me because the styles change so often that it makes people with boats that are just 5 years old look out of date. Probably that is no accident. A section on classic SRs would be nice and I would read that. I seldom read more than one article, but did read the BC piece and enjoyed the pics. Just one opinion......SBW

 

[Chris989]

Agree - I'd be much more interested in actual boat tests, spec sheets, overview of options and packages on specific models. I could care less about the champagne-sipping glamour shots.

How about some real info. Even the "crusing BC" article did not provide any real or useful information.

 

[Nehalennia II]

Speaking of Sea Ray Living, what do you guys think of the magazine? IMO, tends to be a bit stuffy at times. Lots of champagne, diamonds, evening wear, etc.......

The mag doesn't do much for me because the styles change so often that it makes people with boats that are just 5 years old look out of date. Probably that is no accident. A section on classic SRs would be nice and I would read that. I seldom read more than one article, but did read the BC piece and enjoyed the pics. Just one opinion......SBW

Agree - I'd be much more interested in actual boat tests, spec sheets, overview of options and packages on specific models. I could care less about the champagne-sipping glamour shots.

How about some real info. Even the "cruising BC" article did not provide any real or useful information.

Hey Guys
I haven’t got mine either….so I’m anxious to see it. I do agree that the feature articles are too stuffy……High heals or “hard soled shoes are banned on my boat and it’s only 23’.
Here are a couple pictures of Desolation and Like Chris said the water’s great…

 

[Gunn]

Agree with the rest of you. I just received it the other day; my first copy ever. If you don't have a yacht, it feels like you're in the poverty class when reading that magazine. I did read the article on the new 260SD, but there was no useful information in it really. I also read the brief tidbit on the 16 year old learning to wakeboard on a 16 year old SeaRay which got my interest...but that boat didn't look to be 16 to me (well, neither did she(!!) but thats another topic).

 

[Presentation]

I did get my “Fall 2006†copy in the mail a few days ago.

It’s free so I’m sure advertising is what pays for the expense of offering this magazine. With free magazines of any nature I would expect them to be heavy with advertisings.

I like the magazine, even if it’s idealistic. Each edition has an article about boat care. I tend to read it first.

Then they seem to profile one type of boat and include an article about one family’s adventures with their boat. Generally this is my second reading target.

Then I page through and see what else interests me, reading some articles, skimming others.

I also get the free BoatUS magazine (requires membership to get the free magazine) and similar to the Sea Ray magazine I get a few things out of it each moth. They seem to be best for looking at the big picture, political, environmental and technological changes as well as safety standards and recalls.

The magazine I find I get the most from is called Lakeland Boating. It’s mostly a Midwest boating magazine. This magazine includes a section detailing the 9th district (Great Lakes Coast Guard) operations summary. I read every bit of this hoping to learn from others mistakes and not repeat them. Wile alcohol, suicide, and bad weather make up a majority of fatalities I’m surprised how many do not include any of these three. This magazine also includes more safety education then any other magazine I have found. For example, in May they went over what do to AFTER you hail for help. I have read how to hail for help so many time but never thought through what happens next. The basic idea is to have a plan so if something happens you have thought through what to do in advance.

Then I get several others I really don’t get much out of and don’t plant to continue when it comes time for renewal.

 

[Presentation]

PS: If there was one thing I would recommend the people behind the Sea Ray living magazine back off from is the very strong promotion of combining drinking and boating.

OK, they do not say “Go out, get wasted then go boating†but they show people drinking and show boating in a way that the connection is clear.

*** After typing this I ran and got my Fall 2006 magazine and just did a quick page through looking at the pictures. The drinking and boating connection is very clear. ***

 

[Larry&Leisa]

Agree with the rest of you. I just received it the other day; my first copy ever. If you don't have a yacht, it feels like you're in the poverty class when reading that magazine. I did read the article on the new 260SD, but there was no useful information in it really. I also read the brief tidbit on the 16 year old learning to wakeboard on a 16 year old SeaRay which got my interest...but that boat didn't look to be 16 to me (well, neither did she(!!) but thats another topic).

Yup...got mine a few days ago..pretty much my thoughts also...the Searay Living magazine goes right along with my Audi and Lexus glossies in the bathroom for daydreaming. Give me something a little more substantial.

 

[Dave M.]

*** After typing this I ran and got my Fall 2006 magazine and just did a quick page through looking at the pictures. The drinking and boating connection is very clear. ***

That is what I saw when I scanned through the magazine. Since I don't drink, and people don't drink on my boat, I don't see anything in the magazine that is relevant to me. There may be something, but I toss it so quickly that it goes unnoticed. I don't care to read through the whiskey ads and check out just what was served for drinks on the boats.

GoFirstClass was broadsided in his Sundancer, a 310 or 330 as I recall, a few years ago just upriver from here. Was another boater out at after dusk who had been drinking. Boat was totaled, luckily no one was hurt. Stuff I get from SeaRay promoting this goes in the trash. And yes, I understand they are not saying the words drink then go operate your boat.

I also recognize their right to market to those they think will be receptive to their advertising and buy the product. I like the boat, but the magazine is junk mail to me.

 

[Alex D]

Got mine today .... finally ... :grin: have to say this one does have a lot of booze/boat pictures. It surprises me that a company like SR which is sooooo corporate conscious would do this ... :smt017

 

[Capn Ron]

I couldnt agree more. I sent a letter telling them that what they are showing is not how we boat or how most people boat. I told them if they wanted to see how its done to come to lake Cumberland. Well they showed up and wouldnt you know it the people they were there to see did exactly the same thing. They were in swimming attire but they looked like they just came out off a photo shoot for Sports Ill. It was not realistic. I wasnt in the pics myself but my boat made some of the shots. Its a bit stiff for me.

 

[thunderbird1]

It's the over-the-top stuffy that my wife and I like most about the magazine. We read it cover to cover and laugh most of the way through.

 

[xravenx]

I couldnt agree more. I sent a letter telling them that what they are showing is not how we boat or how most people boat

I do not agree ..............come on, you have done it, well maybe a few have not. They show Mr. & Mrs. Perfect Goody Two Shoes all the time in that magazine. Think about it, they are just like us except they have new boats and new clothes. What page shows the captain in an altered state while underway? I missed that one................just my .02

 

[Dave S]

The way I treat a publication like Sea Ray Living is to read those things that appeal to me and skip the rest. We all enjoy a wonderfull "hobby" which is boating. But we come from different backgrounds, we have different financial means, we are from different age groups, etc, etc. Given all that, it would be very difficult for Sea Ray to produce a magazine that has universal appeal to all of us. I also realize I will never be able to purchase a lot of the boats that are featured in the magazine or even visit a lot of the places featured as well. But that's real life. The only thing I know for sure is I love Sea Rays.........all of them............. from the smallest to the largest. So I always look forward to the magazine.

 

[Capn Ron]

Oh dont get me wrong I love getting the mag. Especially in the winter months. Makes me want to go to the lake. But the reality is that people dont boat that way. At least not where we go. I would rather see them swimming and having a cocktail in the water. Because in southern Kentucky in July its way to hot to have a sweater on with you loafers. I do get a kick out of the stuff they have on. We laugh at every mag. I will always love getting it though. :smt043

 

[Whitenights]

I was also at the photo shoot with Capn Ron and they made sure our 'older' boats where hidden.