Any old advert will do!

[Figment]

I know that advertising is advertising and money is money, but I would think that niche-market magazines like WoodenBoat would screen their ads a bit....

Harken's Winch Trade-in Promotion (http://www.harken.com/winches/winchpromo.php)

When I saw the full-page color ad for this in #174, I was a bit surprised that WB would run an ad that seems to run counter to their mission.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm totally ignorant of the ins&outs of the publishing biz. Do magazines have editing or veto power over their advertisers? If I paid my money, could I expect them to run an ad that says "CHAINSAW THAT LEAKY OLD TUB OF YOURS! SOULLESS PLASTIC BOATS ARE CHEAPER!"?

[MJC]

If Harken wants to advertise hi-tech go-fast stuff in WB, why shouldn't WB take their money grinning all the way to the bank?

I'd bet that this promotion won't even pay the cost of the WB ad.

Unless they have a follow up plan to sell all the "old, tired" winches to people who own "old, tired" wooden boats.

Perhaps someone who feels passionately about this issue can get Harken to make the old, tired winches available to folks who need them to maintain a old, tired look.

[Clipper]

WB must have some really sharp space salesmen.

[Paul Scheuer]

What is WB's mission Fig ?

[Concordia..41]

Wood boats need nice winches too. Not everyone is (or can) restore a classic boat at the 100% classic level. Also, there's a portion of the readership building/designing new wood boats.

We do our best to keep everything on Sarah as built in 1955, but it's not always possible and then there are issues of safety and practicality. How practical is it to have something I have to fight at every tack and can't get replacement parts. And if nice self-tailers make it possible for me to take the boat out more often single or short handed, well then self-tailers I shall have.

BTW the winch in the ad is the exact winch I have on my 22' FRP. The ad was in at least three boating magazines, and I've got a bad case of winch lust, but that was the idea :D

[ahc]

"We do our best to keep everything on Sarah as built in 1955, but it's not always possible"

Heck Margo, I can relate. I'm a '55 model too and it's getting dang near impossible to keep everything up to speed.

Fig - I don't see a conflict of interest with this ad and Woodenboat.

[Figment]

To me, that ad campaign communicates the message that newer is better, that modern technology is the answer, and that the things and ways of the past are worth so little that we should feel lucky to get a 15% discount for abandoning them.

Overly dramatic? Romanticized?

You betcha. But that's still the way I read it.
I don't think that WB stands for any of the above. I know I don't.

I sail other boats, and I dig the convenience of all lines led to the cockpit and selftailing winches. I get back on my own boat, and part of me knows that it would be easier to singlehand if I had a similar setup, but then I remember that "easier" isn't the point.

Let's face it... Boats are a pain in the ass. Operation and maintenance require lots of time, energy, money (name a limited resource...). Let's also face that this investment of resources is absolutely worthwhile, and really is a large part of the enjoyment. Does reduction of this investment increase one's personal happiness? Talk to the guy down the dock on that "maintenance free" big-bucks plastic tub with all the latest gadgets.... see if he seems happier than you.

I applaud WB for taking Harken's money. I just found the message of the ad to be out of place.

[Bruce Hooke]

I would suggest keeping a couple of things in mind:

1. Many new, high-tech, wooden boats are being built, and as far as I can tell, WoodenBoat Magazine has not made a commitment to old wooden boats versus new wooden boats. Their mission, as I understand it, is to promote WOODEN boats, not OLD wooden boats or, for that matter, NEW wooden boats.

2. Some old boats have wonderful old winches that are worth rebuilding and maintaining. Other old wooden boats had cheap junky winches to start with that there could be plenty of justification for replacing and that are probably about worthless on the used market because they were cheap to start with and they are now worn out.

3. WoodenBoat can, without a doubt, veto ads. That's why you don't see ads for beer, tobacco and J-32's in the magazine. However, they can't be completely picky because they obviously need ad revenues to keep the subscription price reasonable. I see a lot of ads in the magazine for gloss and glitz (check out a lot of the paint ads)...Many of us probably don't find ourselves attracted to those products but they certainly would make sense on some wooden boats...

[MarkC]

In Australia the rules were, if it is a legal buisiness (and on-topic with a magazine etc), then they should be allowed to advertise. If they are refused by the management, then the management must be ready to stand up in court and say why-and have very good reasons. Who wants to spend $$$$ in court fighting over a 3inch by 3inch add.