Bedtime reading

[Richard B]

...and could probably sell sand to the Arabs!

[Nasher]

Oh, must have been asleep or something.

But another good reason to ask why the content of RIB int is so 'Top end of the market' based, or am I being unfair?



Nasher.

[Richard B]

Like, why does "Top Gear" feature Astons, Lotus, Porsche, Zonda, and have an amusing feature called "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car".

C'mon Nash, it's aspirational marketing.

Alternatively you could publish "Fred Dibnah's Traction Engine Monthly".

[Nasher]

Fair point

[Alan]

Fred Dibnah RIP. He died last week. There passes a great Briton.

Anyway I digress. I've not read RIB Intl for 3 years or more because I got well and truly fed up with the tortured prose, poor layout and focus on presentation over content. As Richard says this was aired quite comprehensively here a couple of years ago. If Hugo MS. (Who I think is perfectly nice chap) took it onboard then great. If its still not the mag that it could be then he is going to find one day a monthly Ribing mag is going to start up and blow him out of the water. The shame of it two years ago is that the former magazine publisher was too happy in his retirement to seek the hassle of taking RI on!

Sportsnobber and RIB Mag isn't much cop either although Alan Priddy does have a monthly rant, sorry column in it. What can be very good, especially if peeps contribute to it is the BIBOA mag, RIBLINES. (Yvonne the Ed puts a tremendous amount of effort into it.)

I think its great that some Ribsters haven't heard of Paul Lemmer. That means there's hope for the sport yet (& I like the guy!)

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Alan

Fred Dibnah RIP. He died last week. There passes a great Briton.

Sorry to hear that - I'm sure Fred would be proud to be remembered as an eccentric and top all round Lancastrian. I read that he passed away in a hospice - and if you've never visited one, they are (from my very small experience of them) very dignified places staffed by very caring people. The Sue Ryder Foundation (amongst others) runs establishments deserving of assistance by donation.

I've not read RIB Intl for 3 years

Do you want to borrow my back issues?

Sportsnobber and RIB Mag isn't much cop either although Alan Priddy does have a monthly rant, sorry column in it.

You can read that rant, sorry column, for free in "All at Sea" which has another small advantage over Sportsnobber and Fib Magazine that it's kinder on your bottom when you "recycle" it.

[Paul Knowlson]

Diamond Geezer was Fred - a great shame that he was taken so early! Perhaps we should petition Rupert Murdoch to contribute a large slice of the profits he will make from re-running Fred's wonderful legacy of programs to the hospice. Its about time he did some good in the world....

[brucehawsker]

I too am thoroughly disappointed in RIB International - the new issue plopped down yesterday. I bought 24 months back copies and reckon pretty well everything in the latest was in one of those. And having already bought a rib, what is there in it for me. And a year ago I had not heard of a RIB...

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Paul Lemmer is a guy that's been around Ribbing for a long time. He used to own BWM and now runs a couple of boat related companies. I know he is an Agent for Parker ribs.

I think he races (navigates) in a Bannana shark called Maverick , he is not universally recognised as being lucky on the water

Raced being the operative word - the curse continues! The owner / driver was involved in an accident in a Zapcat which resulted in a seious shoulder injury and no longer able to race - the boat has now been sold and will be racing again in 2005.

[slimtim]

So is there talk of producing some sort of RIBnet publication, or is this a rant about how RIB Int has gone downhill?! I reckon if its broke then have a go at trying to fix it! I'll take all the pics !

I too feel that there isn't enough content in the mag, but having submitted work to magazines (RIB International being one, 3 of my pics are in this issue ) and spoken to the editors, they find it very difficult to get hold of the right kind of material. Hugo paid an interest in running a practical artical idea I had but we'll have to see about that. The editors are always looking for new and fresh ideas!

I know of a mountain bike forum that has its own magazine (www.singletrackworld.co.uk) but I can't remember whether the mag or the forum came first! Anyway, they do it off a shoe string budget but it still turns out to be one of the finest mountain bike mags available as all the major run of the mill mags have gone all "commercial" and are just full of a load of crap. Singletrack mag takes the sport back to is grass roots and makes you want to go out and just ride. Surely a good RIB mag should just make you want to get out on the water and just RIB away or be inspired to do some DIY alterations!

You have to remember however that if RIB International goes under because people like us don't support it then what are we left with?! Sportsboat mag is good but its not dedicated to the RIB. There is only ever going to be a limited number of ideas coming from a small number of people producing a mag like RI, so they need extra input from the readers to make it as good as it could be.

Blimey i've typed a lot!

Tim

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by slimtim

So is there talk of producing some sort of RIBnet publication, or is
You have to remember however that if RIB International goes under because people like us don't support it then what are we left with?! Sportsboat mag is good but its not dedicated to the RIB. There is only ever going to be a limited number of ideas coming from a small number of people producing a mag like RI, so they need extra input from the readers to make it as good as it could be.

Blimey i've typed a lot!

Tim

Ok Tim

I think you made some valid points about in your reply but I've singled out the bit that I disagree with, If RIB Int goes down cos we don't support it then it clearly aint meeting our needs and there in my opinion lies the rub. Hugo was invited all those years ago to run a thread on this forum asking for ideas and he declined to take the option.

As it is a commercial operation then neglecting an oportunity to recieve feedback from your customers isn't a good move. Whilst the marketplace is burgeoning then he should be in a secure position for a couple of years yet.

I personally would welcome a Practical Rib and boat owner magazine!

[slimtim]

Good point Stu! People can't be expected to buy a mag that they don't find interesting/informative just because they feel that they should! I agree with you completely.

I would like to say that I have read some fantastic articles in the mag (quite a few by Tony LE...one on rough water handling springs to mind), but I definately feel there aren't enough boat tests or tests of equipment and practical articles.

Perhaps this is an opportunity to start some sort of small scale RIB magazine with some articles written by people on here. I know we get all the stories and advice on the forum anyway, but wouldn't it be great to shift all the knowledge and talent into a publication?! I would love to get involved in something like that.

Cheers

Tim

[Rogue Wave]

I agree there was some good stuff. I am the holder of the Ribnet library (which means JK gave me all his old magazines) amongst all the copies of Hustler was a couple of Old Rib internationals and the stuff in it was a lot more interesting than the stuff you get nowadays. I agree Tony Lee Elliot can write well and knows his stuff

Ok so how about this for the mag's personell

Tekknkal edittorr WJ or JF Big Jono or someone else maybe David Manning
Desktop Publisher You/Louise
Agony Aunt The gArfish


and the rest of us can contribute something.

[slimtim]

Pete7 - teknikal Guru/P22 console expert
Rogue Wave - distruction tester
Gossip column - ?????!

[Rogue Wave]

Goddip Column gotta be Dirk Diggler

[The Jackeens]

'Pacific Console speshuls' editor Pete 7

'Life in Scotland' editor JW

'How to put a Boat together from scrap' editor SlimTim

'Great B&Bs for RIbbers' editor Manning

'Where in The World is Rogue Wave?' editor Britt

missus

[slimtim]

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

'How to put a Boat together from scrap' editor SlimTim

Oi! there'll be no scrap used, perhaps a little bodging but no scrap!

[The Jackeens]

You'd better double check that battery

Or make sure you get some oars too

missus

[Tim M]

Originally Posted by Cookee

Raced being the operative word - the curse continues! The owner / driver was involved in an accident in a Zapcat which resulted in a seious shoulder injury and no longer able to race - the boat has now been sold and will be racing again in 2005.

Was the accident featured in BBC 1's "Trouble on the beech" last year (I seem to remember something very similar)?

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by timofengland

Was the accident featured in BBC 1's "Trouble on the beech" last year (I seem to remember something very similar)?

Yes he was interviewed at home afterwards as well - getting better now although I little way to go yet!

The boat will be racing in Formula 2 RIB next year which is to be renamed Formula 1 - you heard it here first!