Marketing Copy

[David_Old_Jersey]

I cant say I can see much wrong with the marketing blurb! - IMO would be really poop marketing if it concentrated on the dull stuff, even if very worthy. The mass market (on most things - boats included) is never to folk with expert knowledge, so have to sell with what they have - everyone has dreams.

If some folks can't see past the brochure speak (on anything) then they do get what they pay for.

Having said that (especially over on CF) I do sometimes wonder if I am part of the same activity! But I do appreciate that many (most?) are latecomers to the world of boats, and so it is easier for me (father had boats since I was 2 foot tall! - on a small island that not unusual) to simply view them as "only a boat" that enables me to do stuff, rather than them being bought as a lifestyle thing  ::) ...................whether out "Cruising" or occassional use - on that latter point, I deliberately bought the last boat (as my final boat?!) that wouldn't matter if she was used rarely - at 30' she is (to me) a "big" boat, but financially not important even though I am not stinking rich! I probably could have bought "a dream" for 250k intead of 30k - but then I would be married to her, even if no loan on her....for me that would be a nightmare! (it's only a boat)......but for others 250k is the cost of their dream - well, according to the marketing dept  ;D.

[Chattcatdaddy]

Yeah the 40ft itis is in full bloom on crusiers forum. The ADs must be working to some degree. My favorite post are those that start of with some statement like" I have $250,000 for a CAT and a 5,000 month income. Do you think I can get by with that?". Whole time Im think buy a $30,000 boat at the most and sail/cruise the world on the interest. What i think they really want to say is would a $250,000 cat shut my wife up so I can go sailing!!!

[David_Old_Jersey]

My favorite post are those that start of with some statement like" I have $250,000 for a CAT and a 5,000 month income.

I never mentioned the C word!

But given this is a thread about folks who swallow the brochure whole, then perhaps apt to do so........"I paid (borrowed?  :P) a lot, so it must be as good as the salesman said"  ::).

I am perhaps the longest serving Armchair Sailor over there  ;D - but I did my extended time worldwide wanderings by Jumbo Jet (and alcohol  ;D) long ago - spread over more than a decade, and I still barely went anywhere (only went RTW by plane to complete the circuit - and that only because I couldn't change my ticket to return via SE Asia)....but Vegas was fun  8)........I only mention all that as fundamentally I don't understand folks who buy the biggest and most expensive boat they can get their hands on (and more often than not with someone elses money) - and only then start to think about the cruising / living / having fun! budget - IME simply turning up in new places (with palm trees or not) gets old real quick, it's what you get up to ashore and not simply the fact of sitting somewhere, no matter how expensive the hotel / boat or whatever.....what makes me chuckle is that even a 50 foot cat has less room than a studio apartment and with less conveniances and from the sound of it most would not be seen dead "roughing it" that way ashore, "Luxury" means different things to different folks I guess.....

....that was an unexpected rant!

[Chattcatdaddy]

Many people would be better off just forgetting the boat and renting apartments around the world. Would save money that way as well if you choose the right locales.

BTW whats a small apartment running in Thailand these days.  I feel the need to visit some temples. ;D

[Captain Smollett]

what makes me chuckle is that even a 50 foot cat has less room than a studio apartment and with less conveniances

That's what I've been ranting about for some time with the notion of "I need a bigger boat" when bigger is from 30-35 ft to 40-45 ft.  It's still NOT a house/apartment, and it will STILL require a different mindset to live in it.

And, I further maintain that different mindset does not mean "less comfortable."

[David_Old_Jersey]

BTW whats a small apartment running in Thailand these days.  I feel the need to visit some temples. ;D

The cheapest is when you move into somewhere with a sitting tenant  ;D......the cost? "Up to you"  :D...........in practice probably need to add a few modcons - and pay for food / some living expenses, but two can eat as cheaply as one over there (very cheaply over there), especially if someone local doing the cooking. Depending where you are, also makes sense to ensure your "housemate"   :P has some transport (likely a small moped). You can learn a lot by living "local".....a good sense of humour helps  8) - and being able to turn a blind eye does no harm..............

......of course the old saying still applies: Caveat Emptor - Latin for "Welcome to Thailand"  ;D......get it wrong and can make the refurbishment of a 50 foot wooden boat (with woodworm, dry rot and termites!) seem cheap. and less aggro!.....but I suspect that is enough thread drift for this forum  ;D.

[Michael Homsany]

Re: The tanning platform.

Those of us who have been in the tropics for any length of time try to avoid sun as much as possible.  The best way to tell the ex-pats from the tourists is to see if they're walking on the sunny side, or the shade side, of a street.

I'm of Arabic origins (but US born), have very rarely ever been sunburnt, but still have five patches missing that the docs have cut out of my hide, and a couple more that we're 'keeping an eye on'.

Most people of European ancestry look like patch-work quilts after a couple of decades! :-)

[Tim]

Re: The tanning platform.

Those of us who have been in the tropics for any length of time try to avoid sun as much as possible.  The best way to tell the ex-pats from the tourists is to see if they're walking on the sunny side, or the shade side, of a street.

I'm of Arabic origins (but US born), have very rarely ever been sunburnt, but still have five patches missing that the docs have cut out of my hide, and a couple more that we're 'keeping an eye on'.

Most people of European ancestry look like patch-work quilts after a couple of decades! :-)

Yep, I see a dermatologist more than any other Doc.

[CharlieJ]

And in an anchorage, you can tell the long term cruisers, from the short termers, or weekenders.

The long termers have canvas awnings ALL over!!! ;)

Making shade :D

[Captain Smollett]

This is a very good point as well.

What are they selling?

It's all psychology.

A hundred years or so ago, a sun tan was a mark of being 'lower class' since it meant you had to be outside (usually working in fields and the like), whereas pale skin meant you had the "luxury" of spending your time indoors.

During the 20th century (I think, though it may have started to shift in the 19th), this switched 180 degrees and the tan became the mark of luxury since it meant you had the leisure time to 'sunbath.'  Workers worked inside, in offices.

So...what does the sunbathing platform mentioned prominently in the ad sell to?  It's the idea that you have the luxury to sunbathe.  Crusty old sailors might sail their boats from port to port, but the rich and pampered get to stay in one place and sunbathe?

It's all very fascinating to me...but it ultimately gets down to the bottom line that these boats are never intended to be used "as boats," but rather represent symbols of wealth, leisure time and a station in life that focuses on luxury.

[DavidCrosby]

My daughter and I crossed the Atlantic Ocean (as crew) from St. Thomas to Scotland in a Beneteau Oceanis 473. I normally don't get these ads either, but this one I do and just felt like commenting:

"Stable, high performance hull."  - Absolutely! The boat was very solid and performed really well. We did a lot of upwind work in large seas between the Azores and Scotland. We needed to push the boat hard to position ourselves to avoid the worst of a weather system. When we wanted 9+ knots, we could get it.

Cockpit - We had two large cockpit seats that were long enough that a person could lay out flat and not be in the way. Between them, there is a stainless steel bar that is usually support for a fold down table. At sea, the table is removed. That bar then became the perfect place to strap three jerry cans of diesel. It also came in handy as a foot rest, brace, etc. during rough conditions. Aft of this were two helm stations. These were unbelievably comfortable. It was a pleasure to spend an entire three hour watch at the helm. Aft of that was the:

Sunbathing platform - I find that to be an odd name for a "Sugar Scoop Transom" or "Swim Platform."  For us, we had two more jerry cans of diesel fuel and a jerry can of gasoline for the outboard strapped in on that platform. That platform also was a nice private place to bath when conditions allowed. When the sea was flat, we would kneel on the platform and first bath with salt water and then get a final rinse with fresh water using the "swim platform" shower. (Of course, we were tied to the boat.)

"Interior space giving everyone the space they need to relax and enjoy the pleasure of being together." - The Oceanis 473 has a really nice forward cabin. Unfortunately that area is pretty useless when bashing into big seas. However, along with the main salon and galley area, we had two aft cabins. My daughter had the port side and I had the starboard. These were really comfortable and did offer private space. Yet, the boat had communal space as well. So, I think the ads statement is viable.

Every Oceanis model offers the comfort and convenience of a truly modular layout providing every family and every crew with the boat they need, complete with layout solutions and trim levels tailored to their own requirements and lifestyle at sea. - Regarding "modular;" I knew the Oceanis 473 came in a couple different layouts. This was very evident in the interior of the hull and deck. You could clearly see where and how Beneteau would simply drop in a completely different set of bulkheads and then set the deck down on top of these bulkheads. Regarding "trim levels..... lifestyles at sea." Handholds throughout the interior is not something that is needed if you are going to sail on protected waters. At sea, they are an absolute necessity. Especially in a wide boat. I have also crewed on board a Swan 48 and a Yapluka 60 Catamaran. Neither of these high end boats had anything to hold on to.

Safe and spirited, Oceanis yachts are as comfortable cruising as they are capable on longer offshore journeys. - The owner of this particular boat lives aboard in the BVI in the winter and Boston in the summer. The boat makes for a very comfortable home, yet is well suited for the offshore passages.

Realistcally, I am a SBLD sailor. I have dreamed of sailing around the world for most of my life. Doing so would be on a small boat. However, after doing one ocean crossing and two other 900 mile passages on "other peoples boats," I am beginning to think that might be the most economical and enjoyable way to sail around the world.

[Captain Smollett]

Thanks for the comments, David.  It's good to hear positive experiences.

I do still find the ad a bit funny.   Lines like

"Interior space giving everyone the space they need to relax and enjoy the pleasure of being together."

just strike my funny bone.  "Space they need to ... enjoy pleasure of being together."  I see what they are trying to say, that having one's own space makes time together better - but it's worded funny.  To me at least.   ;)

No comment on the boat itself...pros or cons...other than the fact that I do not WANT a 47 ft boat...by ANY manufacturer.  Earlier in the thread there was a comment about not being in the target market, and that certainly applies.  I find the wording of the ad funny because it's not aimed at me.

[David_Old_Jersey]

A hundred years or so ago, a sun tan was a mark of being 'lower class' since it meant you had to be outside (usually working in fields and the like), whereas pale skin meant you had the "luxury" of spending your time indoors.

During the 20th century (I think, though it may have started to shift in the 19th), this switched 180 degrees and the tan became the mark of luxury since it meant you had the leisure time to 'sunbath.'  Workers worked inside, in offices.

Still is that way in many parts of the world (for the reasons you state).

- to keep on topic (with the marketing angle) one of the very few things that got me mad in SE Asia was the beauty industry (Including well known western brands) selling and promoting skin whiteners  >:( Of course simply piggy backing on existing local desires (and prejudices), but they would not even dare sell in the same way in this part of the world products whose sole purpose is to make those on the dusky end of the spectrum appear whiter  ::).

Marketing will sell you whatever you want, whether needed or not

[Captain Smollett]

Marketing will sell you whatever you want, whether needed or not

Grog for that. 

One of the best things we ever did was get rid of the TV.  It's simply amazing how much "clutter" is removed from life without TV and magazines "shouting" at you all the time that you "need" this or "should have" that.

[Porter Wayfare]

Hear! Hear! TV free since 1984. TV messes you up.