Letter to Editor

[LVjetboy]

As I promised, I sent a letter to the Executive Editor of HBM with the poll results. Here's a copy of what I sent:
Brett Bayne,
I am writing because I feel many other subscribers share my concern on this issue. Here are results from a poll taken on Hot BoatÂ’s discussion board:
http://users.lvcm.com/lvjetboy/***boatSurvey.jpg
And here are the questions:
If you subscribe to Hot Boat Magazine...
1) Do you want to see more small (<24 foot) Hot Boat coverage?
2) Would you like less offshore (24 foot and over) and poker run type coverage in exchange for more small Hot Boat coverage?
3) Do you want more technical articles and custom upgrade projects for small Hot Boats?
4) Would you like less new boat performance evaluations in exchange for more technical articles and custom upgrade projects?
While unscientific, I think these opinions reflect a general feeling among many, if not a majority of your subscribers. They want to see more small, custom Hot Boat coverage in Hot Boat Magazine. Granted, new boat manufacturers are drifting to ever-larger hulls. But a lot of readers still buy the used market, or own smaller boats and are more interested in upgrade projects and technical articles for the boat they own. Opinions on what makes a Hot Boat vary. But I think of Hot Boat as the “Hot Rod” of the boating magazine world, with a loyal following of enthusiasts who like to work on their own boats and aren’t interested in the coverage offered by Offshore or Powerboat Magazine. As Hot Boat drifts from it’s roots to follow new market trends, a void is left behind. If this is true, and a majority of your readers still want more small boat articles, wouldn’t Hot Boat Magazine be interested in what we the customers want?
Sincerely,
Jerry Friddell, aka LVjetboy
I'll let everyone know if I get a response.
jer

[beached1]

HB's response.
We are truly ashamed, filled to the brim with self loathing. There is no way an apology would make up for this appalling mistake.
JK http://free.***boat.net/ubb/wink.gif
Very cool graph showing what the readers want. Hope they listen.

[Banshee]

Great job LV. I hope your efforts produce the intended results. Though I still think that a sister mag to Hot Boat would be in the best interest of hot boaters on our end of the spectrum and the offshore enthusiasts as well. I canÂ’t help but think about how easily it would be for Hot Boat to start given that they already have most or all of the necessary resources.

[Cas]

good job Jer! You get the "Atta Boy" award for the month and if they do something about it, you'll get the Atta Boy Award for the Year, a free campsite at this year's Tower Park Run. Ok, so you'll have to take time off work, pull the boat to No CA but what the heck, you'll be able to meet myself, KZ, Old Rigger, Jim Lee, hopefully Jack McClure, Ken A, the Captain, 058, squirt, Al Rock, NelsonF, Heatseeker, OldSquirt and many more!
Steve

[LVjetboy]

Thanks for the comments guys. That tower park run sounds like it'll be a great time...and I'd love to meet everyone. You too RiverDave...we're still friends right? http://free.***boat.net/ubb/smile.gif
jer

[future boater]

if they could do a quarterly, i think all of us would be happy with it. but in their defense i noticed something today.the cover reads as follows:
august of 1995 HOT BOAT
august of 1997 HOT BOAT
"THE ONLY PERFORMANCE BOATING MAGAZINE THAT MATTERS"
it was in august of 97 that i knew something was up. the article
"readers pick the hottest boats they've ever seen." the boats in order
1.VOODOO CANOE 20 ft.sanger
2.howard arnesons 46' ft turbinepoweredskater
3.MADNESS ron braaksma's top fuel hydro
4.eliminator 25 ft. daytona
5.MISS BUDWEISER
6.fountain powerboats 38 ft. fever
7.cougar's 23 ft. mtr
8.talon marine's 525 sc powered t-22
9.ultimate warlock's 25 sxt
10.baja's 322

[RiverDave2]

Originally posted by LVjetboy:
Thanks for the comments guys. That tower park run sounds like it'll be a great time...and I'd love to meet everyone. You too RiverDave...we're still friends right? http://free.***boat.net/ubb/smile.gif
jer
***boats response: "Uh Yeah... We'll get right on that"
What the people at ***boat are saying when they read the e-mail. : "Looks like a huge display of inneficiency to us.. These guys are almost as devoted to there dying breed as Trekkies are to a TV show that happened 20 years ago.. Why won't they just leave us alone and go away.."
Ok, Ok..... I'm sorry, but you have to admit it was funny right?
LVJetBoy, I'm looking forward to hooking up with you guys this upcoming season! Any plans for Parker yet?
RD

[LVjetboy]

I was thinking Tower Park and the Clasic Boat Beach Bash (say that one three times after cheap vodka)...not sure about Parker and OP6 yet? Wicky'll probably spank me http://free.***boat.net/ubb/frown.gif I also plan on spending some quality time at Powell and Mead...
http://users.lvcm.com/lvjetboy/Honey.gif
jer

[LVjetboy]

I was thinking Tower Park and the Clasic Boat Beach Bash (say that one three times after cheap vodka)...not sure about Parker and OP6 yet? Wicky'll probably spank me http://free.***boat.net/ubb/frown.gif I also plan on spending some quality time at Powell and Mead...
http://users.lvcm.com/lvjetboy/Honey.gif
jer

[LVjetboy]

Ooops. What the...? Too many windows and no view.
[This message has been edited by LVjetboy (edited January 20, 2002).]