A case for the sailing YouTuber

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by jlcnuke

That said, I do find the ones that make it overly obvious that they're holding stuff back unless you pay (such as Sailing Miss Lonestar) or that incessantly bring up their youtube channel/patreon account everywhere they can quite annoying and will avoid watching or supporting them at all.

Good marketing is marketing and promotion that the viewer doesn't perceive to be marketing and promotion. Some companies or YouTubers are better about how they self-promote and are better at guerrilla marketing than others.

[ssmoot]

Originally Posted by OldManMirage

Ah Sailorchic I can completely agree with you. I often tell my kids about the times when we only had 3 channels on the TV and phones that sat on the wall. And I repeatedly tell them how easily and contentedly I could go back to those simpler times. If only we had time machines ! Truthfully, that's a part of why I sail. It gets me away from a lot of modern stuff.

I spent many hours watching Mash, Night Court, The Facts of Life, etc as a bored kid because there wasn't much better to do. I did get a lifelong interest in cooking from Yan Can Cook, The Frugal Gourmet and Justin Wilson though so it wasn't completely a waste.

I think skipping out on the 25% of airtime being commercials, and being able to watch something that actually interests you is pretty cool.

Sailing Uma inspired me to look into making my own countertops. I was aware of epoxy and DIY concrete before, but I never would've guessed Corian was something I could DIY.

Getting a "Level 5" smooth finish on my drywall, learning how to properly lay my own paver stone patio, sweat copper, frame a window, waterproof a replacement tile shower install. All stuff I learned on YouTube. I'll be taking on some brick veneer repairs this coming year, and I expect YouTube will play a big role in figuring out how to get my mix right, color match existing mortar, etc.

Sail Life is, for me, just a more interesting version of "This Old House", and I'll take Mads over Bob Villa any day. It's nice to see every detail of a project and over a much longer period of time. You don't get "the boring stuff" on TV, but that's where much of the education is to me.

Josh Post has, hands down, the best introductory sailing video I've seen.

I could go on, but you get it. I think it's pretty awesome my son gets to spend an hour watching creative Lego videos instead of Looney Tunes after homework, and it's awesome to see the creativity and pride it inspires in his own creations he brings to me.

[OldManMirage]

Thumbs up on the last several posts. All good reasons ! Especially about YouTube having less commercials than TV. On that note - have you noticed when they do reruns of many old shows that were one hour long that they take 1:15 to run them now ? Got to get in the required number of commercials !!!

I can handle the 5-15 seconds that YouTube makes me deal with, but the average hour on television now is about 25-27 minutes of commercials. Ridiculous !!!!!

[Steamerlanes]

In my opinion why this topic even exists is the over proliferation of sailing channel's in last few year's. Went from a few informative or home movie type travel adventures to a full blown marketing extravaganza of 100 or more channel's plus another 50 or 60 "watch us prep our boat for the Bahamas". Every beach and cove has been photographed and droned from every conceivable angle 200 time's. Several have gone to showing wives or girlfriend's in ever skimpier bikinis (topless if a patron) to gain market share. Possibly many see it as commercialization of their quiet lifestyle in good ole cable reality fashion. Will be interesting to see when (if) this market becomes saturated what will happen to all these people and boats. Motohomes? Over done..tiny houses? Over done. Guess will have to wait and see.

[john61ct]

My vote is for a bracket tournament competition, ideally a Mad Max gladiatorial fight to the death, only a few winners survive in each category.

Except the eye candy boat babes, they get to pick new mates from the following season's rookies.

[er9]

Originally Posted by Sojourner

Thanks also for the others support (you know who you are).... It isn't about trying to be cool or showing my 'lifestyle' is better than yours. It's about marketing, plain and simple. (Oh, I do have an MBA as well....if anyone wants to see a scan of the diploma...?) We can afford (barely, but doably) to sail without any support from anyone. But this is how we live, and have for a long time, and it just so happens that it ticks a few boxes for advertisers trying to be a little more inclusive/edgy, or people who are just bored with the normal sailing couples which have totally saturated the market. So I'd be a damn fool not to highlight the things we've found people are interested in above and beyond the baseline, which of course is sailing a boat to beautiful locations. On the way, we're going to learn to be much better sailors, and try to pass that on to our viewers. We're going to try to support local cultural projects (I've backpacked and motorcycled to 90 or so countries so far (um, passport scans for the interested?), and I still maintain ties with a few I found there). We're talking with some folks running ocean cleanup projects since the eclipse we're targeting is in the epicenter of the south pacific garbage patch (sampling the water column over our course seems to be the best way to lend a hand at the moment) Erzsebet is going to write another book, and I might come out of retirement as regards that as well.... In short, we're not as vapid as we make ourselves out to be sometimes, but with the sailing video market so saturated, you gotta be unique, you gotta be funny, you gotta be something a little different. We're already there without trying too much, so we'll give it a go, anyway, and if it doesn't take off, who cares? We'll still be that same young queer committed polyfamily with no kids and three kittens on a big sailboat drifting around the tropics somewhere. Ain't no one gotta cry for me if we fail

yeah but your blog and the blog of the Litzenbergers are witty, intelligent and entertaining, and the rest of them range from very good to abysmal. I think what really chaps most peoples asses though and contributes to a lot of the outward emotional disgust for some of the video blogs in particular is mostly an unconscious reaction to the devolution of human character and morality.
( i know super cosmic stuff going on here)

I think our species is driven to evolve to become better, more advanced, smarter, morally better. i know thats an obvious observation but i think this ambition in men is mostly an unconscious drive, one that happens within us on a level we are mostly unaware of. We dont outwardly recognize it on a daily basis only unconsciously (mostly) when we are confronted with its breakdown.

I think most men really do try to be better men (albeit a lot of us with limited success) but we certainly do recognize when other men have no desire to become so...but youtube and modern technology has brought the ambition-less bum on the corner into our living room and now he also comes in the form of selfish, panhandling youtube sailors.

look dont get me wrong...i'm all for people wanting to do something interesting with their lives and wanting to share that experience but need the financial help to do so. unfortunately we cant all afford to live to our ideals financially, and i hope i dont sound like i'm polishing my halo or anything...no one is perfect and some of us certainly have our trials and tribulations, but when another mans ideal is devolution of his character at my expense he/she can go @#$% themselves. To the rest of them like yourselves and the Litzenbergers (that one is tough on a keyboard) my wallet and spirit is open, may life grant you your wishes.

[ssmoot]

Originally Posted by Trailer Sailor

Just mind boggling... no, worse, mind numbing. I could not get through more than a couple of minutes of that video.

I really don't understand everyone's reaction. I haven't followed the channel.

Is it because there's a French guy? Is it because it's two ladies? They've had some misfortunes, but nothing in that video seems to suggest they "deserved it". There's a lot of old boats that've sprung a leaky hatch and damaged something valuable.

Is it because they were shaken down by some corrupt cops? If there wasn't some pretty clear signage along the way... Shades of Ryan Lochte.

I mean, I didn't find the video especially entertaining. It definitely doesn't inspire me to subscribe. But the comments here don't reflect very well on this community IMO.

[Souzag818]

Originally Posted by Steamerlanes

In my opinion why this topic even exists is the over proliferation of sailing channel's in last few year's. Went from a few informative or home movie type travel adventures to a full blown marketing extravaganza of 100 or more channel's plus another 50 or 60 "watch us prep our boat for the Bahamas". Every beach and cove has been photographed and droned from every conceivable angle 200 time's. Several have gone to showing wives or girlfriend's in ever skimpier bikinis (topless if a patron) to gain market share. Possibly many see it as commercialization of their quiet lifestyle in good ole cable reality fashion. Will be interesting to see when (if) this market becomes saturated what will happen to all these people and boats. Motohomes? Over done..tiny houses? Over done. Guess will have to wait and see.

I already think it's saturated, but a new one seems to pop up every week. I watch about 3 or 4 channels, but spend the rest of my "sailing adventure" time, well....sailing. I may not have the buff body or the smoking hot blond girlfriend I once did, but I've been sailing for over 50 years, have great memories and pictures, and will continue to do so till I can't pull the strings anymore. I see no reason to vicariously live someone else's life

[ssmoot]

Originally Posted by er9

but youtube and modern technology has brought the ambition-less bum on the corner into our living room and now he also comes in the form of selfish, panhandling youtube sailors.

Nobody is throwing anything in anyone's face merely by existing and sharing their experiences on YT or anywhere else. If you're offended that's on you.

Nobody is imposing anything on you merely by inviting an audience. If you don't like it, move on. Or don't. But don't play the victim.

[Steamerlanes]

Originally Posted by Souzag818

I already think it's saturated, but a new one seems to pop up every week. I watch about 3 or 4 channels, but spend the rest of my "sailing adventure" time, well....sailing. I may not have the buff body or the smoking hot blond girlfriend I once did, but I've been sailing for over 50 years, have great memories and pictures, and will continue to do so till I can't pull the strings anymore. I see no reason to vicariously live someone else's life

I feel is saturated as well. Wonder if the "dream" in these youtubers will be worth the 9 to 5 or slaving in factories when the channel income isn't enough to support it? Numerous boats on the market while they take up space in the anchorages so the cruisers have no room? I see fully half these channel's ditching the lifestyle when is no longer a money maker

[er9]

Originally Posted by ssmoot

Nobody is throwing anything in anyone's face merely by existing and sharing their experiences on YT or anywhere else. If you're offended that's on you.

Nobody is imposing anything on you merely by inviting an audience. If you don't like it, move on. Or don't. But don't play the victim.

play victim? not sure where you conjured that from but ok whatever...you are right though in one regard and no one is forcing anyone to watch...it was an observation made of what might be adding to all the angst in case you missed my point or it wasnt clear, but when these same people use outlets like 'go fund me' to mislead people into giving them money for one thing when it in fact is entirely for another...i can see how this bothers some people and something that has come up many times on various sailing forums. But thats another subject entirely and i dont want to de-rail this thread.

[Steamerlanes]

Wasnt the original post about youtubers being "victims" of online attacks and insults?

[ssmoot]

Originally Posted by Steamerlanes

Wasnt the original post about youtubers being "victims" of online attacks and insults?

The keyword being "attack".

Nobody is attacking you merely by doing something you don't like just because it's public (or private).

Just like a monohull lover insulting someone just because they prefer catamarans (or vice versa). Almost unbelievable I know. Who would do something like that? But believe it or not I've seen it happen!

[Steamerlanes]

Why do all these youtube channels feel the need to explain what a great service they are offering to viewers and the environment with their clever marketing techniques? I'm on the water to get away from commercialism and to be honest these channel's have caused me to no longer watch any of them except Mr Williams and 1 guy that sails with no engine. I feel these are the only 2 that offer any valuable content to me to warrant the time to watch. These guy's try to pass on wisdom out of the love for sailing not as a marketing ploy.

[Time2Go]

Go for it all you sailing bloggers
If you can make it work good on you
However what I find a bit concerning
is in the “coments”
So many address the bloggers by first names
or made up nick names like they are close personal friends
They are not, They are customers being sold.
A bit creepy to dwell in a fantasy world of imaginary friends
I feel sad for these people
just my two cents
I don’t really follow any but do check up
on Mads of sail life once in awhile to see how
his boat is coming along
Cheers
Neil