Yachts International Review

Are you one of the nation's growing number of millionaires, just looking for something luxurious to spend money on?  If money stacked up in your safe deposit box and you have to find a way to use up the cash before it starts to mold, one magazine that can help you reach this goal in a short time is Yachts International, a magazine dedicated to large, sea- going vessels and the rich folks who consider them their favorite toy.

Magazine Commentary:

Yachts International is a magazine for the wealthy, and I have been "reading" Yachts International for about one year. No, I am not a multi- millionaire and no, I don't think I would spend my millions on a yacht even if the money was available. But I read Yachts International anyway because, even though it has no practical relevance for me, I like looking at the pictures of those gorgeous mini- ships and imagining what it would be like to own one. This is how I spend most of my Yachts International moments: Gazing at the beautiful vessels contained within, fantasizing about what it would be like to cruise around for a few weeks on my own luxury yacht while my captain and crew bring me beer and cater to my every need.

Even though I don't read many articles in Yachts International, this magazine actually does include some good industry news articles and design articles that are both lengthy and in- depth. I tend to skip over these longer articles, however, because they have absolutely no relevance to me and I gain little in the way of useful knowledge by reading them. Instead, I focus on the few articles that I can at least partially relate to. My favorite part of each issue is the destination sections. I like the pictures of the great natural scenery and even though the chances are slim that I will ever visit these destinations on my own private yacht, I can still visit them (or I have already visited them) using other means of transportation.

Among the flaws of Yachts International, the greatest is the lack of many personal stories. This magazine sticks with the facts. It might make mention of a wealthy CEO and his beloved sea- going beauty or it might get to know a person who makes a living designing ships. But other than these few articles, Yachts International is mostly an educational/factual magazine publication. You're not likely to see a personal story about a family setting sail on an educational cruise to Alaska, but you are likely to read an article about different ways to outfit your yacht with proper safety gear; a way to redesign the living areas of your yacht to make it look like new; or a brand new, just released super yacht that measures 150 feet in length and offers plenty of space for a full crew, captain, family, and friends.

Bottom- Line Viewpoint:

Overall, Yachts International is an okay magazine, but it is not for everyone. I like the pictures more than anything, and I like the articles about travel. I have no use for most of the articles because I cannot relate to them in any way and I don't like their impersonal nature. But I can see how these articles and others would be useful to those who own a yacht or are considering purchasing a yacht, so I feel that Yachts International is worthy of a small recommendation. The magazine does offer some beautiful pictures of big boats and it would likely offer some good, informative reading for those who have the money for one of these beauties. For the rest of us, however, Yachts International is a fantasy magazine, pure and simple. It lets us see how those on the other side live each day during their free time and even though there is little or no chance most of us will ever reach the level of wealth necessary to purchase watercraft priced between two and twenty million dollars, it is still fun to look at the pictures and fantasize.