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Performance Boats Drops Colby Column
- Thread starter Matt Trulio
- Start date
Magicfloat
Charter Member
January 2010.Page 10. I am too computer dumb to post it and Karen is gone. I might be able to scan it and email it to someone tht can post. I hate not being computer literate
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nthdegree
New member
Eric is a "straight shooter", he lost a brother to a terrible disease, and is very safety consciencious.
He wrote a very nice article about a little ride he and his nephew had in our Gladiator.
Sorry to hear about his "release". Kurt, if you see him say hello to him for us...
He wrote a very nice article about a little ride he and his nephew had in our Gladiator.
Sorry to hear about his "release". Kurt, if you see him say hello to him for us...
DaveP
Charter Member
Chris & Eric are both great guys.
Unfortunately not everyone stands on their principles when the "chips are down"
I.E. Bill Taylor & Poker Runs America
We "APRA" after extensive discussion with poker runners, boat manufacturers, poker run clubs, etc.... AGREED that Canopied Boat (race & non-race) should not be allowed to participate in poker runs WITHOUT stringent guidelines.
Those guidelines be:
1) Only 2 people in the boat
2) Both have to be dunk tested (and prove it)
3) Some kind of oxygen onboard
4) Either poker runner or poker run organizer needs to have a diver in a chopper in case of an accident
Bill Taylor caved like a house of cards once he got some advertiser pressure from 2 boat manufacturers. All in the name of $$$$$$$$$. Plus he never returned any of my calls or letters calling him out on it.
I stood my ground because I believe in the rule, I caught grief, Mike Fiore threatend to boycott, etc....
The result - I stood my ground, signed up even more sponsors the following year and Mike Fiore came back the following year with an open boat.
Chris Davidson - I think you are a great guy, I enjoy your magazine and I thank you for the coverage that you have given NJPPC & Shore Dreams For Kids.
But, if it is an accurate statement that Eric Colby is no longer with your magazine due to advertiser pressure, I am really disappointed. In the long run you would have garnered more respect to stand your ground and stand behind your Field Editor.
Dave Patnaude
NJ Performance Powerboat Club
Unfortunately not everyone stands on their principles when the "chips are down"
I.E. Bill Taylor & Poker Runs America
We "APRA" after extensive discussion with poker runners, boat manufacturers, poker run clubs, etc.... AGREED that Canopied Boat (race & non-race) should not be allowed to participate in poker runs WITHOUT stringent guidelines.
Those guidelines be:
1) Only 2 people in the boat
2) Both have to be dunk tested (and prove it)
3) Some kind of oxygen onboard
4) Either poker runner or poker run organizer needs to have a diver in a chopper in case of an accident
Bill Taylor caved like a house of cards once he got some advertiser pressure from 2 boat manufacturers. All in the name of $$$$$$$$$. Plus he never returned any of my calls or letters calling him out on it.
I stood my ground because I believe in the rule, I caught grief, Mike Fiore threatend to boycott, etc....
The result - I stood my ground, signed up even more sponsors the following year and Mike Fiore came back the following year with an open boat.
Chris Davidson - I think you are a great guy, I enjoy your magazine and I thank you for the coverage that you have given NJPPC & Shore Dreams For Kids.
But, if it is an accurate statement that Eric Colby is no longer with your magazine due to advertiser pressure, I am really disappointed. In the long run you would have garnered more respect to stand your ground and stand behind your Field Editor.
Dave Patnaude
NJ Performance Powerboat Club
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
I can only say that I wrote this column with the hopes of preventing another accident like this from happening. I enjoyed working with Performance Boats and I hope that Chris can make the magazine succeed with or without me. Thanks to everyone for their support. I may not be writing as much now as I used to, but I hope to at least keep a toe in the water. In the meantime, keep reading speedonthewater.com and support Matt. Coming up with new content on a daily basis has to be a pain in the a** and he's been doing an outstanding job.
Great article Eric. If you got chitcanned for writing the truth, the job wasn't worth having. At least you still have your dignity.
I'm not preaching from a soapbox....drinking and boating is something that an overwhelming majority do or have done, but part of being a responsible citizen and adult is to take responsibility for your actions. Being aware of the consequences of drinking and boating can only make our hobby a safer one.
Craig
elvisali
New member
I read the article initially about a week ago, and just reread it now....I dont think its over the top harsh....maybe 'aggressive' in opinion, yes, but he makes valid points and what would his writing be worth if he wasnt willing to make an opinion and back it up? Honestly,I read it and my head is nodding up and down, not side to side
Sounds to me like the mag was possibly threatened with pulling of advertising...or threatened with a lawsuit, and chose path of least resistance. What I cant figure out is....why didnt the editor stop it from going to print if he thought it wasnt 'sensitive' enough?
Either way, my condolences to the families of those who passed. I have heard only good things about the Canni family
Sounds to me like the mag was possibly threatened with pulling of advertising...or threatened with a lawsuit, and chose path of least resistance. What I cant figure out is....why didnt the editor stop it from going to print if he thought it wasnt 'sensitive' enough?
Either way, my condolences to the families of those who passed. I have heard only good things about the Canni family
DaveP
Charter Member
The truth of the matter is that most boating accident happen because or human error or human error + alcohol. They are all tragic and we all wish that they never happened. For the most part they all injur or kill really good people (1 or 2 may live up to the Darwin Award.)
From everything I have heard about the LI accident, the operator and his friends were really great people. But that should not stop us from learning from the operator's mistakes that may have lead up to the accident and in no way should those mistakes "damn or mean ill" against that person.
From everything I have heard about the LI accident, the operator and his friends were really great people. But that should not stop us from learning from the operator's mistakes that may have lead up to the accident and in no way should those mistakes "damn or mean ill" against that person.
Shanghied Again
Charter Member
That is pretty screwed up.. friend or no friend. Joe from Hustler is a great guy and even though the family is close. My sympathys to the family and all involved. The facts are still the facts and I didn't know that the the first amendment, the write to speech could get you fired.
I've known Eric for quite a while and I don't think his article is over-the-top or insenstitive in any way. The events of that evening were absolutely a tragedy, and one that probably (like many tragedies) could have been avoided. He is merely pointing out how it possibly could have been avoided so that (hopefully) we can learn from it and reduce the likelihood of this type of event from ever happening again. I personally thank him for taking a perhaps unpopular but nevertheless noble position.
Tom Caruso
Total Marine
Tom Caruso
Total Marine
Tank
Charter Member
I don't get it...Little bit of speculation... Not suprising from a journalist. And not even really speculation since the coast Guard concluded alcohol was the a contributer. So Eric put blame where it lay? So why all the fuss? Why did the magazine get so much flack...And from whom? Hmmmmm? Interesting. Guess no one writing for a magazine can ever have an opinion...Even if it's based on facts!
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catastrophe
Registered
If you compiled the various comments that came out of the local newspapers when the event happened, they would amount to Eric's article.
Forgetting the magazines reaction to pressure, if it is true that advertiser pressure caused this, I'm curious to how this topic could have offended any said advertiser in the magazine.
If online forums had people leaving because of conflicting opinions they wouldnt exist.
This incident shines no light on product failure or anything similar and if anyone knows the writer they know the article was reread and given scutiny before submission.
The publication has more than one advertiser obviously and they have chosen to be there partially on the fact that Eric was a part of the package they took space in.
Since Performance reacted ( if in fact that is correct) to 1 advertisers pressure it would be interesting to have them question the magazine's decision.
Whole topic reminds me of Boat Tests that have appeared in the past that were lame due to advertiser participation.
Forgetting the magazines reaction to pressure, if it is true that advertiser pressure caused this, I'm curious to how this topic could have offended any said advertiser in the magazine.
If online forums had people leaving because of conflicting opinions they wouldnt exist.
This incident shines no light on product failure or anything similar and if anyone knows the writer they know the article was reread and given scutiny before submission.
The publication has more than one advertiser obviously and they have chosen to be there partially on the fact that Eric was a part of the package they took space in.
Since Performance reacted ( if in fact that is correct) to 1 advertisers pressure it would be interesting to have them question the magazine's decision.
Whole topic reminds me of Boat Tests that have appeared in the past that were lame due to advertiser participation.
OneBadInjun
New member
It all comes down to dollars...again. Which is a shame.
OneBadInjun
New member
Exactly Allen. Think I'll let my subscription "lapse".:seeya:
whataworld51
New member
That's a shame. The magazines should be more than a marketing tool.
