April 14, 2006
Safe Boating?
I was flipping through a boating magazine this morning and counted four ads showing powerboats soaring out of the water looking, in my opinion, very much out of control. In a time when boating safety is moving to the forefront as it should, I’m amazed that manufacturers would show their boats in such a state. I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t really make me think of safe responsible boating or that my experience on that boat will be safe when I see a boat flying off a wave with spray flying and propellers spinning in a blur – though in some respects it does appeal to my male ego and gets the testosterone flowing. To see an image like this suggests that either the boat is poorly designed or the manufacturer in some indirect way condones unsafe and irresponsible operating habits. With boating fatalities and accidents on a rise, I think all of us in the marine industry need to be careful with what we show in our ads and not only talk about safe boating but portray it. What do you think?
Posted by ribcraftusa at April 14, 2006 10:41 AM
Comments
I agree. While seeing some adds and websites with the boats 8 feet out of the water, there is a "cool" factor to it. But when you really think about it, the lack of safety this is portraying far outweighs the cool factor.
What if a customer is injured or even killed because they thought it would be cool to see if they could get their boat to fly?
Posted by: tibs at April 14, 2006 03:15 PM
Look no further than the Zodiac CZ7 ads. A boat is flying out of the water. Clearly a diaster waiting to happen. What type of message does that send? Certainly not good promotion of your industry.
Must be a French thing.
Posted by: Cal at April 16, 2006 07:34 PM
I think you're being a bit of a wuss. Going airborn is rad and you know it.
Posted by: Victor E at April 16, 2006 10:14 PM
Being a wus? I'm all for having fun but let's not be stupid about it. To promote un-safe boating as a marketing venue is just unconscionable.
Posted by: Cal at April 17, 2006 08:24 AM
Its only unsafe if you get hurt
Posted by: GM at April 18, 2006 11:18 PM
Or hurt somebody else.
It's the innocent guy we should focus on.
Posted by: Cal at April 20, 2006 08:16 AM
