New members to our hobby

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Well this has been a very successful exercise not only have metaphorically killed off the magazine we have also cast hundreds of model boater out into the oblivion of e publications.

Can we return to the subject of how to attract new members to our hobby ……whilst we still have one.

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

Seems to me there are two key areas:

• we need to make new members aware of our hobby
• we need to provide ready access to facilities – eg lakes

to some extent these issues feed on each other in a vicious circle – as less people get interested facilities get withdrawn, as facilities get withdrawn people become less aware and less able to exercise the option of sailing a boat.

Modelling in general has some advantages for marketing which might be utilised; it is associated with a topic the government would like to encourage – manufacturing industry – and there already exists a suitable school subject (CDT) which could be leveraged to encourage the hobby. It is visually entertaining – there were some TV programs on the topic some years ago, which shows that it can be sold as entertainment. It can be sold to parents as 'educational'. And it is largely home-based, which attunes with the more protective attitude that parents have today.

Disadvantages for 'selling modelling' include the fact that it is a 'solitary' activity in a period where mass entertainment is more prevalent – it can have 'health and safety' issues with knives and glue – and for boating it depends on access to lakes, which is being cut back in an era of 'environmentalism'. I suspect that 'child protection scares' have damaged club participation extensively – it is now considered deeply suspicious for an older person to interact with a child in an 'unstructured' manner.

If I were running a marketing campaign based on the above appreciation, I would be looking for:

• School encouragement to provide modelling experience as part of the CDT curriculum
• Modelling industry encouragement to present kits as 'educational' items
• Commercial encouragement to stores to stock 'educational' items
• Environmental group encouragement to support human use of natural resources (this will be difficult!)
• Local council encouragement to offer water facilities, including boating, inside their recreational strategies

There should be a UK model-making industry trade association. There are all sorts of spin-off industries where modelmaking is an important skill, ranging from pattern-making and mould design through architeture to film special effects. This is very fertile ground for obtaining grants and developing cross-sector campaigns to increase visibility and hobby take-up. I think that the industry establishment (which I see Model Boats as being part of) should be considering such issues, rather than waiting for the industry to die…

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I don't think you can – it is as simple as that!

If they see you by the pond sailing your boat, no doubt loads of them will display great interest. But as soon as they go, it flies straight out of their heads, and does not return!

No-one is exactly being cast out into oblivion, as you can still sail your "boats!" I also feel that there will be quite a lot of interest for years to come, but it is dwindling!

At North West Model Shipwrights, we often get guests of all age groups, and they invariably show great interest, and declare what a fantastic club it is. Then in most cases, we never see or hear from them again!

These guests usually show up after the Blackpool shows.

Bob

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

"…..So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance…"

Franklin D. Roosevelt – Inaugural Address, 1933

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

DG

I agree with all of your suggestions except for involving schools, as far as I am aware the CDT class is a waste of time but the best person to talk to is Neil who used to be a CDT teacher.

I still believe that offering more contemporary subjects would attract younger people and would value serious comments from the forum members.

The following are examples of contemporary subjects for discussion.

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 18/01/2016 13:11:42

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Very erudite DG but perhaps a bit OTT. I don't think anyone is terrified of the situation, just rather sceptical that it can be turned around in a meaningful way. Paul's original post asked what could be done to make the hobby more popular. In doing this just making a few dozen converts or even a few hundred is neither here nor there, you have to be looking at thousands of new model boaters and a number of us on here are unconvinced that this is practically possible given the present environment of youth today. There is another well known saying which involves flogging and dead horses!

In short, you could put in a tremendous and possibly expensive effort for a minimal return. There may be some enthusiasts willing to embrace it but the commercial attractions are zilch.

Paul, some very exciting looking boats there but none of them look very easy to make by beginners.

Colin

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

I don't think anyone is terrified of the situation,

I am…

just rather sceptical that it can be turned around in a meaningful way. Paul's original post asked what could be done to make the hobby more popular. In doing this just making a few dozen converts or even a few hundred is neither here nor there, you have to be looking at thousands of new model boaters

Agreed…

and a number of us on here are unconvinced that this is practically possible given the present environment of youth today.

That's why we're having the discussion. Ideas are being put forward. Simply saying that it's not possible without giving reasons is not advancing the discussion. The youth of today, for instance, do make things. What is it about the environment which makes things impractical?

In short, you could put in a tremendous and possibly expensive effort for a minimal return. There may be some enthusiasts willing to embrace it but the commercial attractions are zilch.

Your comments about the commercial attitude of magazines have been taken on board. No one is expecting financial contributions from Model Boats, or, indeed, much time to be allocated. Model Boats could act simply as a convenient centre to front and co-ordinate activities. Your contact list would be most useful. Work could all be done by volunteers, or industry using government grants. Perhaps you didn't appreciate this?

Paul, some very exciting looking boats there but none of them look very easy to make by beginners.

3-d printing…

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Contact list?

Colin

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Paul

I would have the very greatest difficulty in making any of those from readily-available sheet, strip and block material. On the other hand, if I had the appropriate training,skills and access to the machinery etc then I could possibly use a technique such as 3D printing to produce something akin to them – but I'd hesitate to call it 'boat modelling' just because of the end product.

To draw a vague parallel, you can still catch a carp with luncheon meat as bait and a split-cane rod, but you won't find many anglers down by the water these days without a selection of toys including bait boat (with fish-finding radar), rod pod, bite alarm, carbon rods and poles, flashing floats, various different boillies, a decent all-weather bivvy and the ubiquitous 4G phone. "It's angling, Jim – but not as we know it."

Get a grip, chaps. The hobby is only what it is and will either attract younger folk or it won't. I'm with Colin on that one.

Dave M

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

Posted by Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 18/01/2016 14:18:39:

Contact list?

Colin

You know how to get in touch with me, for a start….

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

Posted by Dave Milbourn on 18/01/2016 14:33:14:

…..

Get a grip, chaps. The hobby is only what it is and will either attract younger folk or it won't. I'm with Colin on that one.

I remember a short-lived push to make model railways more exciting and up-to-date in the 1970s, with rocket-firing wagons pulled behind an armoured engine.

Model railways are still around – but the rocket-firing wagons are just collector's items now…

[Phil H1Participant @philh196021]

I have to agree with DG regarding model railways. For whatever reason, it still seems as popular as ever.

A very simple request from me…. is there a list of clubs including contact details on this site? That might help. For example, I can easily find details of the Wirral club but I'm struggling to find details of the guys who turn up to the Ellesmere Port club?

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

I'm struggling to find details of the guys who turn up to the Ellesmere Port club?

Try Model Boat Mayhem. Quite a few of them are members on that e.g. "Ministeve".

Dave M

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Re model railways, yes, more popular than model boating but still demographic problems:

**LINK**

You don't see many youngsters behind the layouts at shows.

Colin

[Kev.WParticipant @kev-w]

The popularity of model railways is helped by the fact that there is a HUGE railway preservation movement in the UK, something that isn't there on the full size boating scene.

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Well, they are model boats aren't they? As far as I know, the ones pictured above are quite small, and I don't know if they were ever made into full size designs that have got old enough to want to preserve them! I know they have preserved Bluebird! What full sized boat would you want preserved if you had the choice?

A steam locomotive is quite a large and impressive looking machine!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

This is developing into a decent discussion and is slowly moving toward some kind of conclusion.

We have had the commercial point of view, a possible course of action and comparisons with other hobbies.

Whilst all of these observations are well presented and have made for interesting reading I think that they all stem from a pre-conception that todays youngsters will have no interest in building model boats.

I don't believe that all youngsters are anti model building and that the apparent lack of interest is simply that these youngsters haven't been exposed to model building and have never even considered the possibilities of taking up any kind of hobby.

Now that we have discussed the medium and long term possibilities I would like to focus on the short term and ask if anyone has an idea of how to inspire younger people to join.

Dave you are to modest, if you put your mind to it you would easily produce an simple to follow design for any of these boats without having to resort to 3D printers.

Paul

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Now then A thought just passed today that there is a possible answer.

It involves the organiser of the Boat Shows and a few designers like Dave and yourself .A simple boat design which should be easy for school children .

Now the fly in the cure .The organising clubs should be asked to recruit from local school near to the shows children of an appropriate age and FREE An amount of balsa and glue and tools (well supervised) and a prize for the best model could engender interest from educationalists and children alike

Balsa suppliers could give a supply (not too much)

I think the target age should be 12 to 14 years

Its a big ask but the organisers and supplier are the big winners every time they get new entrants to the hobby . Now over to the publishers to look into the possibility Michael

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

You might like to examine the way the Bloodhound SSC people are going about a very similar task – that of getting young people interested in Engineering on the back of a spectacular project – the first car to top 1000 mph.

**LINK**

I particularly like their 'Ambassador' concept – local people contacting local schools with a presentation/teaching pack. I could imagine, for instance, clubs arranging a 'local schools day' when classes could do a trip to the lake for some demonstrations and possibly a presentation/quiz….

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Michael

A nice idea that has possibilities although free balsa and direct contact with schools might not work.

Paul

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

Posted by Paul T on 18/01/2016 20:09:13:

Hi Michael

A nice idea that has possibilities although free balsa and direct contact with schools might not work.

Paul

 

It's usual to design simple model boats so that they make best use of a small number of standard-sized sheets. I think my 20" PT-Boat was made with two sheets of 1/16" and one sheet of 1/8" – that's around £5 at retail price. You could probably cut that a bit – so you wouldn't be asking for a huge contribution from the kids/parents…

It's the glue and paint that's going to cost. Schools should be able to provide PVA (though not water proof?) – perhaps some experimenting with exterior house paint is in order…

I would suggest that such a boat stays small. Most of its life will be spent on a shelf in a bedroom.  There's not a lot of room for 3 ft + models there…

 

Edited By Dodgy Geezer on 18/01/2016 21:14:33

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Edited By Dodgy Geezer on 18/01/2016 21:17:27

Edited By Dodgy Geezer on 18/01/2016 21:17:38

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Going through schools will make the youngsters think its part of formal education and might drive more away than it attracts.

To undertake this kind of project I think that the driving force would have to be local model boat clubs and major shows.

But what basic design would appeal to younger people?

Paul

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

It needs to be fast, my grandsons are not interested in tug boat driving ! The little black speed boat in 007 The World is not Enough film of 1999 has some potential, I recall it went underwater at some stage, plenty of Youtube clips available to inspire the kids.

Ray

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

Posted by Paul T on 19/01/2016 11:21:32:

….But what basic design would appeal to younger people?

Possibly a little running before walking here? I know boaters like talking about boat designs, but I suspect that that would be one of the last things to be decided. If indeed there is to be a boat design, or even only one…

The aim is to attract new members to the hobby. That's a marketing job. You need to think like Ogilvy and Mather, not Vic Smeed. You need a proper SWOT analysis, a specific set of aims with graduated levels of achievability , a list of your resources….

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

The Vic Smeed approach worked very well in the past. Isn't the rest just management gobbledygook for spend a load of money on what is just common sense thinking.

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