Lakeland Boating
Encyclopedia
Lakeland Boating is a regional magazine that ships eleven times a year and covers the interests of freshwater boaters on the Great Lakes
and connecting waterways and inland lakes as far south as Tennessee
, as far north as Lake Superior
, as far west as Minnesota
, and as far east as Quebec
.
and surrounding environs.
In early 1946, Schoen placed an ad in the Chicago Tribune
placing Sea Toy II up for sale. Schoen sold the boat to 26-year-old Paul Cullen for $1,300, the necessary seed money to being a new magazine, Lakeland Yachting and Motorboating.
. Under his guidance, Lakeland Yachting was cordial and upbeat on every page, presenting an enthusiast's assurance that boating was pure happiness.
In 1957, the name of the magazine was changed from Lakeland Yachting and Motorboating to Lakeland Boating to more accurately depict the nature of the magazine and its emphasis on motor boats.
While Schoen had kept things light and breezy, Kitz set forth his new editorial mission: "First, to report for you the interesting boating activities of the past, present, and future... and second, to raise its voice to help protect and preserve this delightful boating area from the ravages of deterioration that too often accompany the growth of metropolitan areas." Two specific concerns for Kitz were nature's ecological balance and pollution.
After moving their offices to Ann Arbor, Michigan
, a subscription cost $4.00 a year for ten issues or 50 cents an issue on the news stand.
Editor Dave Kitz was a strident voice for boaters. In his "View from the Bridge" column he gave boaters a conscience and called out politicians when he felt they were wrong. He was particularly concerned with boat safety.
Kitz bought out Prakken in 1972. Subscriptions were now $5.00 a year of 75 cents an issue.
Instead of publishing their normal pre-boat show issue in 1975, Kitz instead published his "Clean Water" issue, calling on the government to stop Reserve Mining's spoiling of Lake Superior
while also lauding the City of Detroit for their work cleaning up the Detroit River
, then one of the worst cesspools in America.
Kitz saw boating not as the culmination of one's life but as a worthwhile hobby, once writing, "All too often the boat is misappropriated and, used as a status symbol or an experience with the IRS in mind, it could have anything but a wholesome influence on young people." For fun with the family, he said, boating "Is still one of the best ways to do interesting things together."
Kitz moved the offices to Adrian, Michigan
, in 1977 and subscriptions were now $8.00 a year or $1.00 an issue.
Peterson Publications specializes in niche-market magazines and planned on turning Lakeland Boating, which at this time was considered a small-circulation magazine, into a national giant. Peterson quickly tripled Lakeland Boatings circulation to a high of 60,000.
Peterson Publications folded its own Sea magazine into Lakeland Boating, growing the magazine from 40 pages an issue to 130.
Kitz, now an associate publisher for the magazine, found his strong editorial voice gone from the magazine now but continued to write his "View from the Bridge" column until the magazine dropped it upon sale to its current publisher.
After their purchase, subscription prices in 1984 were now $15.94 for ten issues a year of $1.75 an issue.
Pleasure boating had been on a downturn since the gasoline crisis] in 1974 when President Jimmy Carter
suggested that fuel sales should not take place on weekends. Owing to this, Peterson Publications had found their efforts to go national stymied and had re-focused on the regional aspect of the magazine.
Upon O'Meara's purchase of the magazine, however, boating began an upturn in popularity again that would continue for quite some time.
O'Meara moved the business office to Highland Park, Illinois
and brought original owner Vic Schoen back as a correspondent. In June 1985, O'Meara bought out his partner David Brown and moved the offices to Chicago, Illinois. Offices moved to the Fountain Building in Evanston, Illinois
in 1988 and to Printer's Row in Chicago in 2003.
The circulation of the magazine as of 2006 was 50,226.
Lakeland Boating is a glossy, full-color magazine published eleven times a year. In addition to this magazine, O'Meara-Brown also publishes an angling magazine, Great Lakes Angler, and twice annually they publish a Cruising Guide to one of the Great Lakes.
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and connecting waterways and inland lakes as far south as Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, as far north as Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
, as far west as Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and as far east as Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
The Sea Toy II
Before founding Lakeland Boating, then called Lakeland Yachting and Motorboating, Vic Schoen was an avid boater. Schoen was then piloting a 36-foot 1925 wooden Burger dubbed Sea Toy II. A great fan of his boat, Schoen also knew that it represented the capital he needed to start a new magazine about boating on the Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and surrounding environs.
In early 1946, Schoen placed an ad in the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
placing Sea Toy II up for sale. Schoen sold the boat to 26-year-old Paul Cullen for $1,300, the necessary seed money to being a new magazine, Lakeland Yachting and Motorboating.
Lakeland Yachting
With money in hand, Vic Schoen started his new magazine, christened Lakeland Yachting and Motorboating, in mid-1946 and based in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. Under his guidance, Lakeland Yachting was cordial and upbeat on every page, presenting an enthusiast's assurance that boating was pure happiness.
In 1957, the name of the magazine was changed from Lakeland Yachting and Motorboating to Lakeland Boating to more accurately depict the nature of the magazine and its emphasis on motor boats.
1963: Mid-America's Freshwater Yachting Magazine
Only five issues of Lakeland Yachting were published in 1963, and after the first issue of 1964 was published, ownership of the magazine was passed from Schoen to Larry Prakken and Dave Kitz. Prakken would be the publisher, Kitz the editor. Along with this change in ownership came the new slogan, "Mid-America's Freshwater Yachting Magazine" to emphasize its regional orientation.While Schoen had kept things light and breezy, Kitz set forth his new editorial mission: "First, to report for you the interesting boating activities of the past, present, and future... and second, to raise its voice to help protect and preserve this delightful boating area from the ravages of deterioration that too often accompany the growth of metropolitan areas." Two specific concerns for Kitz were nature's ecological balance and pollution.
After moving their offices to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, a subscription cost $4.00 a year for ten issues or 50 cents an issue on the news stand.
Editor Dave Kitz was a strident voice for boaters. In his "View from the Bridge" column he gave boaters a conscience and called out politicians when he felt they were wrong. He was particularly concerned with boat safety.
Kitz bought out Prakken in 1972. Subscriptions were now $5.00 a year of 75 cents an issue.
Instead of publishing their normal pre-boat show issue in 1975, Kitz instead published his "Clean Water" issue, calling on the government to stop Reserve Mining's spoiling of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
while also lauding the City of Detroit for their work cleaning up the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
, then one of the worst cesspools in America.
Kitz saw boating not as the culmination of one's life but as a worthwhile hobby, once writing, "All too often the boat is misappropriated and, used as a status symbol or an experience with the IRS in mind, it could have anything but a wholesome influence on young people." For fun with the family, he said, boating "Is still one of the best ways to do interesting things together."
Kitz moved the offices to Adrian, Michigan
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
, in 1977 and subscriptions were now $8.00 a year or $1.00 an issue.
1980: Peterson Publications
Kitz sold Lakeland Boating to Peterson Publications in 1980.Peterson Publications specializes in niche-market magazines and planned on turning Lakeland Boating, which at this time was considered a small-circulation magazine, into a national giant. Peterson quickly tripled Lakeland Boatings circulation to a high of 60,000.
Peterson Publications folded its own Sea magazine into Lakeland Boating, growing the magazine from 40 pages an issue to 130.
Kitz, now an associate publisher for the magazine, found his strong editorial voice gone from the magazine now but continued to write his "View from the Bridge" column until the magazine dropped it upon sale to its current publisher.
1983-present: Walter "Bing" O'Meara
Walter "Bing" O'Meara and David Brown purchased Lakeland Boating in 1983. O'Meara learned magazine publishing in the food service and lodging trade journals.After their purchase, subscription prices in 1984 were now $15.94 for ten issues a year of $1.75 an issue.
Pleasure boating had been on a downturn since the gasoline crisis] in 1974 when President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
suggested that fuel sales should not take place on weekends. Owing to this, Peterson Publications had found their efforts to go national stymied and had re-focused on the regional aspect of the magazine.
Upon O'Meara's purchase of the magazine, however, boating began an upturn in popularity again that would continue for quite some time.
O'Meara moved the business office to Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
and brought original owner Vic Schoen back as a correspondent. In June 1985, O'Meara bought out his partner David Brown and moved the offices to Chicago, Illinois. Offices moved to the Fountain Building in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
in 1988 and to Printer's Row in Chicago in 2003.
The circulation of the magazine as of 2006 was 50,226.
Lakeland Boating is a glossy, full-color magazine published eleven times a year. In addition to this magazine, O'Meara-Brown also publishes an angling magazine, Great Lakes Angler, and twice annually they publish a Cruising Guide to one of the Great Lakes.