Boats.com Builds Outstanding Editorial Team
Top marine writers contribute bi-weekly columns.
January 7, 2008
Everything from outboards to personal watecraft will be covered by boats.com's five bi-weekly columnists. (Photo courtesy Robert Brown.)
SEATTLE- Boats.com has assembled what can only be described as a "dream team " of writers who will contribute bi-weekly columns on various segments of the boating market, from personal watercraft to mega-yachts. Matt Trulio, powerboat editor for boats.com for the past eight years, tapped the best writers in the industry to join the boats.com editorial content group.
"These people aren't just writers I respect-they're writers I admire," said Trulio. "I've worked with all of them individually, but to be able to work with them as a group is as good as it gets. They're all completely dialed into the markets they're going to cover for boats.com. They know their stuff, and they can write.
"I've given them one mandate: Make it fun," added Trulio. "Good things happen when you give skilled writers freedom."
The Team
Brett Becker, a freelance writer and photographer who has covered the marine industry for more than 10 years, will handle the wakeboard/ski boat market. The former editor of Powerboat and Boating Life magazines, Becker regularly writes and shoots for Performance Racing Industry and Powerboat magazines. His work also has appeared in WaterSki, Intellichoice, Automotive News, Cycle News among other titles.
Brett Becker, a freelance writer and photographer who has covered the marine industry for more than 10 years, will handle the wakeboard/ski boat market. The former editor of Powerboat and Boating Life magazines, Becker regularly writes and shoots for Performance Racing Industry and Powerboat magazines. His work also has appeared in WaterSki, Intellichoice, Automotive News, Cycle News among other titles.
In addition to writing and shooting freelance projects, Brett is building a Spec Miata for competition and working toward his racing license. Based in Ventura, Calif., Becker holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's in mass communication from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Karen Buhler Gale, who will cover basic sailing and seamanship, is a freelance writer and sailor.
Karen Buhler Gale, who will cover basic sailing and seamanship, is a freelance writer and sailor. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest her first career was as a registered nurse. After obtaining a second degree in Creative Writing and English Literature, she wrote an award-winning health book for children, The Kids' Guide to First Aid, was a staff writer for CTB/McGraw-Hill in test and text development for schools, and currently writes sports and local interest articles for the Vashon/Maury Island Beachcomber.
A 17-year resident of ferry-dependent Vashon Island, Karen was an armchair sailor for years before buying her first sailboat, Elation, a 27' Catalina. She sails with her family in her home waters of Puget Sound, even though they complain and don't always follow directions. Her most recent article was "˜The Zero-Knot Sailor' for SAIL Magazine.
Jeff Hemmel, an award-winning writer, contributing editor for Boating magazine and the editor of Watercraft World magazine, will handle pleasure boating. That translates to single-engine powerboats in the 18- to 30-foot range a subject in which Hemmel, who covers a similar segment for Boating, is well-versed. He has written for Consumer's Digest, Powersports Industry, Boating Industry and Wake. Hemmel is a former personal watercraft racer. He lives in St. Pete Beach, Fla.
Kim Kavin an award-winning writer, editor and photographer who specializes in marine travel will cover yachting.
Kim Kavin an award-winning writer, editor and photographer who specializes in marine travel will cover yachting. She is a contributing writer for worldwide magazines including Power & Motoryacht, Robb Report, and Elite Traveler; the author of five books including Dream Cruises: The Insider's Guide to Private Yacht Charter Vacations; and the editor and publisher of www.CharterWave.com, an online magazine about private yacht vacations.
Kim is currently president of the 500-plus-member professional organization Boating Writers International. She's also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Learn more at www.KimKavin.com.
Charles Plueddeman, the current author of boats.com's bi-weeklyOutboard Expert column will add a personal watercraft column to his boats.com repetoire. Plueddeman has been covering marine engine technology, PWC and trailerable boats since 1987, when he joined the editorial staff of Boating Magazine. He was the founding editor of Boat Magazine in 1989, and has served for a year as the interim editor of Watercraft World Magazine.
Self-employed since 1991, Plueddeman is a regular contributor to Boating Magazine as Editor at Large. His work has also appeared in Men's Journal, Maxim, Cargo, Popular Mechanics, Outdoor Life, Playboy and other national publications. He is a multi-time winner in the Boating Writers International writing contest. Plueddeman lives in Oshkosh, Wis., and has dinged a prop in each North American time zone.
Matt Trulio, who will contribute columns on high-performance boats and boating, joined boats.com as powerboat editor in 2000 and is one the company's longest-standing employees. The winner of the 1999 Moulton H. "Monk" Farnam Award for Excellence in Editorial Commentary, as well as writing awards from Boating Writers International, Trulio started his marine writing career when he joined Powerboat magazine in 1995. He remains the magazine's editor at large. In addition to his work for boats.com and Powerboat, Trulio has written for Voyaging, Show Boats and Watercraft World magazines. He is a former newspaper writer and editor.
