THE ENSIGN readership survey results

 

1. Including each time you pick it up, how much time do you spend reading each issue of THE ENSIGN?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  More than 2 hours
4.4%43
  1 to 2 hours
26.4%257
  30 minutes to 1 hour
39.9% 389
  15 to 30 minutes
20%195
  Less than 15 minutes
8.7%85
  None
0.5%5
Total Respondents  974
(skipped this question)  13
2. How much of each issue do you read?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  All or most
35.8%349
  Three-fourths
21.3%208
  Half
19.6%191
  Less than half
8.5%83
  Occasional articles
14.2%138
  None
0.6%6
Total Respondents  975
(skipped this question)  12
3. What do you do with your copy of THE ENSIGN when you finish reading it? (Check all that apply.)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Save it for future reference
36.6%355
 Pass it along to a fellow boater
9.8%95
 Use it in USPS classes
7.7%75
 Put it in a public area for others to read
10.7%104
 File selected articles
14.1%137
 Discard it
49% 476
 Other (please specify)
6.9%67
Total Respondents  971
(skipped this question)   11
4. Estimate how many people besides yourself read or look through your copy of THE ENSIGN.
 Total Respondents  
903
(skipped this question)   79
Average 1.217
Range 0-25
5. How often do you read the following sections of THE ENSIGN?
AlwaysOccasionallySeldomNeverResponse Average
Bridge message
40% (370) 40% (367)16% (144)5% (44)1.85
Reader Letters
44% (411) 43% (401)11% (101)3% (24)1.72
Last Horizon
39% (359) 33% (302)20% (184)7% (65)1.95
New Products
55% (517) 35% (325)8% (78)2% (18)1.57
Hot Tips
59% (559) 33% (310)6% (57)1% (14)1.50
Ask the Boat DockTor
54% (510) 32% (304)11% (104)3% (26)1.63
The Stargazer
25% (226)34% (312) 30% (275)11% (102)2.28
Feature articles
52% (484) 42% (395)5% (47)1% (13)1.56
Committee reports
15% (135)33% (298)37% (340) 15% (139)2.53
Squadron Exchange
20% (181)35% (316) 33% (298)11% (103)2.36
Boating Library
21% (191)42% (384) 28% (256)9% (81)2.25
Boaters Market
22% (202)38% (338) 29% (263)11% (98)2.29
What’s in a Boat Name?
41% (386) 35% (322)19% (173)5% (50)1.88
Squadron Activities listings
30% (275)36% (333) 26% (236)8% (73)2.12
On the Water, on the Shore
31% (274)42% (371) 22% (197)6% (51)2.03
Looking Back: The Story Behind a Squadron Burgee
35% (325) 31% (287)25% (226)9% (82)2.07
Total Respondents  963
(skipped this question)  19
6. What actions have you taken after reading THE ENSIGN? (Check all that apply.)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Saved an article
59.9%518
 Discussed an article with others
69.1% 598
 Contacted an author
3.1%27
 Visited a website for more information
41.7%361
 Called USPS headquarters for more information
2.9%25
 Wrote a letter to the editor
2.7%23
 Purchased a highlighted or advertised product or service
35.1%304
 Signed up for a USPS course
9%78
 Other (please specify)
8.1%70
Total Respondents  865
(skipped this question)  117
7. What actions have you taken while visiting THE ENSIGN’s website? (Check all that apply.)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Read an article online
16.2%143
 Printed an article
10%88
 Downloaded the Writers Guide
2.5%22
 Submitted a Last Horizon listing
2.9%26
 Purchased a subscription
0.3%3
 Submitted a change of address
3.2%28
 Have not visited THE ENSIGN website
74% 653
 Other (please specify)
4.2%37
Total Respondents  882
(skipped this question)  100
8. How can we improve THE ENSIGN website?
 Total Respondents  
180
(skipped this question)  802
9. How interested are you in reading articles on the following topics in THE ENSIGN?
Very interestedInterestedSomewhat interestedNot interestedResponse Average
Boating news
32% (296)49% (450) 16% (148)3% (25)1.89
New products
45% (413) 37% (341)15% (142)3% (25)1.76
Product reviews
39% (357)42% (388) 14% (131)4% (39)1.84
Nautical history
37% (351)43% (406) 17% (156)3% (30)1.86
Do-it-yourself projects
38% (353)39% (365) 18% (167)5% (45)1.90
Racing
7% (61)16% (145)31% (284)46% (413) 3.16
Trailering
14% (131)21% (190)26% (239)38% (347) 2.88
Boat maintenance
54% (512) 33% (314)11% (102)2% (18)1.60
Boating safety
49% (461) 38% (358)11% (101)1% (13)1.64
Personal profiles
7% (67)29% (261)45% (408) 18% (162)2.74
Cruising
40% (373) 39% (364)17% (162)3% (31)1.84
Chartering
13% (119)32% (296)35% (316) 20% (183)2.62
Product safety
42% (391) 40% (371)15% (141)2% (22)1.78
Boating legislation
34% (321)45% (416) 17% (163)4% (33)1.90
Boat shows
13% (121)36% (324)38% (344) 13% (115)2.50
Squadron events
16% (142)37% (339) 36% (325)11% (99)2.42
Boating education
43% (406) 42% (394)12% (115)2% (23)1.74
Your USPS membership
22% (194)42% (375) 29% (254)7% (65)2.21
National committees
6% (51)22% (197)43% (388) 29% (258)2.95
Civic service
10% (91)40% (356) 40% (356) 10% (93)2.50
Humor
27% (251)44% (405) 22% (200)7% (63)2.08
Destinations
32% (287)41% (369) 22% (193)5% (48)2.00
Recipes
11% (97)25% (229)32% (286)33% (295) 2.86
Environment
21% (196)46% (425) 27% (246)5% (47)2.16
Weather
34% (320)45% (419) 16% (150)5% (43)1.91
Total Respondents  961
(skipped this question)  21
10. What additional topics would you like to read about in THE ENSIGN?
 Total Respondents  
180
(skipped this question)  802
11. The articles in THE ENSIGN are ...
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Too short
4.7%45
  About right
79.3% 753
  Too long
1.8%17
  No opinion
14.2%135
Total Respondents  950
(skipped this question)  37
12. How would you rate THE ENSIGN in the following areas?
OutstandingSatisfactoryNeeds improvementUnsatisfactoryDon't knowResponse Average
Timely information
14% (131)72% (670) 9% (81)1% (8)4% (39)1.96
Useful information
22% (204)63% (594) 12% (108)2% (15)2% (16)1.93
Writing quality
19% (179)70% (654) 8% (72)1% (12)2% (17)1.91
Photography
29% (271)59% (550) 9% (88)1% (11)2% (17)1.83
Graphic design
16% (149)67% (626) 12% (108)2% (16)3% (30)1.99
Overall reader friendliness
21% (193)67% (626) 9% (81)2% (14)2% (14)1.91
Total Respondents  943
(skipped this question)  39
13. How valuable is THE ENSIGN to you as a boater and USPS member?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Very valuable
20.2%194
  Valuable
60.2% 579
  Not valuable
13.4%129
  No opinion
6.1%59
Total Respondents  961
(skipped this question)  25
14. If you could make one change to THE ENSIGN, what would it be?
 Total Respondents  
323
(skipped this question)  659
15. What do you like most about THE ENSIGN?
 Total Respondents  
348
(skipped this question)  634
16. Are you a USPS member?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Yes
99.6% 951
  No
0.4%4
Total Respondents  955
(skipped this question)  27
17. If so, how many years have you been a USPS member?
 Total Respondents  
947
(skipped this question) 35
Average 14.7*
Range   <1-51
 
18. How many boats do you own, including dinghies, kayaks, canoes, etc.?
 Total Respondents   952
(skipped this question)   30
Average 2.189
Range 0-22
19. What type of boat(s) do you own? (Check all that apply.)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Runabout
20.4%178
 Inboard/Outboard cruiser
40.7% 355
 Jet boat
2.4%21
 Pontoon
4.5%39
 Houseboat
1.8%16
 Ski boat
3.7%32
 Fishing boat
19.3%168
 Powered sailboat
22.2%194
 Daysailer
12.6%110
 Trailer boat
12.3%107
 Kayak
13.4%117
 Canoe
13.6%119
 Personal watercraft
7.7%67
 Other (please specify)
40.5%353
Motoryacht
20
    

Trawler

21
    
Sedan Cruiser
18
   
Daycruiser
10
   
Sport Fisherman
13
   
Runabout/small outboard
13
    
Misc. sailboat
29
    
Paddle boat
20
    
Dinghy/Other
209
    
Total Respondents   872
(skipped this question)   110
20. What is your gender?*
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Female
10.3%98
  Male
89.7% 851
Total Respondents  949
(skipped this question)  33
*These results are skewed because only primary actives were selected for the survey. The actual ratio of male to female USPS members is 69% male to 31% female.
21. What is your age?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  80 or over
4.6%44
  70 to 79
18%171
  60 to 69
36.4% 346
  50 to 59
26.1%248
  40 to 49
11.9%113
  30 to 39
2.6%25
  25 to 29
0.1%1
  Under 25
0.3%3
Total Respondents  951
(skipped this question)  31
22. What is your yearly household income including investments and retirement?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Under $50,000
14.1%110
  $50,000 to $75,000
20.4%159
  $75,001 to $100,000
23.3%181
  $100,001 to $200,000
30.7% 239
  Over $200,000
11.4%89
Total Respondents  778
(skipped this question)  204
23. What products/services do you expect to purchase in the coming year? (Check all that apply.)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 New boat
4%32
 Used boat
14.3%113
 Personal watercraft
2.5%20
 Dinghy
9.1%72
 Trailer
5.4%43
 Cabin accessories
36.6%290
 Anchor
10.2%81
 Motor
7.8%62
 Charts
47.5% 376
 Marine batteries
32.7%259
 VHF
14.6%116
 ChartplotterGPS
19.7%156
 EPIRB
7.7%61
 Radar
7.2%57
 Other electronics
20.2%160
 Inflatable PFD
14.4%114
 Other safety equipment
29.8%236
 Bareboat charter
11.4%90
 Crewed charter or ocean cruise
6.2%49
 Insurance
46.2%366
 Towing service
24.4%193
 Other (please specify)
13.3%105
Total Respondents  792
(skipped this question)  190