Bonnier Acquires Powerboat—Powerboat Shelved

Powerboat magazine has been sold to Bonnier Corporation.

Bonnier Corporation, a Winter Park, Fla.-based multi-platform media company that publishes an array of category-leading marine magazines including Boating, Yachting and WaterSki has acquired Powerboat and Trailer Boats magazines from Affinity in Ventura, Calif. The acquisition of the two magazines was completed earlier today.

“Affinity is going to refocus its efforts on the recreational vehicle market,” said Jim Hendricks, the former editorial director for Powerboat and Trailer Boats who has taken a position as West Coast editor for Bonnier’s Boating, Sportfishing and Saltwater Sportsman magazines. “Bonnier has said it will not publish Powerboat or Trailer Boats with their current existing frequency. They’re looking toward special issues and initiatives for those brands going forward.

“Subscribers to Powerboat and Trailer Boats will be offered Boating magazine as a replacement, or they can choose from Bonnier’s other boating publications,” he continued. “Advertisers will be offered a continuation of their existing contracts with Boating.”

At the time this story went live on speedonthewater.com, calls to Dave Ritchie, the editorial director for Bonnier’s marine group and Dean Turcol, the company’s vice president of corporate communications, had not been returned.