London Boatshow Good or Bad

pro-rig · 13-01-2011, 09:19 AM

Hi all, just wondered what everyones thoughts where on the london boatshow this year. If you went did you thing is was a good or bad show. I ask only out of curiosity.

LorenZo · 13-01-2011, 12:56 PM

I will probably go this weekend as the Cycle & Outdoor show will be on for me that's positive - as is more aligned to my interests -Boat show ticket gets you into all three shows etc.

I visited the Show last Sat and found it all much the same as past years apart from going to the pool area and watching the Canoe Water Polo which was great.

wickedtopspeed · 13-01-2011, 01:39 PM

It was great to see Hunton there. I am so glad that they seem to be going strong - long live British manufacturing.

Less Ribs than usual, but much better having boats in one hall and then all the other stands in a different hall - made the boating side look much better.

Second hand/brokerage outside is a good idea - same it was so small, room for growth next year I guess.

Cookee · 13-01-2011, 01:39 PM

A clothing manufacturer told me they had the worst day in 12 years at the boat show the other day!

Tony Davis · 13-01-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

A clothing manufacturer told me they had the worst day in 12 years at the boat show the other day!

Perhaps they ought to try exhibiting a boat next year then, clothes would be best at a clothes show!

dowdy · 13-01-2011, 02:15 PM

Its too big for me,earls court was always packed together and more homely if you all know what i mean,you could get round eveything in 2/3 hours,now east to west entrance need one of them little buzz box scooters to get round,gave up after an hour and went home with me knees aching,dont do walking anymore,car park a rip off as usual,then again thats London for you.

Alacrity · 14-01-2011, 06:52 PM

I was there for 3 days, Friday, yesterday & today manning the CMBA stand (Peter Unwin found us

) & I thought it was a big improvement on recent years both in layout & attendance. The last figure I had (up to Wed) attendance was up 38% on last year, although that wasn't difficult as we had snow early part last year. As a club we had, by the time I left this afternoon, signed up approx 12 new members so as far as we were concerned it has been a success.

The trades I spoke to were mixed, some were happy, others not so. I guess the jury is still out.

Foolish · 14-01-2011, 07:08 PM

Personally i thought it was pretty good although we did go on preview day with complimentary tickets.. only dissapointing thing was missing Rebecca Furguson singing in the sunseeker bar because Ashleigh needed food

Renegade · 15-01-2011, 04:29 PM

i honestly dont understand why they would rather have a crap boat show every year with nothing there than drop prices and let small builders gt a stand to maybe kick start the uk boat scene, It is only a chandlers to me now. even if had one big stand with loads of small builders on just to show case their products. i understand that some would not want their product next to their rival ( in business i mean) but i'm sure that it could work. last years halls were 1/2 empty so i'm not supprised they have had t ocombine it with oter shows.
Moan over but i'm sure others must agree in part or full
Paul

225 · 19-01-2011, 11:24 AM

I agree a boat show should cater for all of the boating industry, i went there on Saturday and was a bit suprised about the lack of smaller craft and race bred boats.

I did mention to P1 a year or two ago to exhibit at Autosport International as this would capture the eyes of the press and potentially create a wider audience for powerboat racing.

Renegade · 19-01-2011, 12:04 PM

It does not even have to be for racing in my eyes, just to the kind of boats and things we use in this country. It would be nice go to a boat show and see boats rather than veg slicers, cheaply made generators or qvc style cleaning products. If the other shows were not there how small would the event have been?

Big Dutch · 19-01-2011, 12:28 PM

Thought the show was good rather then great.
Loved Chris Craft ,Gucci Riva but for me the Hunton stole my heart.
Spending £425k at the moment might take a little justification then feels right but What a boat.

Thought Southampton better for seeing full range of Outboards and inboards from all manufacturers.
Some stands were a little funny about letting me on despite me owning a nine metre example of their craft but there we go its all about data collection for some
The Rib X bloke was full of enthusiasm for his product.100% well done
Shame no Scorpion there.

Carl · 19-01-2011, 12:41 PM

pain in the arse place to get to so didnt bother going

Alacrity · 19-01-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dutch

Loved Chris Craft ,Gucci Riva but for me the Hunton stole my heart.

What about our little 1957 Healey then!

As said earlier, I thought it was a huge improvement on previous years, but still not a patch on the old Earls Court shows & Soton. I agree there is no small boatbuilders, with their sometimes quirky products that made Earls Court all the more fun, & very little in the way of engines, always good to drool over.

I used to travel up from Eastbourne by train but it's so much easier & quicker by car, I was lucky though as I had an exhibitor pass for the car park, its expensive apparently so you need a car full of folk to spread the costs.

Geoff

Jono · 19-01-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alacrity

What about our little 1957 Healey then!

As said earlier, I thought it was a huge improvement on previous years, but still not a patch on the old Earls Court shows & Soton. I agree there is no small boatbuilders, with their sometimes quirky products that made Earls Court all the more fun, & very little in the way of engines, always good to drool over.

I used to travel up from Eastbourne by train but it's so much easier & quicker by car, I was lucky though as I had an exhibitor pass for the car park, its expensive apparently so you need a car full of folk to spread the costs.

Geoff

Ah..you must have been the Gent I was yacking to...moaning about the "youth of today" not knowing one end of a spanner from the other... sorry about the finger marks/drool on yer boat...

From our point of view, we had lots of interest...3 or 4 sea trial booked and some other serious enquiries..round about what we got at Southampton

Big Dutch · 19-01-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alacrity

What about our little 1957 Healey then!

As said earlier, I thought it was a huge improvement on previous years, but still not a patch on the old Earls Court shows & Soton. I agree there is no small boatbuilders, with their sometimes quirky products that made Earls Court all the more fun, & very little in the way of engines, always good to drool over.

I used to travel up from Eastbourne by train but it's so much easier & quicker by car, I was lucky though as I had an exhibitor pass for the car park, its expensive apparently so you need a car full of folk to spread the costs.

Geoff

Yes the Healey-cute as-I had a good look at the engine hoping for a Healey !
The paintwork was mint and very fitting for the period a great restoration and lovely little lake boat-9/10 cos if I gave you 10 you might stop trying !
I was also admiring the Two early Sunseekers when the judge came around.
For 40 year old boats they were great.
How did yours do did you win ?

Nicolasticity · 19-01-2011, 09:17 PM

Made me think about going to Miami - where were the offshore boats. OK the Hutton is OK but its not a Phantom or a Formula. Also whats the barrier all about? I know Sunseaker think they are super precious but with the lottery and cash economy you cant gauge who has money and who dreams! Its a public show - money will get tighter - so boat folks lighten up!

Also I took several hundred to buy marine cd system and found nothing (Fusion?)

so it goes

DLR was good

Alacrity · 20-01-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Yes the Healey-cute as-I had a good look at the engine hoping for a Healey !
The paintwork was mint and very fitting for the period a great restoration and lovely little lake boat-9/10 cos if I gave you 10 you might stop trying !
I was also admiring the Two early Sunseekers when the judge came around.
For 40 year old boats they were great.
How did yours do did you win

Yes a pretty boat, shame it doesn't go anything like as good as it looks. Not mine though, belongs to one of our CMBA members who owns one of each model of Healey boats inc. one with a Healey 3000 motor driving a Hamilton jet, does 42mph which was fast for a family 'speedboat' in the early 60's. I think it uses the same hull as the 40 year old Sunseeker you mention.

The 55 on the stand wasn't good enough to win anything at the show though.

Geoff

andyxs · 20-01-2011, 10:33 PM

I went with the aim of buying some bits and bobs for the rib and my dinghys and was very surprised at the lack of discounts knocking around. Id seen better deals online. I took a mate with me who bought shed loads of climbing gear that was heavily discounted. the outdoors show was a bit more grass roots and it showed. Bunch of stands offered me list price for crying out loud. I like the exel as from outside london its much easier to drive to and the outside section is nice. the people running the stands are also partly to blame as their are no good discounts to be found epecialy in comparison to the internet where sales are easy to locate