Boat jumbles, a sign of the times?

[Capt. Clueless]

Went to Ipswich boat jumble and got some bits today. Had to avoid the trade sellers who were selling gear dearer than ebay, but one thing I did notice. When I go to a good autojumble, the majority of those are younger people looking for parts etc, but to day at the boat jumble, there were plenty of old men with beards scratching through stuff, but I noticed a big lack of youngsters? is it a sign of the times, that youngsters aren't taking an interest in boaty bits, or is it, only the old men with beards can afford boats? I got some nice cleats, pelican hooks etc, so I was happy, my needs are small.

 

[savageseadog]

It's all on ebay and people can browse without having to get up early and brave the weather. As for age profile it;s always been a older generation thing I thought.

I love boat jumbles but a slow decline is inevitable I fear.

 

[lw395]

Any real sailing person would have been sailing today instead of attending a sale?
I might go if it was in a big shed on a Tuesday night.

 

[Capt. Clueless]

Any real sailing person would have been sailing today instead of attending a sale?
I might go if it was in a big shed on a Tuesday night.

Unless you're retired like me, then Sunday doesn't become that special, as we have all week.

 

[maby]

I've never been much of a fan of jumble sales and car boot sales - I have plenty of my own junk without paying for somebody else's.

 

[waynes world]

I love to mooch around a boat jumble or the likes. As of a few years back though i stopped as the ones up north were not so good and prices for even the used items were daft money and a fe quid more you may as well get new.

Age of buyers a mix of both i think. well all over 40, which is young

 

[Capt. Clueless]

It's all on ebay and people can browse without having to get up early and brave the weather. As for age profile it;s always been a older generation thing I thought.

I love boat jumbles but a slow decline is inevitable I fear.

Part of the fun was driving there in the Autumn sun with the hood down. Bonus.

 

[lw395]

Unless you're retired like me, then Sunday doesn't become that special, as we have all week.

But you were wondering where the young people were?
Retired people do tend to look older....

 

[Capt. Clueless]

But you were wondering where the young people were?
Retired people do tend to look older....

point taken.

 

[Poignard]

I've never been much of a fan of jumble sales and car boot sales - I have plenty of my own junk without paying for somebody else's.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

I've never been much of a fan of jumble sales and car boot sales - I have plenty of my own junk without paying for somebody else's.

+1

 

[KellysEye]

It has always been older people at boat jumbles they can afford boats, we sold £800 of boat kit at one in Netley Abbey.

 

[jac]

But you were wondering where the young people were?
Retired people do tend to look older....

Doesn't this link to the 2 recent Scuttlebutt threads ( well at least 2) on declining numbers of sailors and why be a member of a club.?

IN summary.
Fewer young people taking up boar ownership, instead preferring to sail somewhere warm or to charter in the UK / do courses / mileage building.

Those that do buy in the UK tend to be cash rich / time poor so spending one day of the weekend to mooch around a boat jumble in the hope of finding something you need and it being good enough / cheap enough to buy is not a good use of time. I've just turned 50 and wouldn't give up a day of sailing just to maybe save £100 on some gear.

 

[Seajet]

I stopped going to boat jumbles even when they were at their peak as I didn't want to support boat equipment thieves; I realise there are a lot of genuine people at these shows, but it's a sad fact when boats - often a row on moorings or ashore in clubs etc all done in one night - are broken into at one harbour the kit arrives at a future jumble somewhere else.

 

[xeitosaphil]

I think if you own a boat of a certain age then boat jumbles are the only place you are likely to obtain replacement parts or spares? So long may they continue in my case.

I also think that some of the younger generation are not into trying to repair things as we older generation are , they seem to have the attitude to throw away and replace. Ok if what you want is available to purchase new but sometimes it is not.

Perhaps its down to the pace of life the younger generation live in and time is more important than money .
and of course it is also down to the individuals available skill to do the repair and the will to do it once they have the necessary parts.

 

[Seajet]

What sort of parts would they be ?

Things like grp mouldings - hatches, locker lids etc - tend to be particular to a boat class, so one's options are usually

Owners Association

Have made, or make a replica oneself

Change to an off the shelf item

-------

If it's a traditional looking boat there are new tufnol style blocks available from Barton and others - I think it would take several miracles to find a bit particular to my boat type at a jumble, and that was a relatively well selling design.

I do think there's definitely a place for outlets such as The Chandlery Barge at Bursledon who specialise in gathering old kit in one concentrated place so worth a visit if one's into that sort of thing ( or just a trip down memory lane ), but random boat jumbles seem about as likely to provide as the lottery or my crew offers to Kiera Knightie.

 

[Neeves]

And maybe the young people are out there on the water - sailing, making the most of the last of the weather before winter sets in.

 

[xeitosaphil]

What sort of parts would they be ?


If it's a traditional looking boat there are new tufnol style blocks available from Barton and others - I think it would take several miracles to find a bit particular to my boat type at a jumble, and that was a relatively well selling design.

I do think there's definitely a place for outlets such as The Chandlery Barge at Bursledon who specialise in gathering old kit in one concentrated place so worth a visit if one's into that sort of thing ( or just a trip down memory lane ), but random boat jumbles seem about as likely to provide as the lottery or my crew offers to Kiera Knightie.

I was thinking more of fittings - Old Lewmar, Maine , IYE , Simpson & Laurence, Mast Spini Track section

I had need of a boom gooseneck fitting and mast fitting due to constant wear on the aluminium casting. In the end I had to get some aluminium added to the original section and fashioned it back to the original shape myself. So I do try to get over most things myself.

As my boat is only one of just over 40 built and is 43 years old this year and was built in Plymouth, local jumbles are more likely to produce any of the spares I might need. The Chandlery Barge at Bursledon is somewhere I have never tried due to its location, but there are some stalls that visit South Devon boat jumbles that are based in the Solent area which do visit our local jumbles twice a year so its always worth a look in, but you need to visit the jumble in the first place to see what's on offer
Have tried on here for spares at different times but have been unsuccessful and with so little boat numbers built and still in existence, fittings and spares are in short supply.

 

[xeitosaphil]

And maybe the young people are out there on the water - sailing, making the most of the last of the weather before winter sets in.

I doubt it, probably at work making ' Loads Of Money '

 

[Capt. Clueless]

Whilst on the subject, has anybody been to Beaulieu boat jumble in the spring? Is it worth a journey?