Boat life show

But if they keep it as a small boat show like it was it does work. It’s better access than Excel and in the middle of the country.
we went knowing what was there and really worked for us. If want the bigger boats then go to Southampton.
 
petem said:
Are the hall / door heights really so restrictive? It would have seemed odd to have built the NEC back in the day to have this restriction over Earls Court.
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No, but the bridges on the motorway are !!! you can't get a 60ft Fairline up the Grand Union either ;)
 
What did strike me was the frightening prices of c. 30 foot boats from Beneteau, Bavaria, Cranchi, etc.

Seemed to be in the £250k to £350k price range for pretty basic propulsion and very basic woodwork.

Made the Fairline F33 look like a steal at £500k!
 
petem said:
If Fairline managed to get Sq78's under motorway bridges I find it hard to believe that you can't get a 60 footer to Brimigham? After all, you can truck 60 footers to Spain.
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I was trying to bring a bit of humour to the post, failed as always....As I have mentioned earlier in the thread, as the (former) show was starting to find its feet (possibly 07?) Sunseeker did exactly that, however, it will always be limited by what you can transport, hence the move to Excel from Earls Court.

There is (was?) a height restriction into the NEC halls themselves but that was a while back and I've not been for years.

The show started to gain an excellent following/reputation in the small, starter, mid-market and whilst I don't know for sure I would not be surprised if that's what they are trying to do here once more given who is running it.

Not everyone wants to see a hall full of 70 footers
 
petem said:
What did strike me was the frightening prices of c. 30 foot boats from Beneteau, Bavaria, Cranchi, etc.

Seemed to be in the £250k to £350k price range for pretty basic propulsion and very basic woodwork.
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Perhaps explains why the value of good used boats has risen.
Those sort of prices are beyond the reach of most people.
And even if you did have £250k to spend on a boat why buy a new 30 ft boat when you could get a very nice 40 ft used boat .


Time Out said:
There is (was?) a height restriction into the NEC halls themselves but that was a while back and I've not been for years.
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I don't suppose the doors nor the halls at the NEC have grown taller with time
 
Time Out said:
I was trying to bring a bit of humour to the post, failed as always....As I have mentioned earlier in the thread, as the (former) show was starting to find its feet (possibly 07?) Sunseeker did exactly that, however, it will always be limited by what you can transport, hence the move to Excel from Earls Court.

There is (was?) a height restriction into the NEC halls themselves but that was a while back and I've not been for years.

The show started to gain an excellent following/reputation in the small, starter, mid-market and whilst I don't know for sure I would not be surprised if that's what they are trying to do here once more given who is running it.

Not everyone wants to see a hall full of 70 footers
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No worries!

I agree. There's a place for a starter boat show (and inland stuff).

For bigger stuff, BMYS is where it's at (as long as they don't try and keep riff raff like me away)!

Pete
 
MartynG said:
Perhaps explains why the value of good used boats has risen.
Those sort of prices are beyond the reach of most people.
And even if you did have £250k to spend on a boat why buy a new 30 ft boat when you could get a very nice 40 ft used boat .
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Exactly. £250k for a boat is way beyond my means! But I know I can have just as much fun, if not more, in my 1/3 share Targa 34.

Incidentally, it wasn't that long ago (5 years perhaps) since £350k could but you an ex demo fully loaded Targa 38.
 
rafiki_ said:
Excel had 2 advantages on paper. Firstly London, secondly boats on the water. Neither of these made a significant difference.
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I always enjoyed the show when it was at Excel, but mostly for the opportunity to meet friends and have a chat. Putting my head out of doors once there was not always attractive and, in retrospect, perhaps early January in the UK on a post-industrial waterfront with a force 6 blowing ice up the river may not have been the best way to sell the dream of sunshine and luxury. :)
 
they can get full size steam locomotives in at The NEC
 

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benjenbav said:
I always enjoyed the show when it was at Excel, but mostly for the opportunity to meet friends and have a chat. Putting my head out of doors once there was not always attractive and, in retrospect, perhaps early January in the UK on a post-industrial waterfront with a force 6 blowing ice up the river may not have been the best way to sell the dream of sunshine and luxury. :)
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Agreed, and I think we met there at least once?
 
I found the show really disappointing. Nothing to really see and hardly any chandler’s. Was looking for new boat shows, some shorts, jackets etc. could not see any! I’ll go back next year to support the event but hope it’s better next year.
 
petem said:
What did strike me was the frightening prices of c. 30 foot boats from Beneteau, Bavaria, Cranchi, etc.

Seemed to be in the £250k to £350k price range for pretty basic propulsion and very basic woodwork.

Made the Fairline F33 look like a steal at £500k!
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Pete I don’t think there was any wood on the fair line and the Ben was starting price of £150k
 
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