Boat life show

[Bigplumbs]

when Many people on here see the word boat they only seem to think of some huge craft that you can sleep several people on. A huge number of people are more interested in anything from a £200 blow up canoe to a small sib, Rib or Speed boat. For me I only ever want to look at things I can afford or potentially afford. So let this be a show for the smaller more affordable end of the hobby and leave larger boats for SIBs or boot

 

[harvey38]

when Many people on here see the word boat they only seem to think of some huge craft that you can sleep several people on. A huge number of people are more interested in anything from a £200 blow up canoe to a small sib, Rib or Speed boat. For me I only ever want to look at things I can afford or potentially afford. So let this be a show for the smaller more affordable end of the hobby and leave larger boats for SIBs or boot

Bray Marine Sales had some really nice day boats on show for less than 30k, not my cup of tea but very pretty, we spent more time admiring those than any else. We didn't step onboard anything.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Bray Marine Sales had some really nice day boats on show for less than 30k, not my cup of tea but very pretty, we spent more time admiring those than any else. We didn't step onboard anything.

yes and there are even smaller boats than the ones you mention that many people are interested in. Sibbing and canoeing (still boating) is very popular with many normal people

 

[russ]

FYI.
Water sports show this weekend at Farnborough exhibition centre. I should think there are a few canoes and paddle boards on show.

 

[petem]

yes and there are even smaller boats than the ones you mention that many people are interested in. Sibbing and canoeing (still boating) is very popular with many normal people

There were loads of Ribs there at the NEC show. You'd have been in your element!

As for the bigger boats, there's nothing wrong with having something to aspire to / dream of. But as you say, the hall doesn't need to be filled with them.

What was quite nice was the the Princess and Fairline stands were quote welcoming. None of that registration business for a change.

 

[henryf]

So where do I see the future of the show then?

It isn’t going to be LIBS or Southampton. Boot Düsseldorf is a huge show for the big players and that’s where the big stuff is heading next year as normal. What does work well at the NEC is smaller stuff for the domestic market. I guess sub 35 feet or so.

I can see people like Princess, or to be more correct Princess Motor Yacht Sales / Argo Yachting attending with one larger boat like a V40 then showcasing some of the other products in their line up like Chris Craft. They might even bring in the Rybrook Car connection as they do at Swanwick who knows?

Chandlery has been a dying breed at the shows for a long time. Why would you spend thousands of pounds on a stand and they are expensive, to sell cheap gear which people have to lug back to the car. This thing called the internet bags you a bargain and it gets delivered to your doorstep.

Individual product launches or promotions work well when you need a one to one presentation in order to convey your message but 10 fenders 80m of rope, a new anchor and a BBQ are tricky. There was stuff I would have bought but I couldn’t be arsed to carry it around and back to the car.

It is great for making new connections, I had a great chat with the SUR tender guy and he explained their maintenance / winter storage plan. There is also a good crossover between inland and coastal which you don’t get at Southampton but did used to see at LIBS.

I also like the NEC in terms of accessibility. Being the other side of London to Excel there isn’t a lot of difference in time between the two. For the rest of the country it’s more central.

 

[henryf]

Oh, meant to add people like Boats.co.uk could be an interesting exhibitor. Their Parker range would be bang in the middle of the target audience as would Searay. Kawasaki were already there with some jetskis but having an active dealer on hand surely wouldn’t harm the cause.

 

[petem]

Oh, meant to add people like Boats.co.uk could be an interesting exhibitor. Their Parker range would be bang in the middle of the target audience as would Searay. Kawasaki were already there with some jetskis but having an active dealer on hand surely wouldn’t harm the cause.

I agree....

Little boats: NEC (<35ft)
Big boats: BMYS (>35ft) - avoids the huge transportation stand set-up of a formal show

To see everything, go to BOOT - no need for Excel.

 

[Ian h]

Parker were there but only couple of boats.
Really think we do need a show for sub 35 foot boats. If you have a larger boat getting into UK marinas for the day without booking is getting harder. After all most boaters start off small and progress as far as they wish. The UK market /usage is mainly 45 foot and less. The NEC should focus on the smaller boats and show what is available. I went there thinking that the Axopar 28 cabin was going to be next boat but saw several other brands that made a lot more sense at a similar price band . So very useful.

 

[Time Out]

I agree....

Little boats: NEC (<35ft)
Big boats: BMYS (>35ft) - avoids the huge transportation stand set-up of a formal show

To see everything, go to BOOT - no need for Excel.

Obviously Excel died a long while back !

As I said earlier.

Cannes will be the European show
Düsseldorf may come back full strength but I have my doubts
FLIBS will be US show (for new)
BMYS for UK large
NEC will once more deliver entry level show
Chandlery died a death years ago as Henry said

Also just released a good number of people in here have me on ignore

 

[henryf]

Not sure why you think Boot D will fail to return. My understanding was that it was a very significant show for all involved at a time when nothing much else is happening.

 

[petem]

Not sure why you think Boot D will fail to return. My understanding was that it was a very significant show for all involved at a time when nothing much else is happening.

Lots of manufacturers like to launch at Boot.

 

[Time Out]

Not sure why you think Boot D will fail to return. My understanding was that it was a very significant show for all involved at a time when nothing much else is happening.

I’m just not convinced it will bounce back to pre covid levels of investment.

I’m a massive fan of the show and it’s objectives but as you have seen many of the larger manufacturers have not only saved significant amounts of money by not attending but diverting this spend to unique boutiques events.

There is also the small issue of the industry as a whole achieving record sales whilst not attending as many shows or investing in print advertising.

It may return in a few years but I just (personally) don’t see it myself.

Hence my comment on one key European show and one US show with the other’s in between.

 

[The Q]

FYI.
Water sports show this weekend at Farnborough exhibition centre. I should think there are a few canoes and paddle boards on show.

That's the National Dinghy Exhibition ( as in racing sailing dinghies) they've just added the watersports bit to the title. In all the years I've been going , Never seen a canoe or paddle board at it.. It's just moved out of Alexandra Palace , before that it was at Crystal Palace, Before that it was at Pickets Lock.
The problem is with cars being forced out of London, Ally Pally adding parking charges from next year and it's inside the expanded ULEZ which could cost £12:50 a car, let alone the costs for a commercial old van or lorry for an exhibitor, it was no longer a suitable place for the Show.
As it is, it will make it an extra hour each way driving there for me, so as it's version 1.0 at the new site, I'm giving it a miss this year.

 

[st599]

I’m just not convinced it will bounce back to pre covid levels of investment.

I’m a massive fan of the show and it’s objectives but as you have seen many of the larger manufacturers have not only saved significant amounts of money by not attending but diverting this spend to unique boutiques events.

There is also the small issue of the industry as a whole achieving record sales whilst not attending as many shows or investing in print advertising.

It may return in a few years but I just (personally) don’t see it myself.

Hence my comment on one key European show and one US show with the other’s in between.

Hope not, living in West London, it was far quicker to pop to Boot than it was to get to Excel.

 

[Time Out]

Hope not, living in West London, it was far quicker to pop to Boot than it was to get to Excel.

Agreed ! Used to meet a hell of a lot of Northerners and Irish!

To be clear I’m not saying it’s over I’m suggesting it will be a shadow of its former self.

 

[Time Out]

I hadn’t realised the Camping and Caravan Show is on at the NEC now.

Guess who had a stand there ? British Marine. Organisers of Southampton and what was London !

Promoting industry is good but perhaps both shows would have benefited from a collaboration.

 

[russ]

That's the National Dinghy Exhibition ( as in racing sailing dinghies) they've just added the watersports bit to the title. In all the years I've been going , Never seen a canoe or paddle board at it.. It's just moved out of Alexandra Palace , before that it was at Crystal Palace, Before that it was at Pickets Lock.
The problem is with cars being forced out of London, Ally Pally adding parking charges from next year and it's inside the expanded ULEZ which could cost £12:50 a car, let alone the costs for a commercial old van or lorry for an exhibitor, it was no longer a suitable place for the Show.
As it is, it will make it an extra hour each way driving there for me, so as it's version 1.0 at the new site, I'm giving it a miss this year.

I wont bother then if its just sailing. Web site doesn't give anything away.

 

[rafiki_]

Oh, meant to add people like Boats.co.uk could be an interesting exhibitor. Their Parker range would be bang in the middle of the target audience as would Searay. Kawasaki were already there with some jetskis but having an active dealer on hand surely wouldn’t harm the cause.

Boats were there H.

 

[henryf]

I’m just not convinced it will bounce back to pre covid levels of investment.

I’m a massive fan of the show and it’s objectives but as you have seen many of the larger manufacturers have not only saved significant amounts of money by not attending but diverting this spend to unique boutiques events.

There is also the small issue of the industry as a whole achieving record sales whilst not attending as many shows or investing in print advertising.

It may return in a few years but I just (personally) don’t see it myself.

Hence my comment on one key European show and one US show with the other’s in between.

When you say “many have not attended” they had no choice. The .de government closed the exhibition centre down for a month.

Princess put on a lovely boutique show in Plymouth which served a number of purposes but ultimately they would rather have been at Boot. Not convinced they saved much money when all was said & done.