Boat Show 2025

Gixer said:
Oh no, that is annoying. I’m planning on buying a plotter at the show. Who did you buy it from? Cactus are there and ‘should’ be one of the cheapest.
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This was via the Garmin stand.

We thought we wanted a simple stand alone with buttons rather than a touchscreen and didn't require advanced advanced features so went to have a look with an open mind.

Garmin agent appears and offers help and had trouble with the more advanced plotters, lots of tapping and menus etc.

My wife and I walked straight up to the button operated option and could both instantly work it. Move cursor, find sailing area, zoom in as required. I hate screens and tech on boats especially in the cockpit, I just want a reassuring friend at the chart table confirming I am where I thought I was.
Same with the autopilot, my ideal system would have two buttons, on and off. I want it to continue heading the boat in the same direction its currently going when i press 'on' and keep doing that until I switch it 'off'.

So we then spoke with our local installer (seemed like a decent bloke) who was on the stand, I'm planning on a full upgrade to Autopilot and instruments so we're talking quite a number of £££'s. Lots of talk of 25% off at the show running till mid October. I ordered the plotter with a view to a survey of the boat after the show and getting the rest of the kit ordered and the work booked in soon.

Sadly I took this at face value. The discount appears to be off the meaningless 'list' price.

Marine Superstore Port Solent (in my opinion the best in the country) 20% cheaper and have over 50 in stock.

In the space of 12 hours we've gone from 'it'll be good to get that all sorted' to 'leave it and probably do it myself instead via Marine Superstore'.
 
xyachtdave said:
In the space of 12 hours we've gone from 'it'll be good to get that all sorted' to 'leave it and probably do it myself instead via Marine Superstore'.
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Thanks for the confirmation, I am in the same position and saw the Raymarine trade in offer - checked on line and found the discounts are available anyway from 3rd parties.

I really wanted to sit down and talk it through with someone knowledgeable however, a near 500 mile round trip, hotel costs and entry fee gave cause for thought.

It looks like a winter of 'Plug and Play' awaits, just hope it does what it says on the tin.
 
Went yesterday. Took the dog. Had very low expectations so was actually pleasantly surprised. I haven't been for quite a few years.
For those thinking of going and want to take their dog (quite few dogs there) it wasn't a problem. Even allowed on the pontoons.
I was put off the HR 64 the moment I saw the white plastic cheap looking deck vents. Plus the heads pump out a few inches up hill of the water filler. I could envisage spillage there right over the water filler.
The new Dufour opposite the HR of size I can't remember but huge wins the f ugly award. I mean really ugly but I'm sure others will disagree.
I wasn't there to do much in the way of shopping but I don't think many were. Not many walking around with purchases. If you did see a carrier bag it probably only had literature in it. And so you had to wonder if the exhibitors were ever going to break even.
Most useful stand personally for me was Sykes Timber. A go to alternative to Robbins.
I did stop at Force4 on the way down because they use to have percentages off most items during
the show. Apparently they stopped that quite a few years ago.
Convenient parking £10 a day just to the far side of Southampton Town Quay where the Cruise Liner parking is. All money goes to charity.
Bottom line: quite enjoyed the day.
 
SaltyC said:
Thanks for the confirmation, I am in the same position and saw the Raymarine trade in offer - checked on line and found the discounts are available anyway from 3rd parties.

I really wanted to sit down and talk it through with someone knowledgeable however, a near 500 mile round trip, hotel costs and entry fee gave cause for thought.

It looks like a winter of 'Plug and Play' awaits, just hope it does what it says on the tin.
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I purchased my raymarine kit (seatalkng speed, depth, wind and plotter) from a dealer who produced a schematic of what I described. Took 2 attempts and a few emails and we were both happy. He also produced a list of all the items required.
Duly ordered and when it arrived it was plug and play. Had to return a few cables and change them for some shorter and longer ones and then came the calibration !

This was in 2016. Then added AIS and evolution autohelm over the years.
 
Boathook said:
I purchased my raymarine kit (seatalkng speed, depth, wind and plotter) from a dealer who produced a schematic of what I described. Took 2 attempts and a few emails and we were both happy. He also produced a list of all the items required.
Duly ordered and when it arrived it was plug and play. Had to return a few cables and change them for some shorter and longer ones and then came the calibration !

This was in 2016. Then added AIS and evolution autohelm over the years.
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Based away from dealers I am hoping for the same cooperation.
 
Boathook said:
I met the dealer Rowlands Marine Electronics | Leading Marine Electronics Dealer at excel and he is based in Pwllheli. My boat was in Dorset. I used pictures of my existing set up that I managed to 'copy' with the new one.
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I strongly endorse this practice of naming, on here, a dealer or trader who does an excellent job.
Of course, 'past performance is no guarantee of the future' - but it certainly beats 'pinning the tail on the donkey' when it comes to sailmakers or 'tronics boxshifters.
 
The target demographic is smaller. People under 60 broadly have no money the future for private yacht ownership is bleak unless people are prepared to have smaller boats.
 
Sticky Fingers said:
Do your pre-visit research first, get the best prices for the kit you want, then take these to the show and get the show vendors to match or beat.
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Therefore your new device has cost you best price plus costs associated with travel. It could be a lower cost just buying online, even with postage costs added.

With distance selling regulations allowing returns within two weeks, the need to go to a boat show is rapidly diminishing, especially for electronics where agents or resellers have a good distribution.
 
Seven Spades said:
The target demographic is smaller. People under 60 broadly have no money the future for private yacht ownership is bleak unless people are prepared to have smaller boats.
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People under 60 are also far more likely to be in line for an inheritance than my generation that came from council house parents/grandparents.
 
Went today, fair weather and quite a pleasant wander about. 6/7 years ago we'd go for a day and come back for another half a day to take everything in. today half a day sufficed for the whole thing. It will be even smaller next year I suppose as the two big stands of Boatfolk and Premier become one. Didn't see anything of MDL but wasn't looking that hard for them.

Never say never but I suspect this might be my last visit, simply not worth the drive there and back for what it has become. Sad but that's the way the wind is blowing for these events.
 
There was a large model of a seal, made of LEGO. I liked the Bente 28, and the Cockwell (?sp) launch. There was a Golden Globe boat with a Labrador in the cockpit. My mate was looking at big ticket boats, some of which were genuinely lovely, some of which were a bit baffling. There were not too many people. I am amazed the show is still going really.
 
We had a pleasant Sunday afternoon there. The pontoons were remarkably uncrowded.A number of first time events . Seemco were there for first time so worth a chat if you are a teak owner- we have used the product for years but good to meet the current owner - Nice chap . Kemp sails were there who we have used this year for repairs to headsail and would certainly be speaking to for a quote if I needed a new main.. Also while the dog refused to go we did buy him a smart new lead made from recycled climbing rope -worth a look if you have canine friend. As for boats was rather disappointed but Cockwell looked lovely but at a price but lovely boat . Swift trawlers all seemed to be super big . In the sailing world the Contest 55 caught my eye but more realistically the Rustler 42 if you want to avoid wide stern styles but little else really Not certain much attracted otherwise in the 38-42 range sailboat wise . The Dufour44 was particularly ugly I thought. Sadly we didn’t see any Nimbus so might have to visit in Lym. Missed out on buying a sign copy of Toms latest offering but he looked to be drawing the crowds to the book stand
 
I wonder if it’s just a staging post for upcoming YouTube celebrities nowadays. There all be marching arround parading like movie stars and with a lot of mugs chasing after them.
Definitely not for me. Stands use them to get exposure. Meet me on stand and I’ll sign your Tee shirt stuff.
Sod that.
Steveeasy
 
ashtead said:
sign copy of Toms latest offering but he looked to be drawing the crowds to the book stand
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steveeasy said:
I wonder if it’s just a staging post for upcoming YouTube celebrities nowadays
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Very funny that these two posts were together. Nothing had changed but their chosen media. If you think there’s something more noble about a book that says more about you than the people producing the content.
 
steveeasy said:
I wonder if it’s just a staging post for upcoming YouTube celebrities nowadays. There all be marching arround parading like movie stars and with a lot of mugs chasing after them.
Definitely not for me. Stands use them to get exposure. Meet me on stand and I’ll sign your Tee shirt stuff.
Sod that.
Steveeasy
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What a vivid imagination :-).
Not the show I have visited previously
 
It’s been going downhill at least since the enforced retirement of the condemned buses from the park and ride.

Those always gave a glimpse of how short a time you might have left and, accordingly, put you in the right frame of mind for spending while you still could.
 
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