Boatshow Top Tips?

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AndyPandy

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Hartlepool. UK
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Hi Folks, happy new year.

We are off to the London Boatshow on Friday, first timers lol, and wonder if anyone has any tips for having a great time/bagging a great bargain/where to eat etc?

There are a few boats I want to go have a look at but I guess most of our time there (2 days) will be spent looking round stands of boaty gear. Are there bargains, do we haggle or will items be at the same price as online maybe?

Our tip; if you're booking your hotel online, go to Thomas Cook and book through them. At the end type in "TC SAVE 30" and it will knock off 30 quid for you, also the Hilton at Canary Wharf is 50% off, wehey.

thanks for any tips or insight,

Andy
 
Go to the Honda web site, download the application form, fill it in, take it to your nearest Honda outboard dealer, and pick up your free boat show tickets.
 
on a purely practical note and from someone who lives fairly locally, we take a packed lunch and large flask of coffee, plus water - over the course of the day this saves about a tenner per head. THis means we don't mind treating ourselves at the Champagne Bar later for a well deserved sitdown. :-) For some reason I always need headache tablets too (never get them anywhere else). Comfy, slip on shoes (slip-ons particularly if you want to view posh boats), (for the same reason, no skirts for the girls) and lightweight clothing. It's BOILING in there! And a rucksack for putting all your unexpectedly purchased tat into. And don't buy anything on your first wander - we always make that mistake only to find another vendor further down the aisle selling it cheaper!
 
Buy a bottle of water and a pack of sandwiches from your local shop, and not one anywhere near a station in London

Aim to arrive there for around 0930

When you get off the DLR at custom House walk to the east end of the platform and away from excel, over the train line and on to Custom House town, about halfway up the road on the left is a cafe, have breakfast there and you won't need to eat all day!

Now you're fed, onto the serious side of things

YM/PBO/YW/CB all the mags from here at the IPC stable are at a reduced rate (had to get the plug in there first) up in the north hall, by the Black and White bar in association with YBW, to give it it's full name ;)

There are floor plans available free on the internet, and numbers are N025a or S058e etc, N is the north hall, S is the south, the first number is the entrance for that hall, N1, N2, N3 etc so for N025a, you'll need to look for North hall entrance 2, and stand 5a. Obvious when you know, confusing as hell if you don't [edit] Just looked at the plan for the 2010 show, and since some of the North and South halls are closed off you now have to add 1 to all the first numbers...I dunno they had a good system and they ruin it! :( [/edit]

Know what you're looking for, have a list of the people who sell the product, and play them off against each other, or at least satisfy yourself you have the best deal. Very good plan with last seasons clothes/oilies.

Also have a list of everyone you want to see in order of importance, problem with your engine, go to them, not sure what bolts for your furling system, get the model numbers beforehand, write them on a bit of paper and don't forget it!

Have a look around one or two boats first thing (or make appointments if you have to), may be three if you are lucky, after that they fill up, so do shopping till lunch time when most people will be eating but you'll be burning up the hash browns from breakfast!! :) So while everyone is lunching pop on another few boats, then shop some more until late afternoon 3-4 (see the fashion show, while tucking into your cheap sandwich, while preceeds some sort of spectacular on the main stage. its usually the quietest in the afternoon) after that the boats will have less people on and you can look around with ease.

Rope bins are usually good value, and you'll always find a use it for on board.

Most of all enjoy it and listen to those with you, and if they want to see something, take the time to see it and try not to bore them.

There is loads more, I just have to remember it, but that will give you a start at least
 
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