HenrikH
Active member
Thinking about visiting Boot 2023 in Dusseldorf. I am not in the market for a new boat, just looking to browse and seep atmosphere. How does Boot compare to the discontinued ExCeL event?
Boot 2023
- Thread starter HenrikH
- Start date
laika
Well-known member
With the disclaimer that I haven't been since 2020...
* Far more to see. More boats, more equipment, more everything. It's much bigger than Excel was at its biggest
* For UK visitors some of the content was less relevant than a UK show, e.g. marinas, clubs, holidays, training etc.
* Brexit means we now need to consider our customs allowance when buying things and whether folks we order from are set up to deal with non-EU duty/VAT
* Flights to Dusseldorf from London city mean it's actually not all that much more difficult for brits to get to than excel
With a name like Henrik I suspect you may not be from the UK so the downsides may not apply. Boot is a great show and better than excel at its best
ChromeDome
Well-known member
Agreed. Also bigger than SIBS.
Last time I went it was 17 exhibition halls, so unless you plan to stay for several days you must start planning what not to see.
Buy tickets online, save a little + skip the queue at the ticket sale points.
Good parking facilities, city train stops inside, at the entrance. Plenty of eat/drink places inside, not overly expensive.
Hotel prices, like everywhere, have gone up.
Düsseldorf Altstadt is a nice place to walk, eat & drink.
Last time I went it was 17 exhibition halls, so unless you plan to stay for several days you must start planning what not to see.
Buy tickets online, save a little + skip the queue at the ticket sale points.
Good parking facilities, city train stops inside, at the entrance. Plenty of eat/drink places inside, not overly expensive.
Hotel prices, like everywhere, have gone up.
Düsseldorf Altstadt is a nice place to walk, eat & drink.
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st599
Well-known member
It doesn't compare. The Boot art sales section is about the size of the last Excel show. Messe Düsseldorf is about 20 times bigger than Excel.
TiggerToo
Well-known member
All of the above.
I visited in the month before COVID took off.
It was massive and overall exceptionally good.
I have no reason to believe it will be any different next year.
I visited in the month before COVID took off.
It was massive and overall exceptionally good.
I have no reason to believe it will be any different next year.
HenrikH
Active member
Thanks to all - I take the voting to be "Go"
st599
Well-known member
If anyone wants to see something a bit different/learn how to make your own sensors for a boat. The Open Source community have a stand again showing:
+ lectures and talks on how to use various cheap open source components.
- Marine navigation software AVnav
- Marine Control Server (MCS)
- 10″ plotter suitable for daylight with a Raspberry Pi (new)
- NMEA2000 projects
- NMEA2000 gateway with M5Stack Atom (new)
- Multifunction display OBP60 (new)
- Android car radio with 1000 nits as plotter replacement (new)
- M5Stack as display replacement
- Boat automation with Tasmota
- WiFi battery monitor (new)
- PiCAN for Raspberry Pi (new)
- Sensor Roovi Tag (new)
- Foredeck camera
- Yachta wind sensor (new)
- Open Sea Map on Garmin devices (new)
- Universal instrument display (new)
- LoRa boat monitor (new)
- Anchor light automatic with Shelly (new)
- I2C modules for boat automation (new)
+ lectures and talks on how to use various cheap open source components.
Humblebee
Well-known member
Never been but thinking of going to Boot show in January. Above comments all seem favourable and a trip away then breaks the winter.
laika
Well-known member
If it’s the same lot as 3 years ago it’s less “the open source community” and more a particular computer club, not all of whom were particularly good communicators
wonkywinch
Well-known member
I'll be going for one day. Tickets on the door or in advance?
HenrikH
Active member
In advance said to save you the queueing
st599
Well-known member
The ticket used to give you U bahn access too. Not sure if that still happens.
wonkywinch
Well-known member
Not any more. The ticket has the text:
IMPORTANT:
Don’t forget your bus and train ticket. Free travel to and from events at the Düsseldorf venue by local public transport, which was
previously included in admission tickets, will no longer be possible since January 2022, a ticket must be purchased.
Bus and train travel from now on according to the check-in/check-out principle.
ChromeDome
Well-known member
Nope, not anymore
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
What a surprise?
Parabolica
Active member
.
MK101
Member
We visited on Saturday. First time I've been. Fantastic. We spent 8 hours there and saw less than a 3rd of the halls. Obviously I wasn't in the market for a million euro yacht but it was nice to gawp, and we had some sensible conversations with people about other things - sails, anchors, rescue equipment and so on. There were a couple of talks in English which were worth hearing. And Dusseldorf was a nice city with excellent beer. All rather easier for me because I live in the Netherlands so it was just a train journey. But it was worth the visit!
Parabolica
Active member
Being close is fortunate. I’m off early doors for two days via London Harthrow. Can’t wait.
There’s another thread with more comment here….
Dusseldorf ‘23 - Anyone going ?
There’s another thread with more comment here….
Dusseldorf ‘23 - Anyone going ?