Did anyone else think Southampton BS...

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ex-Gladys

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...was a bit of a let down this year? I think there's a hall short, and there were no cruiser type boats ashore. Removing one of the stair crossings is a benefit, but it seemed to me to be very much skinnier than last year. Are BMF charging so much to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?
 
kmatt said:
Went with a long list of stuff to get, came back with the short list. Too many clothes again.
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I thought it was fine, good weather, plenty of boats, noticeably less empty space than last year and a real buzz about the place (and personally quite liked the absence of Sunseeker's bloody great land based boat display). I'll probably go back next week to fill in the gaps. Still it wouldn't be a real boat show if some miserable individual didn't pop up with a moan on these fora, I was getting worried that 48 hours in and no one had, happy now normal service has been resumed. Parking, speed limit, and Jacuzzi moaners will be along shortly.

(and, billy bonus, my wife restricted herself to one shirt from Joules)
 
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Gladys said:
...was a bit of a let down this year? I think there's a hall short, and there were no cruiser type boats ashore. Removing one of the stair crossings is a benefit, but it seemed to me to be very much skinnier than last year. Are BMF charging so much to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?
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Oh, Larry, I do hope you’re wrong! I’m going down on the train tomorrow. It’s a long way from here, so I would like to think it would be worth it.......
 
We enjoyed it, but the VIP treatment, free food and whisky helped oil the wheels somewhat. We are going back this week to fill in the gaps, sober this time .
Scaramouche is well worth a visit, it was good to be able to get on board too and clamber around down below in a real racing yacht. Very impressive that these schoolkids actually compete in it, Fastnet too - and bigger things to come. Take time to say hello to them.
 
This year we are not going - for the first time in many years. Last year was beginning to be a bit disappointing and we simply don't have anything to buy.

We actually were given free tickets by an exhibitor who is also a good friend a couple of months ago, only to learn a couple of weeks ago that they had decided to not attend!
 
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I'm going up on Friday. Have a longish list of companies I want to talk to about work/kit that I want doing over the next three years.
 
I spent Saturday and Sunday at the show and did not leave Ocean Hall. If I was looking for a new boat I would have been really disappointed as the show probably has about 1/4 of the number of boats it has 12 years ago. 12 years ago not only was the marina full to bursting but there were huge land displays as well. The show is in terminal decline as far as I can see, the park and ride went which was an early indicator of the woes.

I don't understand how you work out how to fill an exhibition like this and not lose money. Clearly if they don't fill the place with exhibitors then no one will come. It seems to me they they are trying to give away tickets to encourage people to come, but it seems to me that they might be better off reducing the prices of the stands and charging for tickets. there are two reasons if people pay for tickets they will be a better quality of visitor and secondly people pay for content, I don't think that the current model is working.
 
Nail on head! sad really, used to enjoy but as peeps say, less boats on hard no deals. Can rememeber the early 2000 so when we first started this game, Bav Ben Jen and all competing to put together a 36 ftr for £79k!
 
Just got back from spending most of the day there. Really enjoyed myself. visited maybe 6 equipment stands to sort out a few niggley questions about use or performance, discussed options and got prices for a sail, bought a bargain priced length of anchor rope, selected which life jackets I will enventually replace my current ones with, and had a good look at inflated life rafts. Then walked the pontoons and looked on board in some detail 10 or so mid range monohulls that could be an upgrade for me, and went on board several Cat’s and a Trimaran. And more, RNLI stand, RYA stand. Did everything I wanted too and some.
 
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We went today too and our legs gave up before our interest.

We felt a really positive vibe and having come from West Quay we were directed to an entrance that used to be a bit of a dead end over the footbridge. There were absolutely amazing boats there that we just stood and looked at in awe.

Free boat trip around the port and drinks at our marina hospitality stand were very welcome but we reckon we could spend another day there.

Going on board Lively Lady and meeting the people who rebuilt her from literally a wreck was a highlight particularly when the three guys of a certain age told us how they then sailed it around the world ! and made even better (if that’s possible) by having Suahaili (sp?) berthed alongside!

So much more, all positive, really enjoyed the day.
 
Think it entirely depends upon what you go for , sunseeker were there by the way just hidden in a very large corner . i felt last year saw the biggest change -just not sure its for ordinary sailors anymore -even the shapes of new sail boats no longer inspire one to tackle the oceans (Rustler apart before anyone comments) . still enough serious companies in the halls to make a visit worthwhile but as one exhibitor said to me 'this is the discounted price its the same as the rest of the year But it is going up at xmas' .Sadly the days of boat show deals and varied boat sizes and smaller manufacturers is gone .
 
Personally I think the boats always look better afloat than in any form of cradle at the shows, and the marina was excellent and I felt full of decent boats. Sunday was busy enough, but not so busy you couldn't walk at your own pace.

Also plenty to see ashore too, I just wish they would mix it up a little more instead of same old faces in the same old places. I too didn't miss the obscenity the Sunseeker stand had become. I was advised the far end of the show towards the ship berths was reduced due to the requirements of ABP to have the berth clear for the cruise ships, although that said plenty of empty wharf behind Navigator of the Seas yesterday, so probably a convenient answer for Sunseeker being moved back into the water, or perhaps wishing to reduce their exhibition budget.

Not sure I would want to be an exhibitor stuck up at that end of the show. I do feel that area would have been better retained with more exhibitors and get rid of the entry small boat area and the remaining bridge entirely.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my 4 hours bimbling around.
 
I am visiting tomorrow, so will let you know my thoughts.

Do you think I am being a cheapskate? Normally I drive down for the day and pay for parking, but this year I sailed singlehanded round to Ocean Village (3 long day sails) and being a MDL berth holder, I get free berthing. Then I am using my free RYA ticket to gain admission to the show. Is this a usual double whammy of freebies? Or am I a dedicated sailor getting value for money?
 
Little Grebe said:
Was that the trip boat loading/unloading people at the downstream end of the marina?
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Exactly that. Left every half an hour so only got down as far as QE2 Terminal but saw Sheildhall, Waverley, the old Calshot Lightship, wow that bought back memories, and it was nice seeing a car transporter LOADING cars.

Also a chance to rest your legs :encouragement:
 
We not been to a boat show since 2008 , and I have to say I not missed it , even then the boat show LBS was getting boring , let alone expensive , I was hoping thing would get better now that the LBS wasnt on but by what I been reading here it seems the Exhibition still having learn pass lessons,
I remember day gone by at earls court when there was always deals to be had plenty of sailing boats to been seen and the boat show was just that , a boat show .

DBS people travel from all over the world to visit , I not sure I would bother to travel over the UK to do to SBS .
Has for taken a boat trip down the river , I can understand people who go to the show to dream, but for people who spend time on they own boat , why you would want to spend all that time and money going to the boat plus the traveling to then waste time motoring down the river when you could be doing some thing much useful like spend money on toys :) .
Yes I know I sound like a moaning git . Sorry guys .
I think anyone looking for a deal now you be better off looking on the internet then ,
As a friend told me spending £250 for a bad day out just to get 10% off some wet gear .
 
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