Fun at SBS and ..Fun on the river...Part 1

[boatone]

What a super weekend again. SWMBO took Friday off, dumped Bosun in kennels as a day boy and off we went to Southampton. What would you like to see dear, says I when we arrived - cos shes never been to a boat show before - see. Oh lets go and drool at the boats she says. On way over bridges pass Sotheby's stand and admire beautiful teak directors (captains?) chairs. Wot Sothebys doing here we says....meant to be boats show innit?

Couldnt believe it, hardly set foot on the pontoon before shes making straight for the biggies and in no time flat we're on a Grand Banks 42 Classic and she's in everywhere like a ferret! 'Oh this is really nice she says but same sort of layout as ours' Oh, wot boat you got now then says sales lady? Got two at the mo says swmbo!

Anyways, I says to lady If I'd bought this for 500k dont know if Id like jo public crawling all over it at boat show.....Quite agree she says but this boat is x months old and theyll get it back looking like new again. Wot a brill idea I thinks so wonder if worthwhile offering Princess my P32 on loan for London IBS so's in really good nick for selling/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

And so it goes on....really refreshing having swmbos attitude in tow and we get on several more boats with no refusals (I'm looking total scruff and shes wearing rugby shirt with handbag - must be ok gear!) and shes already muttering smaller house and bigger boat and Im wondering what Ive let loose when she declares new Linssen 41 definitely very nice......

As we wandered between Princess and Sunseaker she says..'they all look so ....'shady' ....after a minute I realise shes talking about the sales folk, not the boats but she doesnt like the boats much either, specially now we've got a REAL steel ship/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Met up with hOO and swmbo for quick sarnie and beer/alcopops at ybw stand...Kim sadly absent so no hospitality there, then.......

On to Howells stand.....luverly teak and she pushes the boat out and buys a paper roll holder for the galley. On way back past Sothebys she declares totally brill business move on their part cos obviously peeps need to sell loads of antique goodies to fund new boat purchase and much more 'cool' than begging from Barclays or BOS and having to pay interest to boot......SWMBO decides cant leave Soton without quick foray into M&S so leaves me to get one or two boring bits (new batttery charger) and we collect car from multistory (only£3.60) and drive back to get the mutt.......and its still only Friday !


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[Bejasus]

Similar type of thing really.......but,

I lost my virginity twice this weekend. Went to my first boatshow.

Boatshow - Had a look on the first boat we came to, which was a MacGregor 26M. Usefull amount of open space, in what might not be a very useful boat??
Next looked at the Princess V42, just to see what you get for 250k. Hmm, not a lot more than whats available for 150k. The went to look at what would be practical for us with a limited budget of say 150k ish.

Juneau 34 Open, not bad.
Sealine S34 - Preferred the 34 Open.
Nauticat 331 - Loverly, could live aboard but would need to do something with the skimpy galley.

Admired some of the huge sailing cruisers. Yummy.

SWMBO looked at some of the 74-94 footers and remarked that 'Christ, these aint boats, they're ships.' To which I replied, 'No dear ships have tyres insead of fenders and little propellors painted on the side.' Me being knowledgeable in these matters.

Swore we would not look at a flybridge boat. Looked at the Galeon 330 as I thought it got an interesting review last month. Quite amazing really. Good fore & aft cabin. Reasonable third berth, handy for stowage if nothing else, pokey gally space, but amazed to find totally separate heads and shower compartments.
Had a look at the Prestige 32 to provide some sort of comparison but still felt the Galeon much better.
Icing on the cake. Loked at the new Broom 35. 35ft boat you could actually live on. The aft cabin wasn't, it was a proper bedroom with good ensuite toilet & proper shower compartment. A saloon which could pass for a reasonable lounge & a proper galley you could actually cook proper meals in. We were both really impressed. Also with the quality.
Two criticisms of the Broom though. One was that the forward heads compartment was just that. No shower, meaning that guests would have to go through the Aft cabin to shower, but I suppose that could be altered on request. Other complaint was that the salesman on board at the time, we thought was quite ignorant. In fact the most of any we encountered at the show. Would go out of my way to make sure another got the commission if I was purchasing.

Our only other disappointment really was the fact that there was only really 1 motorsailer(Nauticat) on view. Are there few manufacturers of these now?

Anyhoo, a good time and good to meet again Tony.

Oh, and the second virginity losing event?

Met up with Jimi at Hythe on Sunday and not only went sailing for the first time in my life, but went through a lock for the first time also(not as exciting as it sounds, I know) and Jimi also kindly let me helm across to Cowes and also on the return, when we had a nice sail back up Southhampton water, where we were passed by Oriana, Kim , and the Sibs armada heading home. Quite a sight watching all these showboats leaving and geting up on the plane enmass. The the sight of the Red Jet not even slowing as she went through them in the opposite direction was also pretty cool.

We also met up with BarryH and went for Fish & Chips in Swanage and also with Aztec, briefl, on our return to Wareham.

All in all a good full weekend. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to JImi and Swmbo for a good day out. Not totally convinced yet though.



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[penfold]

motorsailers

I think Northshore are still punting Fishers, were they not at the show?

Cheers,
David

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[boatone]

Re: Fun at SBS and ..Fun on the river...Part 2

Having made such a good start on Friday we decided the forecast good weather needed to be enjoyed so did one of our regular trips down to Hampton Court. On way down slowed down for a rower (dont know why really as new boat makes very little wash) only to hear...'...bit bl**dy late now, t*ss*r and various other friendly invective as he receded into the distance. Resisted urge to turn round and demand apology or accept that a scull is no match for 10 tons of moving steel. Even did same again for another rower who smiled delightedly and said 'thank you'.....bit disapointing really as I had counter-abuse all ready and on the tip of the verbal appendage/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

Subsequently meandered thru the mini raggies at Hampton, even waved to a few who waved back!
Quite quiet at HCP although had to wait a few minutes for a newly wed couple to embark on their first voyage thru life together....to Teddington I think they said.
Couple of hundred guests leaning over railings to wave would have been good audience to watch berthing procedure but obviously more interested in gettiing to the free booze cos crowd evaporated in minutes!
We were keeping an eye open for Tripleace and Ocean Froggy but looks like he sneaked past us some time on Saturday .

On way back on Sunday easily passed under bridge that Coliholic alluded to earlier (mainly cos I'd got hacksaw out and lopped around 15 inches off radar arch extension - amazing wot you can do with a junior hacksaw if you're so minded.....

Sailed quite briskly past a fisherman who must have had at least 6 rods out on little stands with those beepy alarm things on all af them. Anyway, bit of wash started them beeping, just the one at first but then they gradually all joined in, bit like the last niight of the proms really. At first he thought he'd got lucky and then couldnt believe it as another rod called for his attention. He then just stood there in disbelief as they all contributed to a crescendo before it dawned on him that this was not some feast of fish awaiting his playing skills but just another example oif how sensitive triggers can go off for all the wrong reasons.....face was a real picture at first only to be spoilt by him snarling something about dragging anchors or summat equally irrelevant.

And so back to the marina and boat safely tucked up again.......will we get any more good weekends before this exttaordinary year draws to a close?



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[Bejasus]

Fishers

Yes, there was one at the show. Ugly 'orrible little boat IMHO.

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