oldgit
Well-Known Member
Finally managed to get to Excel late on on Saturday afternoon drove straight into carpark outside West door so no problems and arriving after 4pm means a £5.00 entry.Have to say it was fairly busy,perhaps because of cheapskates like me not wanting to miss a quick whizz round this year,despite all the pessimism .
The stands of the big three really make the show and despite the absence of Sealine,they managed to fill one side of the hall quite nicely with a wall of lovely shiney white GRP.
Sunseeker stand was heaving and two of our party went aboard the 30m ? boat parked out side in the dock while the adjacent Princess dislay seemed fairly busy.
The upstairs bit of the much maligned Fairline stand gave a good view of all the young ladies looking after the assorted boats on display,was persuaded to leave my comfy chair and look round a 56ft Phantom ? which sort of OK but at least had a nice set of proper patio doors.
Trader had a couple of nice boats on display,but memories of poor old Gludy surfaced as we wandered by.
Nicest boat for me was the Lindson,how they get steel to that finish ? and plus no stink of (e)poxy resin pervading your brand new(or 20 year old) zillion pound gin palace.
North hall was busy with more than enough stands of all flavours to keep you busy for an hour or two even if you do not want to go sailing in Scotland or buy a mat to keep your yacht clean.
Impulse buy for one of our bunch based in foreign parts was airbottle + bits in order to free props of nets etc and a few charts to replace those nicked off his boat moored in Cala D Or.
Popped round to see Mike Gates for a free coffee and sit down,now also in charge of Chatham Marina,who promptly tried to flog me a berth in the new MDL marina down at St Carles in Spain.
Finally managed to collar Mr Shead on the way out to say hello, successfully avoided buying a subscription to any boating magazine.
Still a good day out.Roll on SIBS.
The stands of the big three really make the show and despite the absence of Sealine,they managed to fill one side of the hall quite nicely with a wall of lovely shiney white GRP.
Sunseeker stand was heaving and two of our party went aboard the 30m ? boat parked out side in the dock while the adjacent Princess dislay seemed fairly busy.
The upstairs bit of the much maligned Fairline stand gave a good view of all the young ladies looking after the assorted boats on display,was persuaded to leave my comfy chair and look round a 56ft Phantom ? which sort of OK but at least had a nice set of proper patio doors.
Trader had a couple of nice boats on display,but memories of poor old Gludy surfaced as we wandered by.
Nicest boat for me was the Lindson,how they get steel to that finish ? and plus no stink of (e)poxy resin pervading your brand new(or 20 year old) zillion pound gin palace.
North hall was busy with more than enough stands of all flavours to keep you busy for an hour or two even if you do not want to go sailing in Scotland or buy a mat to keep your yacht clean.
Impulse buy for one of our bunch based in foreign parts was airbottle + bits in order to free props of nets etc and a few charts to replace those nicked off his boat moored in Cala D Or.
Popped round to see Mike Gates for a free coffee and sit down,now also in charge of Chatham Marina,who promptly tried to flog me a berth in the new MDL marina down at St Carles in Spain.
Finally managed to collar Mr Shead on the way out to say hello, successfully avoided buying a subscription to any boating magazine.
Still a good day out.Roll on SIBS.
