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[Sailfree]

May be a bit early but are numbers attending up or down this year and probably more importantly are those attending the serious buyers rather than tyre kickers.

Hence are sales up or down of new boats?

 

[jamesjermain]

Press office said this morning attendance was patchy but slightly down overall (translates as signifcantly but not siastroiusly down).

BUT Everyone I have spoken to says the quality of visitor is high and sales promising - this applies to sail and motor boat stands. I suspect equipment and chandlery stands are not so happy. People seem pleased with the interactive features and the redesign

 

[Sailfree]

Interesting reply-thanks. I ask as I think its important for our industry/sport to have a sucessful show in addition to the sucessful SBS.

Learnt recently that it was the old labour government that started the decline in the sailing boatbuilding industry by slapping a luxury tax on them. I wonder if this governments lack of support for red diesel will mark the start of the decline of the UK mobo industry. While not a mobo my understanding is that it was a good home market that a sucessful export market was built from.

Not wishing to get involved in either political questions or global warming I would still contrast this with the French governments recent scheme to support their boatbuilding industry by halving their VAT.

When will the UK government ever learn?

 

[Whitelighter]

Word was Fairline had sold 10 boats by cop on Monday. Retail value of over £6m.

 

[Sailfree]

Sorry but have no info of whether that is good or bad! What had they achieved by same day last year and were they UK sales or export.

 

[Whitelighter]

as I understand it, retail value almost doubled, but units slightly less. I think they shifted a couple of big Squadrons. Dunno if they are UK or otherwise.

 

[Malish]

but then sales are probably 'rigged' to coincide with the show for PR purposes

 

[Jezlyn]

Depends what is meant by "serious buyer". Would a serious buyer actually buy a boat at a boat show;

1. Use Boat Show to look at options and draw up short list
2. Visit yards/manufacturers for more detailed look.
3. Arrange sea trial.

Then, and only then, commit to purchase.

Far better than "Ooh that looks lovely in the boat show, here's my cheque!"

 

[Whitelighter]

Well, I bought a boat at the show in 2005 - but did it subject to a decent seatrial and PX. I drew a shortlist up of boats I thought might suite, and had a list of must have's. I went with the intention of buying and it was the only way I could see the 4 or 5 models on the shortlist in one place and test all the features on my must have list back to back.

If I done this at brokers it would have meant seeing 5 dealers in opposite corners of the country. The show allowed us to choose the best boat for us on the basis of a certain criteria, secure one with a small deposit at the boat show offer (less a bit extra), all done subject to a satisfactory water trial.

I would say I was a serious buyer - so yes, one would buy at the show.