London boat show 2015

I'm going this year to the London show, first time for me since a wee young boy at Earls Court....... Which I used to love.

We all know what Southampton is about. I guess what I'm hoping to find is a January boating fix before I start getting Fairways ready for the new season. I'm hoping to have a good day out, that's worth the expense and trouble of traveling from the midlands. A bargain or two of chandlery and a decent pint half way through.

Be interesting to see.
 
Ah, the annual LIBS bashing thread, not that it was intended as such by the OP.

I am with DougH and I am at a loss to understand what some people say about Excel, particularly on travel and the unfavourable comparison with Earls Court, which was very inaccessible and a dark, dingy place from my recollection. Atmosphere? Maybe there was but I didn't pick up on it.

No question that LIBS isn't what it was but it is still a good boaty day out in mid-winter and I can find more reasons to go than not to. Each to their own though :)
 
I used to travel to Earls Court either from Windsor, Watford or Welwyn Garden City. Then to Excel from Watford, Welwyn and now Warwick.

The train to Earls Court was good from Watford but driving and parking was a complete nightmare.
Train to Excel is OK, driving and parking for me is now fantastic, maybe it's a personal thing but I cannot understand how people say Excel is hard to get to.

Southampton is a pain to drive to due to the A34 with trucks elephant racing etc.
 
making the long trip down from Scotland for it for the first time so hope not disappointed. Classic car show in on at Excel same weekend plus have managed to blag some west end tickets to keep SWMBO and junior happy so should be a good weekend. Flying straight into London City airport so should be handy for it too.
 
I'll be at LBS on the Jeanneau powerboat stand this year. Our company will also have our own stand and we will be representing Yamaha, as we did last year.
 
We bought a boat at LIBS last year, and I know directly someone else who bought ( the same boat / make / model ) at the show as well.

At the end of the day manufacturers want to sell boats. So long as they keep selling they will keep exhibiting.

Does it have its problems. Absolutely. But the manufactures will only look at what they sell, which is the name of the game.
 
Great location for extracting cash from the movers and shakers in our great city, And just about timed to coincide with our friendly bankers bonuses ! Bad location... Think again
 
Deleted User said:
Agreed, LIBS is a commercial operation which has to attract customers just like any other business and doesn't deserve any special consideration. There's no question that the move to Excel from Earls Court precipitated the decline; I don't have any issues with Excel personally but for many people it's soulless, on the wrong side of London for most people, expensive and difficult to get to. I can see the attraction for the boating industry in that, being close to navigable water and with reasonable road links, it makes it easier to get boats to the show but that in itself doesn't make it any more attractive for visitors. The big problem for me is that declining visitor numbers and the recession has drastically cut the variety of boats you can see at LIBS. Sure the big 4 UK motorboat brands still support the show well but there needs to be a lot more variety and simply a lot more boats. Its even worse for the yachting fraternity as there is only a handful of yachts at the show now. The other big problem for LIBS is the Dusseldorf boat show which takes place only a few days after LIBS and which is just so much larger than LIBS. With shrinking sales and margins, boat manufacturers have to make choices between which shows to support and obviously Dusseldorf with its far larger visitor numbers is a much more attractive option for most of them. In the end, I don't think that the UK can support 2 international boat shows in a difficult market for the manufacturers and SIBS is going to win out. Personally, I will continue to attend LIBS because its only an hour's drive from my home and because it's an opportunity to meet up with friends but I don't go anymore to see the boats
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Sums up my view too. Even though SIBS is much further to drive to, much more there for someone that already owns a boat. LIBS only good for Guinness and booking a Sailing Holiday and only while I continue to get free tickets.
 
Well having seen the mixed bag of comments, I think I will have to go just to make my own opinion. At least I know what to ask for as present for xmas, Tickets for the show, Much better that the normal stuff and at least it will be something that I will use :o
 
apollo said:
Sums up my view too. Even though SIBS is much further to drive to, much more there for someone that already owns a boat. LIBS only good for Guinness and booking a Sailing Holiday and only while I continue to get free tickets.
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Seems that LIBS is not for you, so why not raffle your free tickets on the forum and donate the money to the RNLI.:encouragement:
 
Best to think of LIBS and SIBS as a good day out, as a boat owner the cost of getting to Excel and paying £4.00 a pint is neither hear nor there especially when I have to fill up 700 litre tanks lol.

Like most I'm not in the market for a new boat but I and SWMBO enjoy windows shopping. I do my research if I'm after any kit @ a show so I know the best deal before I get there, if the seller's can't do a better deal then I buy when it's convenient to save me lugging stuff around.

Re getting to Excel we live in Bristol so either blat up the Me and around the M25 or take the train and a couple of tube rides, no biggy

We're planning on going on the last Thursday and have booked a local budget hotel for £45 so not too expensive I think.

Hope those that attendo enjoy themselves
 
rafiki_ said:
I'm aiming to get there on the 15th for the forum meet up, and to quaff some Sun/Prin/Fair shampoo. Hoping Richard might have a spare tinny too.
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Hmm may disappoint here ! We don't plan to but we may have a function that may give us leftovers. Catering is a right pain for us at this show.
 
I live within Southwest London/Surrey and it actually takes me longer to get to LIBS than SIBS. I also think the entrance fee is too expensive.

I still go every year though because by January I'm desperate for any kind of boaty fix. I thought last year was better than the year before, so hopefully it will slowly improve....
 
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