London Boat Show 2018 review

[henryf]

Please forgive the new thread rather than continuing an old one. I'm going to load up some photos and video which won't fit in a single post and I'm trying to keep everything together

Now the dust has settled on London’s 2018 boat show what seems to be the general consensus?

Normally you don’t have to go to the show to write a report on it. Too expensive to get in, nothing to see, food was terrible with nowhere to sit down, couldn’t get on any of the boats and not a bargain to be found in the chandlery section. This year the mongers of doom had something else to add to their list - it only ran for 5 days. Traditionally the London boat show incorporated 2 weekends and took place over 10 days. 2018 saw it shrunk to a single weekend and just 5 days. So on the face of it not a good start.

Scanning through the forum reports brought an unusually upbeat tone from people who attended. Maybe the pre internet luddites have finally accepted that if you want a chandlery bargain you have to let Google be your friend. No longer does it pay to drag 120kg of 24 plait luxury dock line onto the number 241 bus across London. Have it delivered to your door instead.

I like going to the London show. It kicks of the year and gets juices flowing. After an initial mistrust of Excel I’ve found it to be a pretty good venue. Tickets and parking right under the exhibition come courtesy of Princess - I would say free but there is just the small matter of 2 boat purchases to earn them! No need to get wet and of late the catering has actually got almost decent with, in contrast to Earls Court, plenty of places to sit down.


A cool £850k



Or for pretty much the same price you could get


£850k looks a bit smaller from up here !


I actually went twice, once on the Thursday and again on Sunday to meet a friend whilst the girls were amusing themselves with Geography field trips and gymnastic competitions. Thursday proved a delight. Sensible numbers allowed pretty much unencumbered access to anything that took my fancy. Sunseeker and Princess had a reduced fleet compared to previous years but there was still a broad cross section. Certainly anything I would realistically want to see in the 50-60 foot range was there and beyond. Fairline had the 53 flybridge this time in 4 cabin layout which is potentially the one which sets it apart. A number of other manufacturers including Sealine were also in attendance.

 

[henryf]

Smaller motor boats were particularly well represented, in fact they greeted you immediately on entry with a large selection of classic speed boats from the 1950s and 1960s. A new manufacturer to me was Parker. Going head to head with the likes of Jeanneau’s Merry Fisher range I suspect we will start to see them appear around the country as Boats.co.uk are the sole importers. These boys don’t mess around, have a look around your local marina and see how many of their other small boats, Arvor there are. If there’s a deal to be done….





There was the usual sea of ribs, tenders and other support craft, marine electronics with manufacturers on hand to offer advice. I found a couple of specialist services which will prove useful including someone to machine clean our bimini top in readiness for the new season. Boating holidays sailing dinghies - ask me a question about foiling sailing craft. Having stood through a 25 minute talk I almost feel able to climb aboard and rise up out of the water. The inland waterways were represented both in terms of holidays and also boats. I re-lived my youth and walked through a couple of narrow boats.



But don't put your ears through the hole


The bars were very well attended and Guinness was, as usual available on draft in huge quantity. I declined the offer of a wakeboard on carpet. I actually quite fancied it but as there were hundreds of people watching on from the bar common sense got the better of me.




I also declined a go on a fitness wobble board. The last time ‘I saw one of those in action was in a bar in Thailand… Ironically the stall selling delicious home made chocolate covered flapjack was right next door.

 

[henryf]

Princess provided an Oasis of calm in which to enjoy a cup of tea, coffee, soft drink, beer, glass of wine or Plymouth Gin. It also afforded a chance to say hello to some friends and try to avoid direct eye contact with any of the sales staff. The top brass seemed to be upbeat and happy which means boats must be selling. When you see the sales director smile make sure your credit card is still in your pocket.

The weekend was always going to be a challenge so on Sunday I arrived forearmed. Designated parking had run out but Princess immediately offered a pre-paid ticket and I found a spot easily enough. There was a definite throng in the hall and you had to dodge people moving around.


Bow or stern? Surprisingly the bow !

For stands selling impulse purchases I suspect that translates to healthy sales and certainly everyone I spoke to seemed happy. There also wasn’t the usual end of show lethargy from people manning the stands. 10 days is a marathon, 5 days is just about doable. Getting on to boats was definitely more tricky than earlier in the week. Fathers with kids who they had little or no control of were treating many of the exhibits as adventure playgrounds testing the resolve of exhibitors keen to show off their wares.

Hang on a minute, is it 2017 or 1977?


Were I seriously in the market to change then the trick would be to identify yourself to the stand reception staff and have a member of the sales team escort you round. Bookings to view were being taken from casual show goers at the weekend to try and manage numbers on the more popular (read larger) craft.

So ultimately did I feel it worth the trip across London to attend? Yes, I did. Whilst more compact than previous years it was well laid out with a bit of everything to see. They even had a helicopter on display in the hall for the first time that I can recall.




I think the balance of exhibitors was about right for me. I saw some stuff that I wouldn’t ordinarily look at and even snuck a quick peek on a 52 foot sailing yacht just to see how the other lot are getting on. Boot Düsseldorf later in the month will ultimately offer far more choice but it’s also a flight and a hotel stay away. London is a day out.

My abiding memory would have to be the positivity of people exhibiting. They wanted to be there and I think the smaller stands seemed relieved that the show had been shortened. More than one person also commented that the slightly later start allowed them to make use of the Christmas and New Year holiday properly. From my perspective as someone travelling back from an overseas break it was always a rush to make the first part of the show anyway with the first weekend pretty much written off trying to sort out our life and unpack our suitcases.

 

[Angele]

Henry

It may be my poor memory, but I'm sure I remember seeing one or two yachts (aka "proper boats" ), but your photographic evidence would suggest I am mistaken. (At least I know I will see some at Boot).

Either way, I thought it was perfectly acceptable and well worth the £0.00 I paid to travel there and for entry. Went on Saturday and (presumably because it only ran for one weekend, rather than the usual two) it certainly felt reasonably busy.

 

[mlines]

We went on the Sunday.

Feedback from the stands was that Saturday was rammed with people, queuing on the stands to see boats.

Other days you could apparently browse the boats easily, certainly it was easy to walk around on Sunday.

A few blank spots on the floor were filled with boats on trailers, apparently a number of exhibitors were asked if they wanted to bring along something extra to fill a floor space, this made some "stands" strange as they had signs saying "To view this boat come and see us on Stand XYZ".

However, nice cross section of boats, plenty of people happy to chat, nice boaty day out in winter and its the psychological start of the boating year for us, so bring on 2018

 

[henryf]

I actually went inside a sailing yacht at the show just to see what it was all about and very nice it was to. Somewhat bizarely some people looking round were complaining there was too much space in the forward cabin. Go figure ?

Wed / Thu / Fri were definitely the days to visit. Thursday was much more low key than previous “party nights” presumably because every hour counted. I didn’t mind. Hospitality was there for those who wanted it but it also afforded a chance for people to have a look round after work.

Ultimately if you’re going to make a big purchase then you earmark a day or two in the week to pop over. If you’re there at the weekend get the sales staff to look after you and whisk you past any queues.

In Cannes last year it was the norm to register with the reception then be shown round by someone.

Henry

 

[kashurst]

I didn't bother this year. Its a bit of a hike for one day and I wasn't planning to buy anything. Over the last few years its been a bit samey. Good to hear the new arrangements have perked things up again.
thanks for posting.

 

[benjenbav]

Henry, thanks. A very interesting read. I thought that the Parker 800 looked a promising item to compete with the excellent Merry Fishers etc. Probably not one for me, tho' (before anyone from Essex picks up the phone...) :encouragement:

 

[rwoofer]

Henry, thanks. A very interesting read. I thought that the Parker 800 looked a promising item to compete with the excellent Merry Fishers etc. Probably not one for me, tho' (before anyone from Essex picks up the phone...) :encouragement:

Had a poke around that Parker. Don't know what the designer was thinking with the "mid" cabin under the saloon and the toilet. Only small contortionists need apply.

 

[oldgit]

+ 1 .

 

[benjenbav]

Had a poke around that Parker. Don't know what the designer was thinking with the "mid" cabin under the saloon and the toilet. Only small contortionists need apply.

Always worth checking the actual item rather than the sales brochure!

 

[mlines]

Just had a shock, just seen an advert on TV for Princess boats at Dusseldorf boat show!

 

[[2068]]

Had a poke around that Parker. Don't know what the designer was thinking with the "mid" cabin under the saloon and the toilet. Only small contortionists need apply.

Lifejackets, duvets, and a couple of boxes of beers would fit snugly in there.
The cabin at the bow is a decent size.

 

[stelican]

Just had a shock, just seen an advert on TV for Princess boats at Dusseldorf boat show!

I see Princess are showing 10 boats Sunseeker 7, and Fairine 4

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I see Princess are showing 10 boats Sunseeker 7, and Fairine 4

Apparently to include the new V65, and also the new Targa 63 GTO. Should be good.

 

[henryf]

I did have a look in the Parkers. Just didn’t photograph them. Did the cheat sheet to compare prices with Merry Fisher who priced with smaller engines. I didn’t try the loo for size - they always get funny when I wander in with my copy of the Sun and then shout out that there’s no loo roll at the London show

They had holding tanks though which was good for a small boat. I just know that I see loads of Arvors around the Solent so I guess these will follow suit. The Merry Fisher is obviously a household name.

H.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Me and here indoors went on the Saturday and had a very nice day out. Plenty to see and look at and a nice venue. Good posts Henry especially the introduction in your first post. As Martin Said it signals the sort of start of the boating year to us

Dennis and Catherine (HID)

 

[Greg2]

A fair write up thanks Henry. We went on the Sunday and had a good time but then we alway do and I have never been one of the naysayers.

Unlike you I didn’t have free entry or parking but got tickets at half price, which was widely available, and was robbed of twenty quid to park the venue, which was a 33% hike in last years price. Mildly annoying but in the context of a good day out a fairly trivial complaint. Food outlets have improved as has seating and overall I think Excel is a good venue - bit contentious I know but I have always thought it is way better than Earls Court

Kids and inadequate parenting were a bit of a pain on some boats but not everywhere. We looked at several yachts as we are thinking of going sailing having sold our mobo last year - it was helpful as it reinforced my view that a pre-2005 AWB is likely to be a better prospect in terms of quality.

Had some helpful chats with Med marina people and sail/rigging companies (sorry - I know this is the mobo forum ) and a charter company re a possible holiday this year.

Overall an enjoyable day and the only ‘bargain’ we bought was some garden furniture!