London Boat show real time thread!!

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roblpm

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Ok, im in!!

Just paid £3.45 for a large latte!!

Huge princess and sunseeker things, how on earth do they get them in??!!

Before all the negative comments, I am in London anyway and there looks plenty to keep me interested all day.

I am just off to buy a shackle, then going to buy some half price dyneema and get it spliced for free with a nice man on the marlow ropes stand, he will give me a splicing lesson while I am there too!

More later
 
Going tomorrow, with daughter, Thanks to free tickets from ASAP, won on their tweet page before christmas.(no connection Just a satisfied customer for Sherwood pump parts for onan genny and rebuild parts for Jabsco on sabres)
 
roblpm said:
Huge princess and sunseeker things, how on earth do they get them in??!!
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There are vast, ceiling height doors on the north side of Excel through which spectacularly large things can be brought in, and similarly vast doors onto the central passageway from both sides. I've done a few shows there and it's a very, very easy place to get stuff, including big stuff, into.
 
Well I just went on a very interesting Ovni 435 that has been round the world, with a nice Irish couple who are there to answer any questions. Greenland here I come!!

Got a splicing lesson from the guy at Marlow, they will do free splicing so bring your shackles!!

The J Boats display is impressive if you like that sort of thing.

I am going to go on a free diesel workshop at 2 with a RYA training company who are touting for business.

I am enjoying myself!!

But then again I have never been to Southampton or Earls Court so I have nothing to compare it with. Assuming people dont pay full price and are in the area I think its fine. Though 20 sailing boats on the water outside would be great. Its a bit odd that there is nothing in the huge dock next door!! And there could be sailing trips up and down the dock though its a bit cold!
 
Crossrail

Also come to think of it, in 4 years when crossrail opens at Custom House which is next door, getting here will be a doddle. I should imaging that that might make a huge difference to shows here. The whole of this area is an opportunity waiting to happen. I think Crossrail could be the thing that makes a huge difference. I have a mate who lived near here for 15 years and the DLR is definitely a pain. So 15 minutes to Tottenham Court Road will revolutionise access.
 
Just back home from the show. Even quieter than the last couple of years (in terms of visitors) and I had the sense that the exhibitors present were either a) multi-national/household name brands who are there to be seen, as the LBS is part of the marketing budget or b) small vendors chancing it (I mean, who goes to a boat show and guys a copper bangle to rebalance their chakras?*) That said, there were a few faithfuls there, like Sail Ionian, the X-escape string guys (from whom I got a fantastic deal on a new main halyard), and Mr Cunliffe was present signing books.

Verdict - don't pay full price for tickets, and if you're a raggie, it probably isn't worth the bother.
 
FurryWritingDesk said:
Just back home from the show. Even quieter than the last couple of years (in terms of visitors) and I had the sense that the exhibitors present were either a) multi-national/household name brands who are there to be seen, as the LBS is part of the marketing budget or b) small vendors chancing it (I mean, who goes to a boat show and guys a copper bangle to rebalance their chakras?*) That said, there were a few faithfuls there, like Sail Ionian, the X-escape string guys (from whom I got a fantastic deal on a new main halyard), and Mr Cunliffe was present signing books.

Verdict - don't pay full price for tickets, and if you're a raggie, it probably isn't worth the bother.
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Well I am still here!! Got some useful advice from the Eberspacher guy, negociated a pretty good price on some lifejackets, went to a diesel workshop.

Found some sail boats to look at which arent imediately obvious!

Moody 41 - looks nice but is it a Hanse??!
Southerly 42 RST - nice but pricey
Some others

So I still maintain if you are in the area its worth it! I think it would be a shame if it disappeared altogether! I can persuade my wife that a trip to London is necessary for all sorts of reasons, not so easy to do the same thing for Southampton!
 
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It is really easy to get to, for me at least, and I enjoy going. I'm not going to bother making the trek down for the Southampton show and it's a good way of spending a January afternoon. I'll be there next Saturday.
 
It continues to get smaller and smaller. Only one hall in use this year and I'm not sure they used all of it. A few interesting things, the Massy Shaw for example, and a Thames Barge with a bar in the hold. I got what I went for so no complaints from me.
 
I was there on the Sunsail stand today and will be there tomorrow and Monday too. For me it seemed quite busy till lunchtime then a lull till after lunch. Busy again for a while and then went totally dead about 5pm. Sunseeker stand
although awesome is well out of place given that a lot of the other boat makers are either not present or scaled down this year.

Didn't get much chance to check out our own oppo but our team were kept busy throughout the day with some very happy customers.

Would be happy to say hello to anyone coming along. I'm the tall bloke with specs. :) we've got some great deals on if you're interested in chartering or flotilla-ing in the Med or Caribbean.
 
First time visitor here...

Went on a lot of new boats that I'd never have the chance to see otherwise, not impressed with the new AWB clones and yes they really do look all the same.

Like roblpm spent some time with the lovely couple on the Ovni 435 slowly, but surely, I am being converted to aluminum.

Great to see physical kit and talk to the exhibitors, purchases will be made online when I need the kit.

Paid £1.80 for a cup of coffee in the RYA Lounge, worth a visit if you are a member and have your card - food looked good as well.

Bought a waterproof duffle bag from Overboard, an item of kit I did need at a very good price; thanks to another poster for bringing them to my attention .

Transport to and from the venue was better than expected. FGW got us to Paddington on time and the journey across London was quick and easy by tube and DLR. Coming back was another story, but the weather has been entertaining.

It was very, very quiet.
 
We went yesterday and had a really good time. First the first time in years, we went alone without friends and family which meant we could concentrate on what we wanted without babysitting or managing group expectations!.

I made the effort to plan in advance and booked in for some of the talks, demos and workshops. (sea-safety, diesel maintainence, splicing, cruising, crew safety and moral), got advice on loads of technical stuff, visited the Ovni and talked to the couple who sailed her, talked to other experts and sailing celebrities (which for us was encouraging and inspiring). Had a shopping list and either got what we wanted or the info we needed to make better decisions about future purchasing. we spent a whole day - was there at 10.30 and didn't leave until 6. I am actually considering going again next week if I get a cheap ticket.
 
gerry99 said:
Yes there was, its SSID was Excel Free or somethinh similar. They ask for your name, email address etc and whether. You were visiting the boat show or just Excel. A bit slow but better than GSM :)
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There is also - or has been every time I've been there - good BT Openzone coverage which is free if one uses BT Broadband at home.
 
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