London Boat Show

[bendyone]

Went there yesterday - drove in and parked all day for £8, plenty of space and quick. Free golf buggy to the door - kids loved it!
Once inside found what I was looking for without the pushing around of Earls Court, RYA lounge much larger and better (except coffeee at £1.20 for a small cup)
The show should have moved years ago. All in all a good day out.

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[steve_cronin]

Yes.

At first I hated it as we were there to buy a lot of Med. equipment as well as look at a few boats and see a few old friends but just couldn't get started not being able to go up onto the balcony for an aerial reccy. The big stand number boxes overhead were though quite useful.

Initial thought was that it was randomly laid out. Probably started zoned but after the tank (pool) burst - flooding a container into the car park (we were told) they had to hurridly re-arrange.

After following an advancing line ahead search pattern through the aisles we eventually got the layout after an hour or two. The map we got inside the £3 show guide had been reduced so much that even when we bumped into our elder son who is currently doing surgical training at Whipp's Cross he had difficulty in reading some of the print. (Clever b****r used his digital camera to blow it up!) Did you notice that they even changed the key colours for different sections in different halls? E.G. blue was chandlery in the first hall but this changed to beige in the second! Rediculous.

Now since the population is on the whole predictable in it's actions just about everyone went for lunch at 2.45 to 3.15 and were provided with that essential of British life, the endless queue out through the door. We waited until 3.45 and were served straight away. We were having dinner at 9.15 (OXO Tower is amazing) so that was fine.

Anyway, I bought two big solar panels, a 1500watt inverter, a Dolphin smart charger, an Adverc Alt. controller and a smart splitter to go with it, a galvanic isolator, a new GPS colour plotter, several almanacs & Cmap charts plus loads of other things.

One item I couldn't get though was a proper SEWN Red Ensign in bunting. They were mostly printed and all made of nylon, even the few sewn ones we found. Sad?

All in all though a pleasureable experience and my wife and I agreed that there would be more to moan about if the show had moved FROM Excel to Earls Court rather than the move it has now made.

Steve Cronin

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

One item I couldn't get though was a proper SEWN Red Ensign in bunting. They were mostly printed and all made of nylon, even the few sewn ones we found. Sad?

Me niether, and the printed ones were very expensive IMHO.

Try here >>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.flag-net.com/display_product.asp?id=1090&category=96>flag.net shop</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>

 

[sailorman]

im going this saturday
did u park within excel
cheers

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[bendyone]

Hi
Yes I parked in the multi story east car park £2 a hour but with a max payment of £8.

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[PaulR]

went on saturday with wife and sons aged 13 and 11-signposting on the way haphazard but park and ride smooth, fast and good (£5 for the car full) - children thouroughly enjoyed tour of HMS frigate and Prince William tall ship.

Pleasantly surprised by welcoming attitude on visiting J boats and others-even invited by chap on j stand to look around their bigger J whilst waiting out turn to get onto J109,

never bothered to look at motorboats before but boys interested in having a look at one - surprised to find that on sunseeker stand every boat appeared to be viewing by appointment only,

good show- good venue and shall call again

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[VicMallows]

Hey Steve,

You've given me a great idea for an occupation for SWMBO. She's just made a great job of restoring my Ensign.

Thanks for your other Show tips .... up there Thurs.

Vic 'Sundash'

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