London Boat Show

[donaldson]

I went to 2011 and was dissappointed with what was on show, and staggered by the cost of a coffee/lunch/a pint, so I didn't go in 2012 and was subsequently told there was not much there.

This year I'm going to Dusselforf.

 

[Emjaytoo]

I'm going. I have a shopping list.


I'm glad you miserable lot think it's rubbish these days. Leaves more room (and haggling) for the rest of us.

Agree entirely. I remember going to Earl's Court - what a nightmare! You couldn't drive (nowhere to park) and a train into London and then the bloody Tube to Earl's Court! No wonder they moved it! Excel is a doddle to get to, and you can park the car!

We clear our boat away at the end of October and it is a long winter. Christmas sort of breaks it up, but by early January we are in desperate need of "boaty therapy" and LIBS just fills that requirement perfectly!

Long may LIBS continue and please keep it at Excel, don't listen to anyone suggesting it should move to the NEC. That would be a complete disaster!

 

[Applescruffs]

All Things Must Pass............

I'm going. Those Jacuzzis interest me and so do the Cotswold Wool Spinners new line of jumpers and also those time share flats in Bongo Bongo...Anyone know if the Relief-a-Back posture chair folk are there again this year?...

Sounds like just about any 'event' nowadays..

It's the 'multi peel-slicer' gadgets that get me.....they are at just about every show in spite of the targeted audience...

At the craft fair...there he is peeling a carrot and then slicing a cucumber in a very different and interesting way to dress a salad .......(in the 70's perhaps !)

At the Waste Management and Assosciated Industries exposition...there he is with the half shiny/half dull red Mini bonnet covered in black felt-tip 'scratches'....and countless bottles of 'MuR'.....

BTW...Is this the same stuff that the baby Jesus got as a christening present ?

Yup, fI ully agree that expo's are not what they were, buyers are more 'savey' nowadays and the Internet is far cheaper and more convinient.....

Exhibition deals? take off the travel and entry costs, parking and general faffing about...probably not worth the effort.... I'm sad to say...

I used to enjoy going to expos...but not now ...nothing there of interest for the likes of a small boat sailor any more

 

[GlennG]

Quite honestly the Bike Show is of as much interest to me as the diminutive Boat Show.

As I feel at the moment, I won't be going because I can't bear the idea of the show shrinking into a single hall. Guinness drinkers & champagne Charlies seem such strange bedfellows. The main attraction of being able to see a wide range of boats has now reduced to the point of the latest AWB and a couple of expensive aspirationals (although it was nice to see the Gunfleet this year).

If I did go, it'll be the second weekend to benefit from the Outdoor and Bike shows.

SIBs really is so much better.

 

[nathanlee]

Exhibition deals? take off the travel and entry costs, parking and general faffing about...probably not worth the effort.... I'm sad to say...

I used to enjoy going to expos...but not now ...nothing there of interest for the likes of a small boat sailor any more

For you, perhaps, which is a shame, but it costs me about £3 to get there on the DLR, and as I've mentioned, I have a shopping list, and the internet isn't cheap any more.

 

[pathfinderstu]

Well am going as i will be nearby at the time and have free tickets, thats unless i get a better offer which will not be difficult.
been going to the LBS for years now so its almost a habbit , but the event is dying on its feet and after last years turnout am surprised there even is one this year, in fact the last few years it has been going progressively down hill.
with the big boys pulling out last year beneteau etc its in its death throes.
one good thing is that attendance is not compulsary.

 

[Coaster]

...in its death throes...

I agree and wonder if 2013 will be the last London show.

Won't be going and won't miss it.

 

[Seajet]

Interesting that the only fans of the Excel rubbish happen to live locally; coming from the South coast, as I suggest a lot of boat owners do, I used to get a train to Victoria then one short tube to Earls Court - anyone who even thinks of driving in London should be sectioned in my view.

Getting to Excel for me is like an assault course, with getting mugged at the end.

 

[Perry]

It is a nightmare to get to from West of London, loads of trains and the **** DLR,
went the once and that was enough for me, miss Earls Court as used to go there every year, I miss Foxes Spices as used to stock up there on loads of stuff.