London Boatshow First Impressions

[Illusion]

First time in 10 years or so I've been to LIBS on the opening day and I have to say as a boatshow experience goes, I was very impressed.
Lots to see, there seemed to be a good buzz, but without all the crowds and able to get on everything with no issues. Some great new boats on show (especially liked the V39), there also seemed to be plenty of kit and clothing on show this year and the outside used boatshow is well worth a look. EBY have a lot of stock on the water and an extensive used boat booklet with plenty of options if you're thinking down the used boat route.
It was great to catch up with a few members from the forum and look forward to returning again next Sat.

So if you were considdering going along, I think its well worth a visit and may be a few deals to be had later in the week?

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Hi P, very nice to see you yesterday, agree with you about the v39, it's a cracker - sold out until sibs apparently.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[clartius]

First time in 10 years or so I've been to LIBS on the opening day and I have to say as a boatshow experience goes, I was very impressed.
Lots to see, there seemed to be a good buzz, but without all the crowds and able to get on everything with no issues. Some great new boats on show (especially liked the V39), there also seemed to be plenty of kit and clothing on show this year and the outside used boatshow is well worth a look. EBY have a lot of stock on the water and an extensive used boat booklet with plenty of options if you're thinking down the used boat route.
It was great to catch up with a few members from the forum and look forward to returning again next Sat.

So if you were considdering going along, I think its well worth a visit and may be a few deals to be had later in the week?

I have to say my experience was a little different. I have been in and out since Wednesday for work (facinating watching it come together! I was like a kid in a candy store)
However I felt the North Hall (chandlerly) was disappointing, apart from the big electronic boys there wasnt a huge amount of interest, and the number of 'proper' chandlers and independants could be counted on one hand.
Agree with you regarding the crowds and getting on things (only waited for the NC9) but would remind that Friday is preview day, the numbers are always lower (partially because of the increased ticket price) the preview day doesnt really represent the experience as a whole. We are certinaly hoping that it will get busier in the next few days.
Just my 2-pennys worth.

Ta

 

[dj43]

We were there today,had a very enjoyable day,big thanks go to everybody involved, only one moan, maybe I walked dog poo on there stand or something,but I did feel that fairline folks could do with a happy pill or same P-R training.
Just as well I own a fairline,as won't be calling on them again.

 

[SolentPhill]

Hi P, very nice to see you yesterday, agree with you about the v39, it's a cracker - sold out until sibs apparently.

Cheers
Jimmy

I quite fancy the new sunseeker 40 it's not ready yet, was told could order one they gonna make 48 per yr and they already sold the first yrs build. It will be ready by sibs, then they said could put deposit down on one be mid 2013 when I had it. How can someone part with £300k on something you not seen.

For the first sat it was very quiet compared to other yrs.

 

[MRC]

I quite fancy the new sunseeker 40 it's not ready yet, was told could order one they gonna make 48 per yr and they already sold the first yrs build. It will be ready by sibs, then they said could put deposit down on one be mid 2013 when I had it. How can someone part with £300k on something you not seen.

For the first sat it was very quiet compared to other yrs.

Did you see the 3D video of the 40? you only part with £5k/£10k deposit which would be fully refundable should you not like it after sea trial etc. Gen & Bow thruster standard now.

 

[SolentPhill]

Did you see the 3D video of the 40? you only part with £5k/£10k deposit which would be fully refundable should you not like it after sea trial etc. Gen & Bow thruster standard now.

No they offered me that, I want to see the boat not a video.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

No they offered me that, I want to see the boat not a video.

How much was the 40? I'd be interested to see where it stacks up against the V39 (235k ex vat + options).

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[MYAG]

How much was the 40? I'd be interested to see where it stacks up against the V39 (235k ex vat + options).

Cheers
Jimmy

The mutterings were anywhere between 295 and 325 + +. No justification at that price, V39 anytime which I thought looked great, particularly the interior quality.

 

[SolentPhill]

The mutterings were anywhere between 295 and 325 + +. No justification at that price, V39 anytime which I thought looked great, particularly the interior quality.

Thats about right, I have to be honest I looked around the 60 ft sunseeker (not to buy) on the water at SIBS as although I think SS are fantastic looking, I was very dissapointed at the little things inside. light fittings we not fitted straight, with holes cut too big. A door was not shutting right, and for a show boat they should get that right. Thats why I want to see one, i like the new targa 38 HT but its coming out at £330k which is top end for a 38ft boat. the soft top is £300k.

The V39 has some great fittings below which were nice

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We were there today,had a very enjoyable day,big thanks go to everybody involved, only one moan, maybe I walked dog poo on there stand or something,but I did feel that fairline folks could do with a happy pill or same P-R training.
Just as well I own a fairline,as won't be calling on them again.

They're not operating their gatekeeper system again, are they? The system where you have to wait for 'your' salesperson to be available in order to set foot on any of their boats. If they are its most irritating, especially when you make an appointment with 'your' salesperson to come back at the allotted time only to find 'your' salesman still isn't available. Why they can't just let you wander on to the boats like everyone else, I dunno

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

They're not operating their gatekeeper system again, are they? The system where you have to wait for 'your' salesperson to be available in order to set foot on any of their boats. If they are its most irritating, especially when you make an appointment with 'your' salesperson to come back at the allotted time only to find 'your' salesman still isn't available. Why they can't just let you wander on to the boats like everyone else, I dunno

They weren't when I was there on Saturday - walked straight on to the stand and through the barrier, no vetting or qualifying at all. If we had a problem anywhere, it was on the Sunseeker stand.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Nick_H]

If we had a problem anywhere, it was on the Sunseeker stand

Did you forget your medallion Jimmy?

 

[Hugo_Andreae]

Official price starts at £299k ex VAT for Yanmar 320hp engines and £325k for Volvo 330hp D6 but price includes lots of extras such as bow thruster, teak cockpit, 5kw genset, holding tank, Raymarine package etc. Full details in next month's MBY...

 

[dj43]

They're not operating their gatekeeper system again, are they? The system where you have to wait for 'your' salesperson to be available in order to set foot on any of their boats. If they are its most irritating, especially when you make an appointment with 'your' salesperson to come back at the allotted time only to find 'your' salesman still isn't available. Why they can't just let you wander on to the boats like everyone else, I dunno

No problem looking at any of the boats,walked straight on to the new 50 squadron,just the atmosphere on the stand,and being blanked,having purchased a boat from there dealer,did not think a hello was to much to expect,may be just me.totally opposite from on the floating used boat area.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

No problem looking at any of the boats,walked straight on to the new 50 squadron,just the atmosphere on the stand,and being blanked,having purchased a boat from there dealer,did not think a hello was to much to expect,may be just me.totally opposite from on the floating used boat area.

Whereas people like me want to be blanked and not bothered by any stand staff. They can't win, can they

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Did you forget your medallion Jimmy?

Nah, what I'd actually forgotten was my russian accent and my bulgarian g/f....

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[kcrane]

Nah, what I'd actually forgotten was my russian accent and my bulgarian g/f....

Cheers
Jimmy

Well her name passes for European at least

 

[David of Essex]

This is the 4th year of visiting the boat show and we still get a lot of enjoyment from these days. Every stand we were made welcome on. Princess and Fairline were very friendly. We thought the V39 was a winner.
Is there another Match coming?.
Boat shows are a part of boating and the enjoyment that comes with the expense of owning a boat. Find a way to enjoy the day.
David

 

[henryf]

Made a trip to the show today, (Tuesday). No problem with crowds at all, as we suspected on a Tuesday. Drive there was simple, parked under the exhibition - thanks Princess!! The new V39 is lovely. No sense of building to a budget at all. Still loads of wood inside and the usual build quality. Big windows, launching bathing platform, power roof, loads of detailed features. I suspect a top seller in the making.

Had a good wander including the used boat area - a very good idea indeed although rather Fairline heavy so ultimately not much of specific interest.

One boat which did catch my imagination was the Prestige 500. The owner's cabin entry from the side of the saloon gives it the feeling of an aft cabin boat, very interesting. A lot packed into a 50 footer. Yes, in places you can see where the space has been found. The master cabin floor follows the curved lines of the hull for instance but ultimately it's well packed in. The 3rd cabin has proper beds rather than bunks. The shower doors are rubbish, the guest heads in particular needs a degree to operate and it still leaves a 2 inch gap where the 2 bits of plastic "meet". Finally it's on IPS drives and I wouldn't want to run the risk / expense of running them. Outdrives are bad enough - hands up who's had to fit new props! The show boat also had an after thought of a sun shade fitted to the back of the flybridge.

The base price looks really appealing although I would say the options list list soon brings you down to earth. £35k for an options pack which basically includes a bow thruster and a generator. I think there was a couple of hundred thousand pounds worth of "extras" some of which would be standard on many boats of the size. Can't comment on build quality or resale but as a basic layout interesting.

Was there enough to grab the interest ? Yes there was and I could have happily gone back a second day. I fancied a go at wake boarding in the pool!

A few gaps in the boats represented. The luxury brand exhibition fills in an obvious manufacturer sized hole.

We are based near Heathrow and it isn't a lot closer time-wise than Southampton but glad we made the effort to go. Gave the boating juices a mid winter stir.

Saw a significant amount of business being done. Currently contemplating a move up to a circa 50 foot flybridge from our Princess P42. Likely to be used unlike the the P42 which we bought new and our enjoyment of the current boat is making the descision very difficult. We shall see!

If you get the chance to visit the show then go. All the big players were happy to allow casual browsers, especially genuine boaters as found on this forum. Some have what look like gateways onto the stands but I found staff very accommodating - one can only assume people within their respective companies read forums like this!

Henry