Looking forward to Boot Dusseldorf this weekend

[Fire99]

We had come down to the two boats we liked, they were a little different from each other, the Beneteau Antares 7 and the Boosbau-Schubert Variant 707 with the 707 being closer to the layout in our own boat which we find practical.
The '707HT' with 150hp Suzuki O/B and double bunk under the cockpit floor was €88k inc. taxes and the Antares 7 with 200 Suzuki was €80.5k inc taxes
Wife came onboard the 606 smaller version but her back had started acting up and couldn't manage the steps up into the 707, and she never made it up on the Antares either. Of the two the 707 was more like what we were looking for

Bootsbau Schubert GmbH - Das ist unser Variant 707!

Antares 7 | BENETEAU

View attachment 171064

Wow they are similar but very different (to me). I really like the Antares 7. I like most of the Antares boats to be honest as the look an easy boat to jump onboard, go for a blast, come back, give a quick hose over and go home. Lots of fun and minimal care....
But it's a mass produced boat at the end of the day so it does lack any real 'charm' in my eyes..

The 707 is a completely different animal to me. Like a big classic motoryacht shrunk down to trailerable size. The deck, woodwork etc would no doubt need more care but I think it's a boat you would cherish and want to polish as much as just going for a blast around the estuary and back..

HP wise I guess the Antares will be faster but this is the first time I've seen the 707 and she looks a very classy vessel.. With such a close price point I think the 707 would be the winner (and I'm really guessing here, being a bit more exclusive maybe the 707 would have better residuals too?)

 

[Fire99]

Some were quite accommodating and gave us the full tour, by the end of the show my wife commented that nothing really came close to the layout of our boat and how much she really appreciates how ours is laid out, just that we would like something newer and with better handling characteristics.

So what's the current thoughts? Stick with what you have or still track down a more modern equivalent?

 

[Bouba]

So what's the current thoughts? Stick with what you have or still track down a more modern equivalent?

Nothing beats the smell of new stuff

 

[Bouba]

Spent yesterday and today there. Great show. Spent a fair bit of time in the chandlery and equipment halls. Then did all the mobo and rib halls. Spent the afternoon in the big boat hall. Some very impressive boats.
Looked around the Galleon 440 and the new 435GTS. The GTS has 3 x 600hp outboards. Bonkers. I think Galleon has reached peak hull windows, they are huge. View attachment 171043

Where do you hang the fenders

 

[Fire99]

Nothing beats the smell of new stuff

That is true.. I'm a sucker for the smell of new GRP (strange when you think it's basically glass and plastic) at a boatshow. But then I remember the best boat is the one that's out at sea (or river) doing what it's designed to do, not displaying itself like a plastic rose in a plastic garden

 

[Alicatt]

Wow they are similar but very different (to me). I really like the Antares 7. I like most of the Antares boats to be honest as the look an easy boat to jump onboard, go for a blast, come back, give a quick hose over and go home. Lots of fun and minimal care....
But it's a mass produced boat at the end of the day so it does lack any real 'charm' in my eyes..

The 707 is a completely different animal to me. Like a big classic motoryacht shrunk down to trailerable size. The deck, woodwork etc would no doubt need more care but I think it's a boat you would cherish and want to polish as much as just going for a blast around the estuary and back..

HP wise I guess the Antares will be faster but this is the first time I've seen the 707 and she looks a very classy vessel.. With such a close price point I think the 707 would be the winner (and I'm really guessing here, being a bit more exclusive maybe the 707 would have better residuals too?)

Yes, we like the 707 better, we are keeping "Casper" our Falcon 750 for this season and then putting her up for sale, first though a bit of tidying up onboard to make her a bit more presentable.
My wife is now coming round to what I was saying earlier to her after she has seen what other boats look like, she had her ideas about what she wanted to do but that has all changed after a good look inside a few boats.

As for the 707 that would require a bit more work to keep up to snuff than the Antares and would be better on the canals where we are.


Just now she has me looking for "flexiteak" or something similar for our boat to replace the vinyl flooring in the cockpit

 

[henryf]

Back home with a cup of tea. They don’t make tea like we do over there…..

Where to start. BA extra leg room seats by the wing exit doors - I know, we did laugh - and kept our seatbelts on all flight, proved ideal as we ended up with the row to ourselves (thanks wise traveller dude who moved back a row so we both enjoyed a free middle seat on the way back). Flights either bang on time or early. Well done BA.

Massive thanks to Princess Motor Yacht Sales for tickets and a chauffeur in Düsseldorf. I did feel a bit pretentious asking the chap if the Bentley was from Princess when it arrived at the hotel, but it was! It made the whole thing relaxing and we had a base to retire to for a coffee and bottle of water. The boat buying experience definitely extends beyond the boat it’s self.

Loads of faces from the forum some of whom I haven’t seen for a few years. Fairline kindly hosted us at the end of day 1 and tried to ply my missus with cocktails. She put up minimal resistance

Saw a load of boats including a smaller version of JFM’s Sanlorenzo which was in its self a very big boat. The finish was astounding, one can only imagine what a JFM special edition will be like.

As ever loads of way out and whacky stuff as well as the boats to see. A few interesting fashion choices from both sexes. Enjoyed a bit of Sushi, hoping the chicken burger at lunch doesn’t kill me overnight.

With the exception of Mulder yachts who told me to go away despite handing over a business card and saying I was available for 2 days all the exhibitors were really accommodating. Blue Game, Ferretti, Azimut, Sanlorenzo, Fairline in particular went above and beyond.

The Princess X80 just gets better and better each time we see it. More realistically the F65 parked next to the F55 insisted we spend some time exploring. Don’t ever stop looking at the next step?

Anyway, a great show

 

[henryf]

 

[henryf]

More images

 

[Fire99]

Great pics Henry.. Thanks for sharing...

 

[Wandering Star]

View attachment 171026

I reckon this would look good in Newtown Creek

P

View attachment 171026

I reckon this would look good in Newtown Creek

I reckon that would sit perfectly on the foredeck of Sanlorenzo SL96A and provide class.

​

 

[Bajansailor]

Amazing photos Henry, thank you for posting them - do you have some more?
And some more stories and anecdotes.....

I was just thinking back to Princess 50 odd years ago, when they were building the Princess 32 and the Project 31 (and I think the 25 came later?) - they have certainly been an amazing success story.
Fairline as well, and of course Sunseeker.

@henryf re your second photo in post #29 showing the four display screens in the wheelhouse - I am just wondering what the visibility would be like (re reflections on that steeply angled windscreen) if one was on passage at night in inclement weather, and keeping watch from inside, rather than on the flying bridge?

 

[henryf]

I took the photo as there had be quite some debate on JFM’s build thread regarding the visability Over the screens. I know this is a different boat but there’s a lot of wriggle room in terms of being able to see the bow from the helm seat.

As for the scenario you mention I guess if Sanlorenzo wanted to lend me one for a week or two I could answer your question. I have no doubt our in house product tester will report back throughout his maiden season.

The reverse rake of a Princess X80 would be great though. Just saying…….

 

[ari]

Wandering around and speaking to brokers when we were boat shopping last year gave me the impression a majority have attitude that reminded me of Porsche and Audi dealerships.

Interesting that you found the majority had that attitude toward you...

 

[Alicatt]

And the view from the cheap seats...

 

[petem]

Back home with a cup of tea. They don’t make tea like we do over there…..

Where to start. BA extra leg room seats by the wing exit doors - I know, we did laugh - and kept our seatbelts on all flight, proved ideal as we ended up with the row to ourselves (thanks wise traveller dude who moved back a row so we both enjoyed a free middle seat on the way back). Flights either bang on time or early. Well done BA.

Massive thanks to Princess Motor Yacht Sales for tickets and a chauffeur in Düsseldorf. I did feel a bit pretentious asking the chap if the Bentley was from Princess when it arrived at the hotel, but it was! It made the whole thing relaxing and we had a base to retire to for a coffee and bottle of water. The boat buying experience definitely extends beyond the boat it’s self.

Loads of faces from the forum some of whom I haven’t seen for a few years. Fairline kindly hosted us at the end of day 1 and tried to ply my missus with cocktails. She put up minimal resistance

Saw a load of boats including a smaller version of JFM’s Sanlorenzo which was in its self a very big boat. The finish was astounding, one can only imagine what a JFM special edition will be like.

As ever loads of way out and whacky stuff as well as the boats to see. A few interesting fashion choices from both sexes. Enjoyed a bit of Sushi, hoping the chicken burger at lunch doesn’t kill me overnight.

With the exception of Mulder yachts who told me to go away despite handing over a business card and saying I was available for 2 days all the exhibitors were really accommodating. Blue Game, Ferretti, Azimut, Sanlorenzo, Fairline in particular went above and beyond.

The Princess X80 just gets better and better each time we see it. More realistically the F65 parked next to the F55 insisted we spend some time exploring. Don’t ever stop looking at the next step?

Anyway, a great show

Nice to meet you too and I'm glad you enjoyed the Fairline hospitality!

 

[benjenbav]

Also back from Boot yesterday evening. Highlights for me were meeting many friends and acquaintances as well as looking at a glorious selection of boats. All of the exhibitors whose boats I wanted to see were accommodating - Sunseeker, Fairline, Azimut were all delightful. Didn’t make it to Princess - no reason.

Sanlorenzo had, perhaps, an unbeatable feature in their hospitality area: a “live” cushion. On closer inspection this turned out to be a modest sized dog which seemed quite content for fellow guests to share its sofa.

Did a little bit of exploration into the dark side of sail and - as I was heading out of the show - my eye was caught by some aluminium craft which looked like mini-PT boats. Forget the name but poked around their stand for a while wondering if they’d be as much fun as they looked.

 

[rafiki_]

Back home with a cup of tea. They don’t make tea like we do over there…..

Where to start. BA extra leg room seats by the wing exit doors - I know, we did laugh - and kept our seatbelts on all flight, proved ideal as we ended up with the row to ourselves (thanks wise traveller dude who moved back a row so we both enjoyed a free middle seat on the way back). Flights either bang on time or early. Well done BA.

Massive thanks to Princess Motor Yacht Sales for tickets and a chauffeur in Düsseldorf. I did feel a bit pretentious asking the chap if the Bentley was from Princess when it arrived at the hotel, but it was! It made the whole thing relaxing and we had a base to retire to for a coffee and bottle of water. The boat buying experience definitely extends beyond the boat it’s self.

Loads of faces from the forum some of whom I haven’t seen for a few years. Fairline kindly hosted us at the end of day 1 and tried to ply my missus with cocktails. She put up minimal resistance

Saw a load of boats including a smaller version of JFM’s Sanlorenzo which was in its self a very big boat. The finish was astounding, one can only imagine what a JFM special edition will be like.

As ever loads of way out and whacky stuff as well as the boats to see. A few interesting fashion choices from both sexes. Enjoyed a bit of Sushi, hoping the chicken burger at lunch doesn’t kill me overnight.

With the exception of Mulder yachts who told me to go away despite handing over a business card and saying I was available for 2 days all the exhibitors were really accommodating. Blue Game, Ferretti, Azimut, Sanlorenzo, Fairline in particular went above and beyond.

The Princess X80 just gets better and better each time we see it. More realistically the F65 parked next to the F55 insisted we spend some time exploring. Don’t ever stop looking at the next step?

Anyway, a great show

Great to catch up with you both. Fantastic event as ever, and so easy to view loads of interesting boats.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

My first time at the show, what an overwhelming experience in many ways, it’s absolutely colossal! I doubt I covered 10% of the floor area. Fantastic to meet up with friends old and new, met some forum members for the first time, walked miles, and even managed to see a few boats.

I didn’t take many pix but here’s a few of the Magellano 60 which I liked a lot…

 

[Fire99]

My first time at the show, what an overwhelming experience in many ways, it’s absolutely colossal! I doubt I covered 10% of the floor area. Fantastic to meet up with friends old and new, met some forum members for the first time, walked miles, and even managed to see a few boats.

I didn’t take many pix but here’s a few of the Magellano 60 which I liked a lot…



View attachment 171134

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Now that's certainly not unattractive. Though the padded 'headboard' with the round mirror above in what I assume is the owners cabin, is a bit 'motel' for me. Teak looks great. It looks like leather has been wholesale replaced by fabric now?