Portofino
Well-Known Member
Any dug out canoe shows 
Popped into the Southampton boat show yesterday.....
- Thread starter henryf
- Start date
henryf
Well-Known Member
An enjoyable show spread over a few days. Moved Em’s into Southampton university over the weekend so limited on time a bit but none the less bumped into a few friends which was nice, enjoyed the odd cup of tea courtesy of manufacturers, marinas and so on. Even got out onto the water on Thursday and met some surprisingly interesting people for a corporate bash.
The show had plenty of stuff to see ranging from the high ticket big stuff through smaller tenders and toys - 2020 will be the year of the paddle board for us, boat related bits ranging from very interesting fire extinguishers, water makers, synthetic teak - unbelievably realistic and so on.
I really do struggle when boat owners moan about the Southampton boat show. If you can’t get free tickets courtesy of your boat builder / broker / prospective supplier / marina / insurance / finance / RYA / friend or tentative post on here then something is very wrong. In many cases you will get tea, biscuits and even a small glass of something. Within 15 minutes of walking into the show on Saturday Fat Stick paddle boards were offering me an obligation free gin and tonic just because I’d chatted to them intelligently about their wares.
Yes, the weekend can be a bit of a bun fight but I still managed to get on the new Princess V55 (without using the “do you know who I am” line) as well as the Azimut 60 - nice to see such a big boat from them at the show.
The weather was kind which helped. I think as with so much in life you get out of it what you put in.
Henry
The show had plenty of stuff to see ranging from the high ticket big stuff through smaller tenders and toys - 2020 will be the year of the paddle board for us, boat related bits ranging from very interesting fire extinguishers, water makers, synthetic teak - unbelievably realistic and so on.
I really do struggle when boat owners moan about the Southampton boat show. If you can’t get free tickets courtesy of your boat builder / broker / prospective supplier / marina / insurance / finance / RYA / friend or tentative post on here then something is very wrong. In many cases you will get tea, biscuits and even a small glass of something. Within 15 minutes of walking into the show on Saturday Fat Stick paddle boards were offering me an obligation free gin and tonic just because I’d chatted to them intelligently about their wares.
Yes, the weekend can be a bit of a bun fight but I still managed to get on the new Princess V55 (without using the “do you know who I am” line) as well as the Azimut 60 - nice to see such a big boat from them at the show.
The weather was kind which helped. I think as with so much in life you get out of it what you put in.
Henry
rickp
Well-Known Member
Once the singing has finished and you have stepped ashore, do they present you with a cap?
Heh - they usually bargain pretty hard. Old rope, AA batteries or fishing hooks, lines or lures are the most interesting. Get all the fruit and veg that way. Or fix solar installs, or lights - another good way to bargain for things.
Yup, not ready to stop yet! Not Whitsundays, but that is definitely getting closer...
rickp
Well-Known Member
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
An enjoyable show spread over a few days. Moved Em’s into Southampton university over the weekend so limited on time a bit but none the less bumped into a few friends which was nice, enjoyed the odd cup of tea courtesy of manufacturers, marinas and so on. Even got out onto the water on Thursday and met some surprisingly interesting people for a corporate bash.
The show had plenty of stuff to see ranging from the high ticket big stuff through smaller tenders and toys - 2020 will be the year of the paddle board for us, boat related bits ranging from very interesting fire extinguishers, water makers, synthetic teak - unbelievably realistic and so on.
I really do struggle when boat owners moan about the Southampton boat show. If you can’t get free tickets courtesy of your boat builder / broker / prospective supplier / marina / insurance / finance / RYA / friend or tentative post on here then something is very wrong. In many cases you will get tea, biscuits and even a small glass of something. Within 15 minutes of walking into the show on Saturday Fat Stick paddle boards were offering me an obligation free gin and tonic just because I’d chatted to them intelligently about their wares.
Yes, the weekend can be a bit of a bun fight but I still managed to get on the new Princess V55 (without using the “do you know who I am” line) as well as the Azimut 60 - nice to see such a big boat from them at the show.
The weather was kind which helped. I think as with so much in life you get out of it what you put in.
Henry
Well said Henry. I had a great day out at the show, viewing boats, meeting old friends and drinking whatever was needed. Good to hear you are joining the SUP team. Maybe the RTI bike ride could morph into...……………….? OK, perhaps that's pushing it a bit, but SUP-ping around the inlet at Yarmouth is great fun.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Bouba
Well-Known Member
Sydney?
henryf
Well-Known Member
A paddle up Yarmouth or Beaulieu sounds great
Pinnacle
Well-Known Member
Rick. Somewhere in the South Pacific. I guess Apolima Island.
Andrew M
Well-Known Member
We visited the show on Saturday, ,thought it was great but we think that about every boat show so we must be easier pleased than some.��. The pontoon access was much better being 2-way on the gangways and although it was the weekend, and nice weather, we got to have a look around everything we wanted to so cant complain at all. I scooted around the marquees as soon as we got there, then we spent some time talking to a marina we are considering, then went and did the pontoons. Yes, Fairline did appear the only ones of the biggies operating security to get on , so we didn't bother, esp as there wasn't particularly anything of interest from them for us and so we went on everything we fancied a look at from other makers. Boats of the show for us were the Pearl, which was fab and the Prestige 590 which had such a light, spacious and airy feel inside more becoming of something a bit bigger than it was. Great day out.
rickp
Well-Known Member
Its actually Solo Lighthouse in the middle of the northern atoll of the Great Astrolabe Reef. Naturally the light no longer works! The diving around the reef is spectacular. We spent an night anchored inside the entrance, dived the west side of the reef in the morning then motored over to the light to get some pictures. Headed down to Bullya after that to swim with the manta rays.