longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Only a fiver for all day in the multi storey by M&S.
Only a fiver for all day in the multi storey by M&S.
nigelmercier
RIP
- Joined
- 20 Jun 2007
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- Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
That's got to be the best boat show rant ever - the wrong type of stairs!
Well, yes. Must be a strange pitch or something.
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
I too found them hard going.
Greg2
Well-Known Member
Wrong thread I know but we had a great day yesterday 
That said, agree about the gate thing (had to trudge round having initially tried the other gate but would have made a point fo visiting the areas over the bridges anyway so maybe not that much of an inconvenience).
Completely agree about the access to the pontoons....absolutely ridiculous. As for Fairline....well this is a perennial issue and they just don't seem to get it......didn't bother this year as we didn't want to look at the latest offerings that badly.
Apart from these niggles a great show though and well worth the trip.
That said, agree about the gate thing (had to trudge round having initially tried the other gate but would have made a point fo visiting the areas over the bridges anyway so maybe not that much of an inconvenience).
Completely agree about the access to the pontoons....absolutely ridiculous. As for Fairline....well this is a perennial issue and they just don't seem to get it......didn't bother this year as we didn't want to look at the latest offerings that badly.
Apart from these niggles a great show though and well worth the trip.
sunquest
Well-Known Member
Yup, the sun was shining yesterday and we had a great day. Couldn't be arsed with Fairline, their gatekeeper style winds me up - so didn't bother. Great reception on the Elling E4, they used one of their current owners who showed us around with great enthusiasm. Definitely consider Elling in the future. Loved the single engine with a sail drive option, is his the way forward for economical cruising? The pontoon access or lack of didn't bother me as long as I could see MDL's watering hole, enjoyed the auction and the comfortable chairs. All in all learn't a lot and came away at 6.30 with aching feet and a £14 parking charge at West Quays.
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Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Wrong, at least last Wednesday. The 2 bridges either side of MDL are up only for exhibitors. The only way up for visitors is via the bridge to the Sunseeker stand which is bloody irritating if you want to get to the RYA stand for lunch.
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Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
It's not an issue for anyone who's reasonably fit but for anyone who isn't, it's a problem. I saw one elderly couple struggle to the top of one bridge and they had to rest at the top; in fact I felt obliged to ask if they needed help because the bloke looked very paleThat's got to be the best boat show rant ever - the wrong type of stairs!
Anders_P42
Well-Known Member
Buying a Sunseeker or Princess hardly cutting off your nose...
They may have read this thread, I went again today and walking straight on to the custom 78 with a few others.
petem
Well-Known Member
As I've said before, go to the little British Motor Yacht Show on the Hamble in May. Free to get in, good weather, plenty of parking and most of the range for the big three builders there. We don't look much like millionaires (if there is such a look) but when we asked the Fairline guys if we could look at the boats they said "that's what they're here for". No barriers or any of that nonsense*.
* Apart from one very posh Sq 74 where we had to wear over shoes over our SOCKS (bearing in mind the effort that the owner went to get his dream boat I fully understand)!
* Apart from one very posh Sq 74 where we had to wear over shoes over our SOCKS (bearing in mind the effort that the owner went to get his dream boat I fully understand)!
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nigelmercier
RIP
- Joined
- 20 Jun 2007
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- 16,234
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- Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
I disagree. I quite happily walked to Level 14 in the car park, but I was knackered by the time I reached the top of the bridge. Next year I'm considering taking a push-chair to lug my stuff around, they don't say you have to have a child in it.
trooper
Member
I looked at the website for opening times for the show which clearly displays 9.30am opening. So off I go and arrived last Sunday at 9.15am as I wanted to be early and get in fast and a quick looky round before needing to get back for kids sport. Anyway got in when gates opened and made my way through the wooden sailing boats in the top display area heading for the bridge to get to the real show only to be told that part doesn't open until 10 o'clock sir!!
How on earth can they justify doing that, I was really pi55ed off having to wait with a load of other grumpy people for another half hour.
Looked at the website when I got home and in the small print it states 10.00am opening for main show. What a bunch of clowns.....
Me too - I would have liked to have seen them evacuate that place in a hurry - not only infuriating but potentially dangerous
Talulah
Well-Known Member
The issue for me wasn't so much the different opening times but that it wasn't made clear.
Opening the first section half an hour before the main event seemed a good idea. It got people processed for the turnstiles reducing the crowds outside.
The stall holders in the first section must have benefitted.
It just needed to be made clear.
Opening the first section half an hour before the main event seemed a good idea. It got people processed for the turnstiles reducing the crowds outside.
The stall holders in the first section must have benefitted.
It just needed to be made clear.
AdeOlly
Well-Known Member
It was this way the first Saturday as well...
As to Fairline's policy, SWMBO just said no. I just don't get them at all. We've previously looked at a Targa 38 as possible replacement for our Prestige 34 and I have given all my details with postal address, phone and email and talked at some length with the salesman about this. I've never received a follow up from them, nothing, nada, zip. Are they so arrogant to think that I'm going to beat a path to their door as no one else has a better product? I did the same with Princess about their V39 and there was an email in my inbox within 24 hrs with dealer contact details and thanking me for my time. In any case, I wouldn't buy a T38 as there's only about 6' of headroom in the saloon and I'm 6'2", so it's a boat for the height challenged
NGM
Well-Known Member
Whilst Fairline's gatekeeper policy is a little irritating I surprised it has prompted such a reaction. I went on the first Sauturday, supposedly a busier day, it only took 30 seconds or so to register and then we had free reign to veiw the whole range either with or without a broker. I bought a boat at the LIBS show earlier this year and ecountered various different sales tactics from the various manufactures but certainly didn't let that negatively influence my choice of boat.
Bandit
Well-Known Member
The Fairline "Gated Policy" just gives the wrong message.
I went last week and looked at the Aquastar 49, Hardy 65, the Princess 43, the Minor 35 and the strange coloured Monaco 45 ish.
I spoke to the sales people and was invited aboard all of the above.
At the time about 10.30 am the Fairline gates were all firmly closed with sales reps consulting their iphones and ipads and pretty well no punters on the Fairline boats at all.
My view is they should encompass enquiries, be polite to all people you cant tell from dress, haircut or watches who is a potential buyer and show people who are interested the boats, its a boat show for crying out loud, let people aspire to the boats even if they are outside their immediate price range.
I went last week and looked at the Aquastar 49, Hardy 65, the Princess 43, the Minor 35 and the strange coloured Monaco 45 ish.
I spoke to the sales people and was invited aboard all of the above.
At the time about 10.30 am the Fairline gates were all firmly closed with sales reps consulting their iphones and ipads and pretty well no punters on the Fairline boats at all.
My view is they should encompass enquiries, be polite to all people you cant tell from dress, haircut or watches who is a potential buyer and show people who are interested the boats, its a boat show for crying out loud, let people aspire to the boats even if they are outside their immediate price range.
NGM
Well-Known Member
I agree it's not ideal and is irritating but they seem to want to run with this policy for now. So rather than boycott the boats out of principal I'd rather spend the 30 seconds or so registering and get to have a look round.
pan
Well-Known Member
It's not 30 secs... it's the waiting for line in front to register
Pan
Pan
Greg2
Well-Known Member
It isn't just being asked for your details...it is also having to wait for your 'local' dealer/sales person to be located and asked to accompany you. It just makes the whole experience unnatural and awkward. Been like that on and off for years and has been debated on here on numerous occasions with very little in the way of positive comment.
I got the impression it was introduced when Fairline wanted to be seen as a premium product with an air of exclusivity in pre-recession days. I guess they must think it works for them as they have stuck with it.
I got the impression it was introduced when Fairline wanted to be seen as a premium product with an air of exclusivity in pre-recession days. I guess they must think it works for them as they have stuck with it.
Jamesuk
Well-Known Member
1) the show guide price is about right
2)they did, we got in at Red funnel car ferry
3)we had no problems walking up and down the gates at Sunseeker (they were 2 way to us)
Be the Boss ;-)
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
Red Funnel or gate F is for "special guest" tickets. You cannot buy on the gate or use standard admission tickets.
Sunseekers bridge was two way the other two down only but this changed like the weather. As an exhibitor you can go up all bridges so they is a certain amount of slip through for visitors.
Anyhow if to Monaco now where there are now probs with bridges and even very pleasant RIBS to ferry you around. It will cost you over 60 euro for a day pass though !