kcrane
Well-Known Member
A few photos from today's visit. Got to meet Nautical, very proud of his Absolute 47 with good reason.
Not sure what kind of mobo we will buy, so checked out quite a cross-section. Only one we didn't see was the Marlow, and that was the only one we had an invitation for! It was getting later in the day when the young lady guarding the steps gave us the "Ah, I know you have an invitation, but we are only doing scheduled viewings, so I can book you something in just over an hour". After a full day of looking at every boat we wanted to see with no waiting at all, and nothing but polite and helpful staff, we said thanks, but no thanks.
Nord West 42 was a lovely boat, beautifully put together, fabulous steelwork & solid wood. Nice cockpit and flybridge. 3 useable cabins in 42ft. There was a second IPS joystick in cockpit for mooring. I expect to see more of that on other boats. Let down, and now off the list due to cramped saloon, poor galley and unworkable sidedecks.
The Azimut 43S impressed. The large doors between the saloon and the cockpit made it a good UK waters choice. Interior was stylish yet practical. Guest cabin was a little pokey, but is is 43ft. Didn't have the IPS joystick, and the salesman said that was because it wasn't sorted when that hull was built, but could be retro-fitted. The leather was also looking a little tired in places (settee edges). Apparently was also now a Lombard boat (ex Peters) and thus a deal available (for example the show Azimut 50 was down to £550k). If it is a boat that has been well received, was built pre-joystick and open to a deal ex-Peters, why is it still around?
We looked at a few semi-displacement boats. The Elling E4 seemed a good balance, tho a little narrow in the beam. Galley was very good and lots of sensible touches. Not sure where the lazarette storage is though.
Fairline 48 squeezed a lot in, but got the impression that squeezed was the operative word.
The Nordhavn 43 was a much better proposition than last year's 40ft, but so focused on it's intended role, it isn't attractive for less specific duties. Best engine room we saw, seriously impressive.
There was something not quite right about the Pearl 50. It had a lot going for it, and some bling, but somehow it didn't have depth, not sure what I picked up on. I think they have been looking to move this boat (the demo 50) for some time, maybe wrong.
We then went mad and looked at two displacement boats, the Van Der Valk 17 and the Silverline 15. Both went for "If this is how you could live, who cares it does 9knts flat out?". They were both fabulous. The VDV had acres of marble and the Silverline had a professional level helm and all the extras (it had the only 'glass cockpit' we saw. Silverline first:
This is the Valk Der Valk dressing room from the master cabin
...and this is the guest heads (doesn't seem quite the right term)
The four of us had a good day. The weather was better than expected and bar Marlow, every time we asked to see a boat we were invited aboard immediatley and shown around with genuine enthusiasm. Well, it is early in the Show and a quiet day, but still, for a change, well done to the boat dealers.
Not sure what kind of mobo we will buy, so checked out quite a cross-section. Only one we didn't see was the Marlow, and that was the only one we had an invitation for! It was getting later in the day when the young lady guarding the steps gave us the "Ah, I know you have an invitation, but we are only doing scheduled viewings, so I can book you something in just over an hour". After a full day of looking at every boat we wanted to see with no waiting at all, and nothing but polite and helpful staff, we said thanks, but no thanks.
Nord West 42 was a lovely boat, beautifully put together, fabulous steelwork & solid wood. Nice cockpit and flybridge. 3 useable cabins in 42ft. There was a second IPS joystick in cockpit for mooring. I expect to see more of that on other boats. Let down, and now off the list due to cramped saloon, poor galley and unworkable sidedecks.
The Azimut 43S impressed. The large doors between the saloon and the cockpit made it a good UK waters choice. Interior was stylish yet practical. Guest cabin was a little pokey, but is is 43ft. Didn't have the IPS joystick, and the salesman said that was because it wasn't sorted when that hull was built, but could be retro-fitted. The leather was also looking a little tired in places (settee edges). Apparently was also now a Lombard boat (ex Peters) and thus a deal available (for example the show Azimut 50 was down to £550k). If it is a boat that has been well received, was built pre-joystick and open to a deal ex-Peters, why is it still around?
We looked at a few semi-displacement boats. The Elling E4 seemed a good balance, tho a little narrow in the beam. Galley was very good and lots of sensible touches. Not sure where the lazarette storage is though.
Fairline 48 squeezed a lot in, but got the impression that squeezed was the operative word.
The Nordhavn 43 was a much better proposition than last year's 40ft, but so focused on it's intended role, it isn't attractive for less specific duties. Best engine room we saw, seriously impressive.
There was something not quite right about the Pearl 50. It had a lot going for it, and some bling, but somehow it didn't have depth, not sure what I picked up on. I think they have been looking to move this boat (the demo 50) for some time, maybe wrong.
We then went mad and looked at two displacement boats, the Van Der Valk 17 and the Silverline 15. Both went for "If this is how you could live, who cares it does 9knts flat out?". They were both fabulous. The VDV had acres of marble and the Silverline had a professional level helm and all the extras (it had the only 'glass cockpit' we saw. Silverline first:
This is the Valk Der Valk dressing room from the master cabin
...and this is the guest heads (doesn't seem quite the right term)
The four of us had a good day. The weather was better than expected and bar Marlow, every time we asked to see a boat we were invited aboard immediatley and shown around with genuine enthusiasm. Well, it is early in the Show and a quiet day, but still, for a change, well done to the boat dealers.
