So - what did you get out of the Boat Show?

[Piddy]

A great time on the Raymarine simulator taking a power boat up the Medina at 35knots!!!! I ran out of 'environment' at the gasworks - I know they've gone but tthey were in the simulation.... Then ploughing through East Cowes marina at full speed.. What fun.

I looked at new cookers, AIS (again) and loads of toys I can't afford.

 

[Plevier]

Very strange. At the risk of causing thread drift, I would absolutely not want a cross cut genny. Radial for both in my view plus full battens for main and a better than standard cloth, too if you want to race competitively.

He said as genoa is 3.5:1 aspect ratio and only 115% (it's sheeted inboard) the dominant loads would be up the leech and appropriate to crosscut. Also referred to the fact that as small, not likely to be reefed (roller) often. I can only repeat

Have to say my racing is not very serious, it's weekend fun, and not sure I can justify extra for radial cut (not that going back to crosscut reduced his quote anyway). In any case most people say radial cut and Dacron don't go together and I'm not in the market for laminate. I think DP Square would be my limit (head down now in anticipation of mixed opinions on that cloth! It's not the one he suggested.)

 

[kunyang]

And the nicest boat I looked around, well the most practical, was the Swede 37, now I just have to save the odd £270k and I'll have one, as the rep stated, 'it does come with everything' oh, and I'll have a blonde.

 

[NealB]

I went to down to look over the Southerly 57, as a mate has one on order.....very nice, but difficult for me to relate to (not my sort of thing at all, mainly on money grounds), so I bought a pair of Musto boots.

The most interesting bost I saw was the Hobie Mirage....a sailing kayak, with a beautiful pedal propulsion system (rumoured to be inspired by the way penguins swim) and outriggers...I was very tempted by that, but should, really, rationalise the fleet first.

 

[GlennG]

The most expensive gloves I've ever bought - made out of real seal skin apparently (although that might just be the brand). Like a kid with a new pair of wellies, I'm quite looking forwards to a frosty sail to see if they keep my hands warm.

Some magic hand warmers. They're liquid 'salt' in a soft plastic pouch which activate when you click this metal button inside. This heats them up in some miraculous chemical reaction that would have one burned at the stake a couple of hundred years ago. Once cold you need to boil the bag in water for 5 mins to reset. Will be interesting with the first purchase.

Spent time oggling over the HydroVane self-steering system. We can dream... Oops, I'm out in the ocean again.

Without any doubt in my mind, the boat of the show was the Spirit 50 Deck Saloon. Just stunning, beautiful, quality, natural, understated, classy... Anyone buying one of those is making the world just that little bit better.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I went to down to look over the Southerly 57, as a mate has one on order.....very nice, but difficult for me to relate to (not my sort of thing at all, mainly on money grounds), so I bought a pair of Musto boots.

The most interesting bost I saw was the Hobie Mirage....a sailing kayak, with a beautiful pedal propulsion system (rumoured to be inspired by the way penguins swim) and outriggers...I was very tempted by that, but should, really, rationalise the fleet first.

My mate has one and loves it - he has the single seater version, and car tops it on top of a Nissan Micra.... very clever design, sails it in Chichester Harbour (has the mast/sail option), has sailed it around Hayling completely on occasion, fishes from it, and my is it fast even in light winds as he just engages pedal power....

 

[Sans Bateau]

" So - what did you get out of the Boat Show?"

A higher Visa card balance.

 

[deep denial]

Without any doubt in my mind, the boat of the show was the Spirit 50 Deck Saloon. Just stunning, beautiful, quality, natural, understated, classy... Anyone buying one of those is making the world just that little bit better.

yes, beautiful. I was particularly impressed by the approach to customers. I made it clear that I wasn't going to be buying ( the price was evidently too high even to be on display), but the salesman who is also the MD of the company was charming and showed us round. Full marks to him - and you never know one day......

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I went for a new sail and a new dinghy. I came back with a cockpit table for swmbo and a pair of boots for swmbo. And sore feet. And an empty wallet - £8 for parking!!!!!

 

[Evadne]

I bought a new hand held VHF (the floaty Icom with the flashy light, not in the PBO test but I like it) and some teak thingies for the cockpit so I don't spill my tea so often. SWMBO picked up a roll of canvas to make a cover for the cooker, and we got a roll of that mesh stuff you put under the bunks. What I really look forward to is going for a sail on 'Morwenna' next year, if we can fit it in.