Southampton Boat Show attendance

[dunedin]

Clearly going to a boat show is not for everybody, particularly if not planning to buy a different boat in the next few years (I find it useful to look at new boats that might be of interest searching out second hand in a few years).
So not wanting to attend is absolutely fine, and leaves more space for people seriously intending to purchase (then or later)

But I do think people doth protest too much about some aspects, like free tickets and travel distance ….

Not quite the point I was making, but the one you make above. The there was no will because the way could be no way to see much of the Show before time was up.

The show opening hours were generally 10:00 to 18:00 - though most people spend less than the full 8 hours to see what they wanted to see, With your 2.5- 3 hour journey you indicated, that would be at worst an 07:00 start and home by 21:00. Not a huge issue if wanted to go. Anybody on tidal waters will be used to an early departure and/or late return. And many of us have much longer journeys.

 

[Frogmogman]

As it happens I have just signed a petition to ban the import of foie gras (and other products) on animal welfare grounds. No way of stopping production, of course. Maybe import would be obligatory if we were still in EU...

Good for you, I don’t have a problem with that.

 

[Concerto]

When I used to go there always a bloke selling massage chairs, I wonder if he ever made a sale...

They were there again this year.

 

[Blueboatman]

The Zyliss Machine Vice?

I'm blushing because I bought one.

I don't think I ever used it.
?

That’s the fella .

My best mate bought one and he had a wooden boat, new to him..
and neither he nor I managed to use it much if at all !


Probably a collectors item now of course ?

 

[mjcoon]

The Zyliss Machine Vice?

I'm blushing because I bought one.

I don't think I ever used it.
?

I was ready to blush after Googling for any phrase with "vice" (or vise). But I think the YouTubes would be OK...

 

[dunedin]

For those that did actually go, and have some useful feedback (eg about ticket prices, catering or seating) the organisers have sent out to attendees a very comprehensive post visit survey - particularly if you elect to answer the additional questions (eg it specifically includes a rating on seating provision, for example).
Worth completing

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The days of Barry Bucknell?

Got a nice old house?

Ruin it by tearing down the picture rails, ripping out the fireplaces, and covering the doors with hardboard. Then paint the walls with orange emulsion!

Also dump the nice comfortable old furniture and buy G-plan.

Yes, I remember the Ideal Home Exhibition.

Didn't one of the newspapers organise it?

For several years in the 1970s I went to the Ideal Home Exhibition every year - my father-in-law got free tickets through his employer, the LEB. Otherwise, we'd never have gone - I forgot what it cost, but it was a significant sum. I don't recall ever buying anything !

PS, I'm in the ranks of those who would go to SBS to do things like try on clothing, or look for fun/interesting ideas. I am highly unlikely to ever buy a new boat! But this year it definitely isn't worth the travel costs - I'm in Hong Kong!

 

[Skellum]

For several years in the 1970s I went to the Ideal Home Exhibition every year - my father-in-law got free tickets through his employer, the LEB. Otherwise, we'd never have gone - I forgot what it cost, but it was a significant sum. I don't recall ever buying anything !

PS, I'm in the ranks of those who would go to SBS to do things like try on clothing, or look for fun/interesting ideas. I am highly unlikely to ever buy a new boat! But this year it definitely isn't worth the travel costs - I'm in Hong Kong!

Foolishly we flew back to HK the day the show opened. With a bit of planning we could have gone to the show and avoided having to quarantine on arrival at HK. The money saved on the quarantine would have covered the cost of the trip to the show - Doh!!!

 

[Fantasie 19]

The stands that are not boaty are basically professional exhibitors. They go to a different show every week, it's their business. If they weren't making sales they'd go bust.

Missed the "jiggly pipe" guy this year... always entertaining... anyone know if he was there??

 

[mattonthesea]

The days of Barry Bucknell?

Got a nice old house?

Ruin it by tearing down the picture rails, ripping out the fireplaces, and covering the doors with hardboard. Then paint the walls with orange emulsion!

Also dump the nice comfortable old furniture and buy G-plan.

Yes, I remember the Ideal Home Exhibition.

Didn't one of the newspapers organise it?

You've forgotten to nail a flush wardrobe into a chimney breast recess. It must be just too small to hold clothing; and the hardboard sliding door must jam.

And the boxing in the bannisters.

And the sloping roof above the stairs.

 

[LittleSister]

Lots of uncertainty

Are you sure about that?

 

[Capt Popeye]

Are you sure about that?

Most possibly I think so ?
?

 

[LiftyK]

Missed the "jiggly pipe" guy this year... always entertaining... anyone know if he was there??

I didn’t see him this year.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Foolishly we flew back to HK the day the show opened. With a bit of planning we could have gone to the show and avoided having to quarantine on arrival at HK. The money saved on the quarantine would have covered the cost of the trip to the show - Doh!!!

Yes; they changed it about a week after my quarantine finished! But the self-monitoring period is almost as bad - you can't enter most public spaces, like restaurants or museums, and even supermarkets are supposed to be off-limits (but no-one checks!)

 

[Skellum]

Yes; they changed it about a week after my quarantine finished! But the self-monitoring period is almost as bad - you can't enter most public spaces, like restaurants or museums, and even supermarkets are supposed to be off-limits (but no-one checks!)

I think the restrictions on public places are only 3 days now. Our week finished in time for Sunday dinner at the YC last week.

 

[STATUE]

The organisers are putting a brave face on the attendance numbers of 83,000 this year and claiming closing on Monday for the Queen's funeral was to blame.
SIBS reports on its 2022 sunshine-infused show - Marine Industry News

Last year the number attending was 88,000, this was after the cancellation of the 2020 show and Covid restrictions to attend the show in 2021. The attendance in 2019 was 103,000.

Personally I feel the attendance was down due to the withdrawl of the free RYA members tickets.

Let's get back to Earl's Court. Small enough and snug enough not to avoid getting into conversation with another yachtsman - Oh! .. and those wonderful BBC Television 'Tonight' programmes focused live, about removing traffic lights, telephone boxes along the path of a 'Superyacht'.

 

[st599]

Let's get back to Earl's Court. Small enough and snug enough not to avoid getting into conversation with another yachtsman - Oh! .. and those wonderful BBC Television 'Tonight' programmes focused live, about removing traffic lights, telephone boxes along the path of a 'Superyacht'.

Step 1. Rebuild Earl's court?

 

[Biggles Wader]

Earls Court is now a housing estate.

 

[Boathook]

Didn't the London boat show start at Olympia? That is still there I believe.

 

[Sandy]

Didn't the London boat show start at Olympia? That is still there I believe.

What's the parking like?