Well, what did we all think of LIBS?..

beancounter

beancounter

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Did my usual evening run yesterday - turned up at 4.00 for the cheap admission.

There didn't seem to be that many boats there; I believe that Jeanneau and Beneteau had consolidated their sailyboats with their mobos in the South Hall (Never been in the South Hall - "Here be dragons..."). More boats than I thought from reading the mags, tho.

Still nursing a sore head from the low headroom inside a Cornish Crabber - ouch. Admired the Cape Cutter again - lovely little boat. Reminisced over a Laser 2000.

There were a reasonable number of folks around - busy but not uncomfortable. Chatted to lots of charter and holiday companies, several of whom commented that the show had been pretty dead up till yesterday. As I wasn't shopping for boat bits, can't comment on the prices. Quite a few stands only periphally linked to boats (Wealth management? - surely an oxymoron for boat owners. Wireless HiFi for the home?).

Overall an OK "fix" for a boatless person - a bit like an alcoholic in rehab staring in the window of Threshers, but I couldn't have justified the cost of a full day ticket.

I do wonder how much longer the show will go on though -with the proximity to big continental shows and Southampton having the better "on water" setting. (Plus it is ideally situated for the Marine Industry and Media's alleged Solent-centric view of the universe). It will be interesting to see the visitor numbers for this year (I know the weather hasn't helped).
 
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I think the LIBS has become a habit for us becuase it's so easy to get to - but I would think twice about going next year. My focus is different now I am a boat owner - I used to like the window shopping aspect (and day-dreaming aspect) and now I am a nuts and bolts shopper. Because of this, I think I get more info from the internet and the prices are the same, if not better. Also, there seems to be a kind of 'make up the price as you go along' mentality - ie Marc saw a sweater he liked there that he'd seen at SIBS - it was £75 at SIBS and we'd quibbled about whether it was worth it. At LIBS it was £99 !!! Same retailer. Work that out!

However, it was jolly nice to meet up with Clive and Doug and we met a few other friends on the way and it's a nice social day out with mates. It's a shame that we kept missing other ECFers - but I'm sure there'll be other times....

L x

ps - I think I enjoy the Boat Jumbles more! :)
 
I went there at 4.00 today. I enjoyed it but I would't pay the full price. There are barely a handfull of sailng boat manfacturers exhibiting. Indeed there seem to be few motoboat exhibitors either. Lots of small stalls though which were interesting.

They had moved the ticket office actuall into the hall to take up more space.

Anyone any views on coppercoat - it seems to have come down to a reasonable price?
 
We went on Tuesday - smaller show than previously but plenty of people on the stands to give advice and hands on demos of things - by far the biggest reason we go.

If sailing's your hobby; why wouldn't you want to spend a day wandering around the boat show?
 
moondancer said:
Anyone any views on coppercoat - it seems to have come down to a reasonable price?
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Moondancer,

Please see mine as attached posted earlier on an antifouling thread:-

I have Coppercoat and here at West Mersea it's next to useless. I have a lift and scrub every month in the season and as well as that I put her on the posts when I can.

Last season she was scrubbed in the first week of September and when lifted in the first week of November you needed a Dutch hoe for the barnacles and weed.

In the first season I had the boat I used Flag Flagship, as it was then, and it's performance was quite OK, but the boat became heavily slimed. So I bought at the Boat Show in 2003 Seajet Emperor, which they said was specific against slime. They said that it was compatible with the Flag but it was not. I had to have it all slurry blasted off. Then I thought 'as it's back to bare gel coat, why don't I use Coppercoat' - and here we are. It's never been any good and I reached agreement with the makers for a refund 'on the steps of the Court' as it were.
 
Went today, Sat, arrived 9:30 had a 30 minute fight with car park ticket machine that eat my £10 and wouldn't give a ticket. Met Blakey from on the buses (wondered where he had gone) who opened up machine and gave me a ticket, he had a serious attitude problem but I let him off on the grounds that he was probably fed up with the ticket machines, and the fact that he did give me a ticket.

Thought show was fine lots of people and got busy from about 12:00 onwards. Friends on the stands were happy with numbers, Beneteau stand was packed, didn't bother with any other yacht stands. Did notice that Southerly seemed to have a minder at bottom of stairs not sure if she was limiting numbers or what but thought it off putting for a mainstream product.

Prize for appalling customer service has to go to Cactus, I am in market for VHF and an inboard autopilot, the two muppets behind the counter couldn't give a toss so I just walked off and left them to their double act. Cactus's loss is Seamarks gain.
 
Thanks Tim,

I have done some better searching and seen your experiences. hmmm not so sure now. I guess the problem is that al anti-fouling seems to be next to useless these days.

TimfromMersea said:
Moondancer,

Please see mine as attached posted earlier on an antifouling thread:-

I have Coppercoat and here at West Mersea it's next to useless. I have a lift and scrub every month in the season and as well as that I put her on the posts when I can.

Last season she was scrubbed in the first week of September and when lifted in the first week of November you needed a Dutch hoe for the barnacles and weed.

In the first season I had the boat I used Flag Flagship, as it was then, and it's performance was quite OK, but the boat became heavily slimed. So I bought at the Boat Show in 2003 Seajet Emperor, which they said was specific against slime. They said that it was compatible with the Flag but it was not. I had to have it all slurry blasted off. Then I thought 'as it's back to bare gel coat, why don't I use Coppercoat' - and here we are. It's never been any good and I reached agreement with the makers for a refund 'on the steps of the Court' as it were.
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I enjoyed it very much.

All the stands were courteous and surprisingly patient.

How they do it day after day with us punters is a mystery.

Finally worked out what a Panini was and ate two. £5.20 each time including a Latte. Excellent value. Seven hours seemed to pass in about two.
 
Yep, have to say the Kioni-ites all enjoyed it too, met up with the extreme wing of the east coast massive, wrestled the jelly babies from the YBW staff, bought some inexpensive but useful binocs, got a deal on a couple of inflatable canoes and had an enjoyable stay overnight in the hotel, too. Oh yes, and crawled over the Oysters, Island Packet, Ovni and a few others. Found it much easier to browse through the gear with fewer people and there seemed to be more chandlers, everyone helpful and polite so no probs there. Family happy, so I am too.
 
Great day out on Saturday. Parked at the spot near the dock end for £5 for the day and picked up a bolt through the rear tyre. Had that repaired on Sunday. Not so cheap after all.

Boat show, I thought was great, not as large as in the past but still good fun. Managed to get a tiller pilot at a good price. Drooled over the Cornish Crabbers and had a great chat with the new owner. Got a great photograph on the gaff rigging stand of Mike Emmett with the label "Fanny of Cowes".

Best of all listening to Mike Peyton talk about his cartoons.
 
Went on Friday with free ticket, got some good advice but didnt buy anything which is a first. if the ticket hadnt been free i wouldnt have gone. Any chandlery i would buy on line nowadays, that used to be the reason for going. Found a tenner on the way out and intended to give it to the old boy collecting for the RNLI on the door, but he had disappeared so put it towards drinks at Kings Cross, i'm bad I know, 'larceny by finding' lock me up!
 
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