Excel Boat Show

Roy Smith · 09 January 2010, 13:13

Went yesteraday as part of a buinness trip
Did not seam as big as normal
Lots of ribs
if you go, check out the Gold Fish P36 Only £450.000
Corba had a tacky looking beige 7.6 and a 10.5 with sleeping where the inboard engine would go its got a Yamaha 350 V8 with twin 350 lts fuel tanks
The Avon stand had what looked like a Marlin Rib badged i think as a Zodic
The Riva stand had a retro wood boad that looked fantastic
Apart from Sunseeker etc etc not much else to see
There seamed to be a air of gloom about it not knowing what the season will bring.

Paul Cannell · 09 January 2010, 17:58

Should be going Sunday 10th, have free tickets courtesy of those nice people at Yamaha.

RAD · 10 January 2010, 18:31

I went today, it is obvious the show is dwindling with suppliers, the usual entrance with the ticket people is in one end of the north hall, then they have removed the opposite section in the south hall, there is no Navy boat on the water of which half the boats seem to have disappeared out there.

It is ok, great if you have a million pounds hanging out your back pocket, as for the free ticket, I got one but lost it, oh well.

If the RYA stop doing tickets for a tenner, I doubt I'll go in future, the internet is taking over....

Trist · 10 January 2010, 19:36

I agree the show seems to be going downhill the stands were not up to the standards as usuall except the sunseeker stand of course

Steve_B · 10 January 2010, 20:29

I am a little concerned at these reports, as I was planning to go up to wander round the trade stands for lots of bits & pieces and to view/feel goods, which is where the internet fails.

Is it going to be worth the 2 hour drive up???

Steve

Tim M · 10 January 2010, 23:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by 250kts

I am a little concerned at these reports, as I was planning to go up to wander round the trade stands for lots of bits & pieces and to view/feel goods, which is where the internet fails.

Is it going to be worth the 2 hour drive up???

Steve

I'd just go to the Marine superstore.

Roy Smith · 11 January 2010, 13:39

The Show IMHO is the wrong time of year and wrong place
Heres a thought the Southanpton show in June July or Aug
Sunshine warm (with luck) i would bet that sales would be up 50% as boaters
get carried away and buy on impluse also the add ons GPS etc etc
why would you want to buy a boat in Jan cold, short days

Knot Yet · 11 January 2010, 13:54

Following on from Roy's point........why would you want to buy a boat in Jan cold, short days just after Christmas with your wallet looking decidedly sad.

- or at least mine is!!

bogib · 11 January 2010, 14:50

My experiance over couple of decades is that ones X´mas and New Year is over people start thinking and looking forward to rising sun next even is the summer and it does attracts people to buy their expensive and inexpensive leisure stuffies including RIBs.

More often if blowing snowstorm and difficult driving condition the more people came to our store looking at summer toys.

Therefore sensible to have LBS in January, Dusseldorf as well and all Scandinavian shows are in February

I am busier last 10 days with enquieries than October, November and December alltogether.... so here you have it

Bogi

Nasher · 11 January 2010, 16:39

I'm wth Bogi on this one, but only for those people looking for electronics and new boats on a short lead time.
If you are looking for a new boat on a longer lead time then I think Southampton is the best show so you can order in time for the following season.

I do however prefer Southampton for a load or reasons, especially as a family day out.

Nasher

C2 RIBS · 11 January 2010, 17:52

Everyone I speak to just says it is a pig of a place to get to Excell!
I agree and I can get to London easily but the docks by road and rail are ****. Hammersmith was easier and I guess so would NEC at Birmingham due to the networks of travel, rail, air and road.

kawasaki · 11 January 2010, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Everyone I speak to just says it is a pig of a place to get to Excell!
I agree and I can get to London easily but the docks by road and rail are ****. Hammersmith was easier and I guess so would NEC at Birmingham due to the networks of travel, rail, air and road.

Excel is too far South
Plus akward to get to for us Oop North.

The NEC imho is the correct place for shows

Some say it is akward to get the Big Boats in there
But for a show Like Ribex etc I think the NEC is ideal

Southampton boat show is Great.

I still think a Show at the NEC would be a good Idea
Especially for RIBS and boats of the nature/ affordability of mere Mortals

OK, there is the Caravan and Boat show
Never been but some say it is OK for boaty peeps but not the 'real thing' as it were

I reckon a Boat Show in the NEC in the early part of the Year and Southhampton later would fill the Calender sufficiently for the Uk boating scene.

Poly · 12 January 2010, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by kawasaki

But for a show Like Ribex etc I think the NEC is ideal

RIBEX is held in the solent so that you can actually test boats out on the water rather than look at them in a hall. I'm sure that if you looked at where the majority of rib owners live/boat its the south coast (I believe that is a cause not an effect of ribex being in the south). It also gives a reasonably sheltered but potentially interesting bit of water for testing.

paul holder · 12 January 2010, 10:45

for all of us north of the m25 we have to get to southhampton then over to i of w . a compleat pain in the bum . all ribs are trailerable there for nec with its lake would be ideal

Downhilldai · 12 January 2010, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul holder

for all of us north of the m25 we have to get to southhampton then over to i of w .

So does everyone else.

Poly · 12 January 2010, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul holder

for all of us north of the m25 we have to get to southhampton then over to i of w . a compleat pain in the bum . all ribs are trailerable there for nec with its lake would be ideal

Paul - whilst the idea of a RIB show say on the Clyde, or at Leith would be really exciting for me - I recognise that actually for the majority of people it is out of the way. However if I were seriously intending to buy a new rib (say 20k+) then neither the cost not the "inconvenience" of getting to Southampton and onwards to Cowes would put me off. For the purposes of just having a nosey it is a bit far to go - but so would Birmingham be for most people who aren't local! And I would certainly rather see a rib trialed in the sea than a pond.