Rib Ex 2004 comments requested

Steel Dev · 14 November 2003, 10:53

As you may be aware the Rib Ex 2004 (4-6 June) show is going to be held at Cowes Yacht Haven, West Cowes, Isle of Wight next year. I am thinking of having a stand there but I'm not sure if the venue is going to people off so I have a question to put to you, as rib owners or people interested in ribs.

Will having to travel over the Isle of Wight put you off going, if so where would you prefer to see the venue, i.e. Southampton, Portsmouth etc.

If you would go, would you travel there by ferry/red jet or would you go in your rib?

Any comments gratefully received

Louise · 14 November 2003, 10:59

There is another thread under 'RIB cruising' entitled 'Second Inaugural RIBnet conference' or similar:

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3115

It concerns arrangements regarding a meeting of RIBnet members to coincide with the RIBex event. Quite a few members have already expressed an interest, most of whom seem to be taking their own RIBs.

Hope this helps.

thewavehumper · 14 November 2003, 11:20

On an economic basis ( and I am not expecting you to answer this question) if the new exhibitor fee is more expensive than last Ribex the i don't think the attendance would be as great, but it would be Ok cos the rib population is increasing all the time.

If the numbers worked out for you at last ribex and you had a good time, you seemed to be when you were taking my money,( I got a good deal by the way) the look at 10% down on visitors and I'd think you'd be there.

I'd prefer to see it on the mainland and I would prefer to see it in Southampton as It's a much better venue than the alternatives.

There was talk of a new rib show in southampton this year but I am not sure what is happening.

But if it's the only show in town then I am going. probably by Rib cos it's less hassle for me, but they do have a good deal with the ferry people and they are claiming mooring facilities will be available to Ribsters.

Pete7 · 14 November 2003, 14:55

Julie, if you go then in addition to lots of shinny props for sale could you display a house of horrors ? and examples of ones you have repaired etc.

How about offering a balancing service on the stand ? and a free assessment.

Discount for Ribnet members ? (worth a try)

By the way nice to have you on here. Prop questions often crop up as you seen and answered on another recent post. By offering free technical advice you automatically gain free advertising which shows Steel Dev willing to respond and offer a personal service which is exactly what we are after.

Pete

simmons0 · 14 November 2003, 15:05

i would much rather see a mainland venue. Im not so much looking to buy something this year as i am just going to see whats new. i think its that anything that i buy would have to rattle around under my ribs seat, which does not have a lock on it for the rest of the weekend.

Brian · 14 November 2003, 15:39

Julie
I have been to RIBEX for the last 3 or 4 years and much prefer to spend my time looking around at the various suppliers and manufacturers stands.
You are "lucky" if you can get a ride on a rib, however, it is nice to see them in the flesh rather than just in photos in magazines or on webpages.
Also I would like to join with Pete7 and others in welcoming you to this forum. As a happy customer of yours, I know that others here will also appreciate your expertise.
I guess next years RIBEX will be interesting from various points of view.

Against, is the added cost/dificulty in getting there. My feeling is that this will severely reduce attendance, possibly by as much as 50%. If I were a potential exhibitor I would not take stand space unless it was cheap-cheap. I reckon I would get my money spent better by addressing my customer base here and on other websites. My sole objective would be to get my phone to ring.

For, is the novelty and the fact that the real hard-core of ribbers will come by sea and have a jolly good time as well.

mstacey · 14 November 2003, 16:58

Going to go in my own rib.

I think its in the wrong place and should have been on the mainland.

Steel Dev · 14 November 2003, 17:22

I agree with your comments with the venue maybe affecting people going, but if the people that do go are actually interested in ribs maybe it will be OK, anyway I like the RibEx show its usually fun so I have made the decision and have booked the stand!

Re repairs we always give free estimates for repairs so if you have any damaged props bring them with you. A "house of horrors" would certainly be entertaining, as I've seen some real prop problems, but the logistics of taking a "load of scrap" would make this difficult, but maybe I will post some pictures on the site at some time!

Steel Dev · 14 November 2003, 17:52

I am interested, if you are going by rib are you going for a quick look or intend on saying longer, this is a leading question I will explain all later. Just mulling an idea over in my mind, might be interesting for you, or might not!

Steve Care · 14 November 2003, 18:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Steel Dev
I am interested, if you are going by rib are you going for a quick look or intend on saying longer, this is a leading question I will explain all later. Just mulling an idea over in my mind, might be interesting for you, or might not!

Are you looking for a taxi service for your customers

Steel Dev · 14 November 2003, 18:49

Nope, thinking of a new service, ..........

A propeller test program at the Rib Ex. Hence the "are you going in your rib". As I see quite a lot of you are intending going in your own boat so maybe this would be a good idea? What I am thinking of doing is taking a few propellers for testing. You can come to the stand, pay a deposit, then take the prop for a spin to see if its good, bad, indifferent. There are two reasons for doing this for my point of view, I will obviously not deny that I want to sell propellers, I do I have an expensive boating habit myself to finance!. But also I am interested in trials on different boats to see what improvements can be made on different set ups. You will get the chance to try a different prop on your own boat and see the results for yourself. What I am basically saying is you try the prop, decide if you like it then came back to me with the results, you then decide if you want one, if so I give you a new one or send it FOC or I give you the money back.

What do you all think?

scm · 14 November 2003, 18:53

I think it could be better located but then i will be taking my own rib so it will be a nice day out!!
Regards
Stuart
PS I will be bringing a damaged prop with me!!

Cookee · 14 November 2003, 19:03

Our new leisure boat is taking shape (in plug form still), and I intend to bring it up for the show so it doesn't matter to me where it is - it's the same distance from Salcombe!

Look forward to trying some props, maybe we should bring the race boat as well!

Steel Dev · 14 November 2003, 19:22

What race set up do you have? if you want some help re the prop for the race boat you can send me a pm or email and I will see what we can do.

If I decided to do the test programme there would be a limit to the number of props I will be able to take, we usually take about 30-40 props for the stand so the test ones would be in addition. We will be going there by boat ourselves, so I can't take loads plus I've got to hump them up the jetty! I was thinking of general s/s props but I want to get an idea if this would be something you may all be interest in

thewavehumper · 14 November 2003, 19:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Steel Dev
Nope, thinking of a new service, ..........

A propeller test program at the Rib Ex. Hence the "are you going in your rib".

What do you all think?

bloody good idea by thw way re your house of Horrors I dare say Richard B will have a few more for your collection by then.

Cookee · 14 November 2003, 19:34

Julie have a look at www.bananasharkracing.com - it's the new website for 2004 with info on the boat etc.

I have somone down our way who "does" my props, but if you're offering some gratis help that would of course be gratefully recieved!

Steel Dev · 14 November 2003, 20:08

We it depends what you want for "gratis" I certainly wouldn't charge you anything for looking at the prop and giving advise. If you do bring the boat to the RibEx I'll see if I can get an engineer to look at it for you, bring some info and previous test results with you and we'll see if we can do anything to help

nik · 14 November 2003, 20:27

Hello Julie,
excuse me, but I am curious, how do you become a Propeller Specialist. It certainly was not on my careers advice list when I left school, although that was some time ago. But I would like to know.
Thanks, Nick.

Steel Dev · 14 November 2003, 21:18

That's easy I grew-up with it! family business but "old ones" now retired so taken over with my brother.....

Bittentobuggery · 15 November 2003, 02:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Steel Dev
Nope, thinking of a new service, ..........

What I am thinking of doing is taking a few propellers for testing. You can come to the stand, pay a deposit, then take the prop for a spin to see if its good, bad, indifferent. What do you all think?

That's a blinding idea and one of the few reasons that I would be attracted to Ribex next year.

I think that many of us are vain bastards and squeezing an extra couple of knots out of our lump is what it's all about. Only problem is, if one of your fancy steel props does improve my top end, I ain't gonna take it off again and wait for one to come through the post in a week's time.

Think you might need humpa to ferry you extra supplies.

Brian

p.s. Excellent defence of your Company on another thread