Boat Shows

I am interested in what you all have to say about the "need" for all of these shows in the UK. Do we need Excel? Southampton?Ally Pally?

I would be happy just having Southampton for Keel Boats Dinghys and Motor Boats and Alexander Palace for Dinghys.

 

Stuff Excel...

I don't think the London show is as good as it was when it was at Earls Court, but still worth a look.

Southampton show is the best by a mile. I never miss it.

I tend not to bother with Ally Pally, which is strange considering i'm firmly a dinghy sailor, but you don't see that much there that you wouldn't see in most boat parks. I do think it has value as a social occasion though. You can catch up with all the people you haven't seen over the winter, and there's always the rugby in the Phenoix.

i beg to differ i think soton show and the london 1 r very similar. however i think the location having been moved to excel for the london 1 did lessen visitor numbers this year.  the dinghy show is very specific but im sure alot of dinghy sailors me included love going to excel and southampton to look around the yachts - the best thing is definatley putting on the "posh" acent when you book to view the £3.5m sun seeker , i do prefer soton tho because it is outside and is allways sunny

Personally i prefer southampton, since i can sail in the morning, then head down 2 the boat show 4 the afternoon rather than having 2 traipse up to london! Also more of the Soton show is actually on the water. having said that the dinghy show is also good, if ur into dinghys, but theres not really enough stuff there 2 occupy u 4 a whole day.

i go to all of them and i prefer alli palli cos it is close and all the classes turn up and u can chat to people from that class!!  all the other boat shows have all crappy power boat stuff and not all the dinghy companys go to them shows!!   but all the shows r entertaining and good fun!!