London Boat Show 2012: Survival Guide
London Boat Show Survival Guide
Top tips to get the most out of the UK’s largest indoor boat show
Pretend you’re a worker
There’s a café downstairs for staff and delivery men. It’s good hearty fare and half the price of the concessions in the main thoroughfare. If you wearing red trousers, yellow wellies and a blue cap they’ll probably turn you away, so act casual and pretend not to like boats.
Save on tickets
There are various ways to get cheaper tickets. The boating mags usually offer discount deals, as does the RYA. At least order in advance to save yourself time and money.
Hide your free bags
If you want to be taken seriously by the sales people, hide some of the free bags and goodies you’ve been collecting. They are a sure sign of a ‘tyre kicker’ who has come to the show for a nice day out rather than with the intention of putting down a deposit on a 60-footer. If you really want to be taken seriously or to look over one of the bigger boats then it is worth contacting the broker before the show.
Buy secondhand
There will be up to 70 used boats on the marina outside. This ‘used boat’ offshoot was introduced last year and proved a success. Remember to wrap up warm.
Do the triple
Visit during the last four days of the show and your ticket gives you free access to the The Outdoors Show and the London Bike Show.
Fit in to the City
Impress your friends by explaining the business of boat show sponsors, Tullett Prebon. Simply say: ‘Oh, I think they operate as an intermediary in wholesale financial markets facilitating the trading operations of commercial and investment banks.’
Use your smart phone
You probably have a bar code reader built into your phone. Use this to scan the code of products to see just how ‘unbeatable’ the boat show offers are.
Haggle!
If you’re spending a three-figure sum (or more) then don’t be afraid to negotiate on the price. These are tough times for the marine industry and everyone is looking to secure a sale. Choosing and Buying a Yacht by Duncan Kent will give you more advice. Check out his article on the top 5 mistakes to avoid when buying a boat.
Buy a book
Don’t forget to visit the Kelvin Hughes stand to see the latest books from Wiley Nautical, meet the authors and browse through the thousands of different titles on show.
For more information, visit www.londonboatshow.com
Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show, ExCeL London
6-15 January 2012
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