Exhibitors at the 2010 Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show are hopeful that footfall will rise this weekend
Exhibitors at the London Boat Show are crossing their fingers that visitor numbers will surge over the closing weekend and no one is more hopeful than Jeff Turner who heads up the gigantic Yamaha stand.
Yamaha’s stand stretches over 1100 sq m and has 34 boats on display. According to Turner, Yamaha approached National Boat Shows with the idea of creating a centrepiece for small craft as it felt new boatowners weren’t adequately catered for and the stand “snow-balled” from there.
The Yamaha stand greets you as you enter the South Hall from the ticket hall and includes a walk-on pontoon to create the illusion of being in a marina. Turner said, “We’d love to have even more boats next year. The public like it and boatbuilders like it as it’s an effective way of displaying boats.”
Highlights of the Yamaha stand include a new targa-style layout for the Seastorm 35 from Blackwater Motor Yachts; the first show outing of the Aquafish 23; the new Yamarin 63 Bow Rider, complete with foldaway canopy; Ribtec relaunched; and for PWC enthusiasts there is the rather unusual Sealver Wave Boat, which is part boat, part PWC carrier.
Elsewhere at the show the Classic Boat stand has some beautifully crafted wooden boats from Peter Freebody, including a small slipper-style boat called Merk, which is actually a punt that has been modified to a 1930 design.
And of course, the scantily-clad girls and boys on the Fairline Mainstage are proving as popular as ever.
