Southampton Boat Show 2024: The ultimate playground for boaters

Southampton Boat Show 2024: The ultimate playground for boaters

Every mid-September for the past 55 years, boaters and marine-folk have gathered in their crowds on the famous Southampton shoreline for the ultimate celebration of the marine industry.

Flotillas of boats of all shapes and sizes gather, with perfectly polished hulls and colour-coordinated interiors, ready to be showcased in all their glory to boating enthusiasts and potential customers, while shore-based suppliers offer the perfect accompaniment to the ‘main event’, with endless offerings of boating equipment, tech products and demos, and marinas based all round the world. For any boating enthusiast, this is the ultimate playground!

History

Transforming from a small but high quality show with 50 exhibitors and a handful of boats in 1969, to over 500 exhibitors and more than 650 of craft to date, the show has consistently been a marine-magnet for visitors from around the world.

As expected, the show has seen many developments to what we know it as today – the biggest and best celebration of boating and water sports in the UK, offering not only hundreds of watercraft, but also a unique combination of family entertainment, live music, water-based activities, and retail opportunities.

Key highlights

Starting off strong, ‘Friday 13^th’ saw a visit from none other than HRH The Princess Royal. Known for her active involvement in the marine industry, The Princess Royal took to the pontoons and footpaths of the show to explore this years offering of latest technology, boat models and charities. Some of our team were lucky enough to spot her among the crowds too – what a perk of the job!

A host of well-known maritime celebrities and house-hold names attended this year’s show, including  ‘Below Deck’ stars Daisy Kelliher and Captain Glenn Shephard, who opened the show. DJ Chris Moyles entertained crowds on the first ever late Saturday night slot, and Judge Rob Rinder who lived up to his expertise and judged the shows best boats, booths, and personalities for an award ceremony at the end of the show.

The show’s on-water experiences were hugely popular with attendees too, and it was great to witness visitors be able to not only spectate the marine offerings at the show, but fully immerse themselves into the lifestyle and excitement of life afloat.

Down on the show marina sits the main event – the boats! The show’s pontoons were full to the brim of boat-admirers, purchasers, and enthusiasts, all taking in the new, the different and the classics adorning the waters.

Each year, we continue to be just as blown away as the prior by the sheer scale of boats and floating craft situated together in a basin of glistening perfection, and this year perfectly accompanied by the September sunshine! From luxury yachts and sailing boats, to jet skis and  dinghies, there really is something for everyone no matter your interest, budget, or navigational ability.

The busy Foredeck Stage hosted the annual TYHA Marina Awards 2024 on Wednesday at the show. Designed to celebrate marina excellence across the UK and worldwide, our very own Steve Arber, Marinas Director and TYHA Chairman, presented the awards to the lucky winners. Well done to all winners and runners-up. Voting opens for 2025 on 1 October 2024, so keep your eyes peeled!

There was also a meeting held for CMM at the show, where Richard Birch, Senior Operations Manager, Mark Pearce, Racecourse Marina Windsor Manager, and Mark Cookson, Broads Regional Marina Manager joined with fellow Certifies Marina Managers to discuss the recycling of ‘end of life’ boats, and early advances in re-purposing fibre glass into decking planks. Something that would be a huge solution for the marine industry as a whole! Keep your eyes peeled for any upcoming industry news in the near future.

Tingdene Marinas & Boat Sales

Tingdene Marinas & Boat Sales was sat in the prime location on both the land and water stands, ready to meet fresh faces, berth holders, boat buyers, old friends, and everything in between.

It was fantastic, as always, to catch up with affiliates, competitors and fellow-marine folk and discuss everything from how business has been to future plans. In a year that has been challenging for everyone across the board, we are forever grateful to be a part of an industry that supports, inspired, and encourages each other through the rollercoaster of ever-changing economic and social trends.

Our marinas stand attracted much interest, and our new stand graphic helped visitors visualise our locations and how our marinas look and feel for berth holders. Our premium facilities and unique offering helped guide enquirers in the research into what we can provide them and their boat, and talking to a representative in person was often the platform many needed to aid their quest for the perfect mooring.

Our most popular asset by far was our brokerage displays full of 68 of the 200+ boats we currently for sale across our boat sales and marinas offices. We facilitated all types of customers’ enquiries, from life-long boat enthusiasts with specific models and engines in mind, to those using the show as a starting point in their boating journey. Talking to all types of boater is one of our highlights at any show, not only for the stories shared, but also to help get them reach their boating goals and dreams as easily as possible.

Visitors may have seen our show competition, in conjunction with our friends and insurance providers, Haven Knox Johnson. Show-goers were asked to guess the length of rope in ‘Buddy’s jar,’ to win an amazon voucher. Good luck to those who entered, and keep your eyes peeled at your inbox to see if you have won!

Our Show Fleet

Down on the water, we were among good company in displaying our inland cruiser and day boat ‘pick of the bunch,’ where we found much interest in all models we brought to the show.

Our day boats, the Maxima 600 and SC Boats’ Henley Five, gathered a lot of interest from passers-by, and we can see why. The Maxima’s classically Dutch premium design and the  versatility and price point of the Henley were quite the revelation to those seeking day-time adventure on their local waterway.

The Viking 275 and brand new 260 were incredibly popular for tours, with visitors hopping on and off by the abundance. Many visitors were well-aware of the ever-popular 275 and all her attributes, but it was great to hear the feedback from the slightly different 260, and what was preferred and why. The optional layouts and bespoke nature of design for these new models was also well-received with enquirers too, with many leaving with what seemed, a lasting impression of these British-built, reliable cruisers.

We were delighted with how many visitors shared their own stories and experiences with a Viking, with many a previous model owned, and endless adventures held dearly, all set on the catalyst of a Viking Cruiser. Although we know and shout about this iconic manufacturer’s consistent presence up and down Britain’s inland waterways, it is always so nice to hear the ‘real’ stories from those navigating the vessels over the past 50 years.

Our Delphia 11 Sedan, one of the most luxurious inland cruisers on the market, was a hot-topic along our strip of pontoon, with many an eye catching sight of the impressive layout and space onboard. Making her debut at last year’s show, the luxury seating in the kitchen-diner and bright interior captivated many passing to go in and take a look round further. This modern, family-living design Delphia have brough to the inland market is perfect for those seeking a break away from the day-to-day, and this seemed to be encapsulated perfectly at the show.

Across the pontoon on the Sealine stand, we had our very own Boat Sales Director, Neil, taking many visitors onto the C335 model that we have in stock, ready to be opened up and enjoyed by her perspective new owner. This pontoon was by far one of the busiest areas, with many boat enthusiasts desperate to see inside these beautiful, luxury yachts. The perfect specification for inland and sea-going capabilities, your options for weekend or week-long escapes are endless with this model, so we can see why Neil was kept incredibly busy throughout the show!

The RYCK 280 a sporty day boat currently in stock, was also represented at the Sealine stand, with much interest shown in its dynamic capabilities and sleek design – perfect for the rivers and seas of Europe.

Looking ahead

2024 will be a year to remember for many exhibitors and attendees at this year’s Southampton International Boat Show, brought by the show’s well-known electric atmosphere, sense of celebrating and or course the September sunshine. We look forward to seeing what 2025 holds, and wish all visitors and exhibitors and safe winter, and we’ll see you in the spring!

If you didn’t make it to the show or have any follow up queries from about our marinas or boat sales from the show, you are also welcome to call 01933 551622 or email [email protected] any time.