‘Sunseeker International believes another UK show over the winter period would not be good for the industry. We will continue to support the one winter show and that’s the London Boat Show at ExCeL as it offers us the chance to display our wide range of boats to an increasingly informed visitor.’
Robert Braithwaite
Managing Director, Sunseeker International

 ‘The National Boat Shows team has laid on the best boat show at ExCeL to date this year, with the current team in place I am sure that 2008 will be a further step forward with more great attractions. National Boat Shows are working for your marine industry so please support them, without the BMF and National Boat Shows we do not have a marine industry.
We at Purple Marine will not be supporting the proposed Earls Court Boat Show.
Allowing two boat shows to be hosted a matter of weeks apart will dilute the industry, confuse the public and more importantly split the number of visitors at both shows; possibly making both shows totally unviable to exhibit at.’
Greg O'Brien
Managing Director, Purple Marine

‘Volvo Penta is the market leader in the marine engine business and we are totally committed to supporting our major customers at the London ExCeL boat show. We also have a very strong desire to support the two major shows here in the UK organised by BMF/NBS and we have no appetite for entertaining this profit making alternative show at Earls Court on a direct basis.’
Ian Benning
Sales Director, Volvo Penta Europe 

‘We are committed to displaying our Hanse Yachts at one major UK winter boat show but believe that having two shows in quick succession will not be in the best interest of either our customers or the industry.
Many of us still have reservations about the ExCeL venue and we need to find a way of making it more attractive, accessible and affordable, but splitting the available business into two does not help.’
Chris Oddie
Director, Hanse Yachts UK Ltd

 ‘We all seem to have romantic and fond memories of Earls Court now we are no longer there, although I can remember an equal amount of whinging about how bad that show was in the last few years we were there. And because of that the industry, as a body through the BMF, chose to commit to ExCeL as the best decision in the long run.
All the main arguments for ExCeL still stand - road access, parking, hotels and space for exhibitors are far superior at this venue and, in particular, the possibility for the larger boats to come by water and the option of the dock for mooring or display. The only weakness of ExCeL is the present look and atmosphere of the East End of London development, BUT with the Olympic Games and the unprecedented expenditure planned for the area can only strengthen the arguments to stay.
The ExCeL show has consistently given Bates Wharf a better return on investment than Earls Court ever managed. And so suffice to say, Bates Wharf Marine Sales are striving to go forwards in the industry and see the only realistic option, with the above in mind, is to support ExCeL as the venue for the London Boat Show.’
Richard Bates
Director, Bates Wharf Marina

 ‘The London and Southampton Boat Shows provide the British marine industry with a proven commercial showcase for our products in a world-class setting.
We acknowledge the contribution that both the existing boat shows play in boosting leisure marine industry sales nationally and internationally. In 2008 we will exhibit at the London Boat Show as usual and we have no plans to exhibit at the Earls Court Boat Show. Confusion between these two events is not good for the industry at a time when we all need to work together for the greater collective good.’
James Grazebrook
Managing Director, Halyard (M & I Ltd) 

‘We will continue to exclusively support the NBS London Boat Show at ExCeL which presents the professional domestic and international shop window for our products whilst importantly its earnings accrue to the total benefit of our UK industry and the well being of our member companies.’
Alan Morgan
Managing Director, Avon Inflatables Ltd/ Zodiac International 

‘When we were invited to enter the ‘new’ Earls Court Boat Show we were extremely surprised to discover that another boat show was planned. Like most exhibitors, we have expressed our need for more space and expect that the ExCeL show will be enhanced so that our performance is improved. Nevertheless we don't believe that there is space for another winter show in London and we don't intend to participate the Earls Court show.’
Michel Francois
Sales Manager, Jeanneau Export Department 

‘As far as Earls Court is concerned.... I don't believe it’s the answer. What was good some years ago is simply not acceptable for today's consumer and many exhibitors will remember the ‘dead zone’ between 4pm and 7pm. The unsuitability of the building from a modern exhibition standpoint is also well known: build up, logistics, security, etc. In addition, the recent news of the increased London Congestion Charge area brings with it another reason to question its suitability in the medium to long term. Looking backwards can be a dangerous pastime; I personally believe it's better to remain focused, keep looking forward and be positive in mapping out our future.’
David Pougher
Divisional Manager Marine, Yamaha Motor (UK) Ltd 

‘There is room for one UK boat show over the winter and we at Princess Yachts will only be supporting the show at ExCeL.’
David King
Chairman, Princess Yachts 

‘I confirm that Mailspeed Marine shall be taking no part whatsoever in the Earls Court Show.
We totally support the BMF and National Boat Shows with the current London Boat Show, and although are keen to push for serious improvement in this show are conscious that the inclusion of a second show will only compound an already declining state of our industry’s shows.
We shall remain firm in our condemnation of efforts to get the rival Earls Court show off the ground and would like to offer our full support to National boat shows in whatever way possible.’
Leighton King
Marketing Director, Mailspeed Marine 

‘As far as Oyster Marine is concerned, a second show in London is unnecessary and we intend to continue to support NBS and the ExCeL show.’
Richard Matthews
Chairman, Oyster Marine 

‘We believe that the London Boat Show at ExCeL is the right show for the British marine industry and that having another one pre-Christmas and clashing with the Paris Boat Show is not good for anyone. We will not be attending the Earls Court Boat Show.’
Paul Strzelecki
Joint Chief Executive, Henri Lloyd 

‘The very last thing our industry needs is another boat show. Two major vibrant exciting shows are what the industry needs. National Boat Shows organises the London and Southampton Boat Shows and money from the shows goes back into the industry. Creating an independent boat show in December prior to the London Boat Show will confuse the public and could drastically reduce the attendance to the main London Boat Show.’
Andy Goddard
Managing Director, Andark Diving 

‘As a company, Peters Opal has decided not to exhibit at the recently announced Earls Court Boat Show. This also applies to our six distributed brands - Azimut, Sealine, Rodman sports fishing boats in large power and Bavaria, Island Packet and Hunter legend in sail. Having been at 48 London Boat Shows, for us there is only one London Boat Show and that is the one organised and developed for the benefit of the marine industry by NBS and BMF.’
Brian Peters OBE JP
Chairman, Peters plc 

‘As a business, we are members of the BMF and as such, support the BMF and NBS in their decision making, having had the opportunity to contribute to their deliberations over the years. I see no reason to change my support for the BMF and NBS, who I have found to be professional bodies, willing to listen to considered comment and act accordingly.
Both venues have pros and cons, but for Fairline and its customers I prefer to deal with certainty, something I have when exhibiting at ExCeL. I for one would be very reluctant to support a competitive boat show at Earls Court and believe our focus should be on providing the best international show under the auspices of the BMF and NBS so ensuring the best future for the British marine industry.’
Derek Carter
Managing Director, Fairline Boats plc 

‘Please be advised that Ancasta International Boat Sales which represents; Bénéteau Sailing Yachts, Lagoon Catamarans, Bavaria Motor Boats, Rodman Yacht Range, Rodman Muse range and Marten Yachts, has no intention of participating in the recently announced Earls Court Boat Show.
Our view is that a second boat show in London is unnecessary, unwelcome and indeed counter productive. We will continue to fully support NBS and their show at ExCeL. We believe that the London Boat Show at ExCeL is now evolving into the event we had hoped for during the time when the industry was in desperate need for an alternative to Earls Court.’
Nick Griffith
Managing Director, Ancasta International Boat Sales 

‘At Cooney Marine we are concerned that a boat show in Earls Court could take visitors away from the London show at ExCeL. We do not want to jeopardise the benefits the BMF deliver, therefore we will only be supporting the ExCeL show.
Andy Sims
Operations Director, Cooney Marine 

‘It needs to be remembered that the London Boat Show is owned by the industry. The BMF ploughs the profits that are made from the show back into the industry through the services and representation provided by the federation.
Let us be very clear. If the profitability of the London Boat Show is damaged there will inevitably have to be cutbacks in federation activity. This would mean reductions in technical support, pulling back from some of the pioneering environmental work we are doing to protect the industry or reducing the significant international development work we do to help the industry export.’
Howard Pridding
Executive Director, British Marine Federation