Exhibitors reported a somewhat chaotic situation with an initial announcement that everyone should vacate the site and return on the Tuesday to clear their stands, which they refused to do. Most packed up their stock there and then.

While they were doing this, however, members of the public were still on site and asking to make purchases.

However many of the 303 exhibitors (23 more than last year) said that during the time the show was open it was generally successful. Most of the 50 boats on show were, of course, narrowboats, with exterior design and interior fit-out styles varying from the ultra-traditional working boat copy Venice to the modernistic sea-going yacht looks of Fernwood’s Whitfield.

How practical it proves in day-to-day hard use on the waterways however remains to be seen.

For those with broader horizons there was a choice of well-appointed spacious wide beam boats with perhaps the best Dutch Barge style lines demonstrated by Piper Boats’ Bertillac, displayed to maximum effect afloat among the narrowboats in the recently enlarged Crick Marina.

Add the huge range of boating accessories, services and information to the extensive range of craft on display and Crick continues to be the premier event showcasing Britain’s waterway industry.

All it needs is to be blessed by better weather...