Record sales at the boat show

But attendance figures for this year are down

As the 2005 Schroders London Boat Show closed its doors yesterday, exhibitors were reporting record sales. Trading seemed to echo the industry's performance over the last year, which last week was reported to be 8.5% up on the previous year with turnover standing at almost £2bn. However, visitor numbers struggled to match last year's success. Hampered by bad weather and traffic problems within the region, the show got off to a slow start but recovered remarkably well with over 45,000 people attending on the final weekend alone.

Additions to the show afforded by ExCeL's facilities, such as the dockside and the live action Watersports Arena, have again proved extremely popular. Packed audiences of more than 2,500 spectators witnessed the Virgin Radio PWA Indoor Windsurfing finals this weekend, and the arena was also packed out earlier in the week with visitors watching the National Canoe Polo Championships.

Paul Streeter, Managing Director of National Boat Shows, said: "The 2005 Schroders London Boat Show has been a great success. For the second year at ExCeL the quality of visitors has been tremendous, which is extremely good news for the industry. ExCeL is a great venue and the show has quickly settled into its new home.

"Once again our key show attractions have been incredibly popular. The Waterscape.com Inland Waterways Attraction, complete with its own purpose built pub Fox@Waterside, was one of the most visited attractions. The action in the Watersports Arena has been extremely well received and over 20,000 took the chance to tour HMS Sutherland, a type 23 Frigate outside on the Royal Victoria Dock."

A spokesperson from The Peters group commented, "Despite the reduction in consumer confidence on the high street, business hasn't been hampered at the boat show."

Their power and sail divisions, Port Fairline, Opal Marine and Seasport Marine, signed over 100 contracts worth £19.5 million, which together with an already strong forward order book from the Southampton Show in 2004, means that some models are now sold well into 2006. Brian Peters, Chairman of Peters plc, added "It has been a very good show for us and we look forward to returning to ExCeL in 2006."

Cooney Marine recorded their highest ever sales since they started trading some 30 years ago and France Afloat had their best boat show in 9 years. Officials from Waterscape.com acknowledged that visitor quality has risen dramatically. Richard Gaya, Area Sales Development Manager for Honda reported, "Prospects that we have seen during the show have been great, and significantly up on last year."

The show will next appear at ExCeL from 5-15 January 2006.