5 Insider Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit to a Boat Show
January 30, 2020
Attending boat shows are a way to celebrate for those who love being out on the water. They’re also a fantastic entry point if you’re looking to get into the boating lifestyle, whether it’s just to browse the latest models of leisure watercrafts or you are looking to make your first serious purchase. Enhance your experience by checking out our top 5 tips on how to take full advantage of any boat show, especially that Miami and Singapore Yacht Shows are right around the corner.
Tip #1: Do your homework
Boat shows can be an overwhelming experience, especially for first-time attendees. To get the most out of your available time there, it’s always a good idea to come prepared. Check the boat show’s official website to get a feel of the lay of the land. Apart from practical information such as a map to the venue and the show’s opening and closing times, they may have a list of events planned for different days, schedules of product launches, and who the exhibitors will be.
Tip #2: Go in with a game plan
Most boat shows will have a guide right up front, and it’s wise to make use of it instead of wandering around aimlessly. Familiarizing yourself with the floor plan can help you develop a viewing strategy. It allows you to identify the exhibits you want to see and put together a personalized map so that you can efficiently get to each one that you want to visit. If you’re in the market for a new boat, you’ll also want to spend enough time inspecting the offerings, so factor that in as you browse. After you’ve seen and done everything that you need to, you can relax and enjoy the entertainment and amenities.
Tip #3: Set a budget
Having a number in mind that represents how much you’re willing to shell out prevents you from overspending. You’ll also have to factor in any tariffs, taxes, and vessel transportation costs, so give yourself a bit of flexibility here. Use that number and mentally separate the offerings into categories that will help you to narrow down your final choice later on. Imposing strict limits on yourself allows you to make the most sensible financial choices and can prevent you from experiencing a boatload of disappointment later on.
Tip #4: Keep your options open
Say you already have your heart set on a Lagoon catamaran that you’ve been eyeing for a while. While you’re at the show, it can’t hurt to scope out different boat types or even see what a competitor brand’s offerings are like. Try not to get hung up on a single brand or model; comparison shopping can help you arrive at the deal that satisfies your heart’s desire and makes the most sense for you financially. Looking at different types can also help you compare and contrast certain features against each other so that you can find the boat that best suits your lifestyle.
Tip #5: Dress appropriately
Be prepared to do a lot of walking at a boat show, and dress accordingly for the event. You’ll want to be in climate-appropriate, comfortable clothing that gives you enough freedom of movement to board boats and get into tight corners with ease. Some exhibitors will require you to take your shoes off before they let you onto the vessel, so wear good footwear that’s easy to slip on and off for this purpose.
The excitement of just attending a boat show can easily get to your head, but don’t be afraid to come away empty-handed. A boat is no small investment to make, and you shouldn’t be afraid to walk away from deals you find lacking or boats that don’t give you a sense of satisfaction, even if they are within your price range. The most important tip for visiting a boat show we can leave you with is to have fun! Keep it stress-free, and you should have a wonderful time.
Europa Yachts Philippines’ Thomas Cachera and Richard Sarinas with Vincent Lauriot-Prévost, co-founder of VPLP Design, the French naval architectural firm responsible for the latest Lagoon Catamaran models and some of the world’s most innovative racing boats, holding many of the World Speed Sailing records.
We hope this blog post will come in handy in your next show you’ll be attending. Make sure to watch out for our acclaimed brand, Lagoon Catamarans and Beneteau, in major boat shows across the globe and do keep in mind that we at Europa Yachts are always here to answer your enquiries about all things yachting.
