Exhibitors and visitors at the Boatfit in Bremen
It is true that the expectations of the exhibition organizers have not been met. Instead of the hoped-for 13,000 visitors, just over 9,000 boat owners and those who want to become one came. While other water sports fairs are registering declining visitor numbers, the Bremen-based company was able to at least maintain the previous year's result.
After the premiere in 2006, the program was again significantly expanded this year. Over three days, 169 exhibitors presented themselves in two exhibition halls. Experts gave 100 lectures on six so-called themed islands. They informed the visitors about the areas of boat building and repair, engines and propulsion, sails and rigging, electrics and electronics, paints, varnishes and care products as well as safety, seamanship and charter practice.
“This fair is an offer for everyone who deals with boats and classics. Here everyone will find the right service provider or the right product for care,”said Hans Peter Schneider, Managing Director of the trade fair and exhibition company HansGmbH. "This is unique in Germany and the word has got around," said Schneider, explaining the growth. Last year there were 127 exhibitors and 90 presentations.
Indeed, the visitors were offered a lot. Something as of Sven Brieske. The "Hansine" is not only making a name for itself in Bremerhaven. The historic shark cutter from 1898 is currently being restored in Egernsund with great attention to detail. At the Boatfit the blacksmith showed old blacksmithing and manufactured fittings on site that will be found on the masts of the Hansine
Sanding, filling and painting - experts showed how to do it correctly
The sailor Bernhard Schwaab gave practical tips on the ThemCharter to the audience in his lecture “Charter: Yacht and Area Selection”. As a bonus, the visitors received a special edition of the “Charter Primer” that he had written free of charge
Already a hit among the 100 lectures last year: “Rig trim” - a science in itself, but as a sailor you should be well informed. The expert Martin Krings provided tips for this twice a day live from a dinghy.
And circumnavigator Burghard Pieske reported on his trip as a single-handed sailor. He has followed the route taken by Captain William Bligh, who had been abandoned by the crew in a lifeboat 210 years ago and, despite all nautical probabilities, covered 5,000 nautical miles through dangerous waters.
"The catchment area of this fair is really very wide - we had interested parties here from Cologne, Düsseldorf and Flensburg," said Herrmann Siefken from Yachtwerft Meyer GmbH, enthusiastic about the second Boatfit. “We were here for the first time and we are really very satisfied. What customers appreciate here is that you have time to talk."
Getting the little ones excited about working on the boat - Boatfit takes care of the youngsters
This is also confirmed by Thorsten Führmann from Dick GmbH: “There was a real specialist audience at our stand, we published 2,500 of our catalogs. And we noticed that no way was too far for the people, the visitors came from all over Germany. We'll definitely be back next year,”is his résumé.
Peter Solmaz will also come back with his booth for MarinOberweser, and not only: “I already know three other companies that will also be exhibiting here next year. This fair is very important to us, a good instrument for customer loyalty and image cultivation."
The next Boatfit will take place from February 29, 2008 in the Bremen Exhibition Center. More information at www.boatfit.de.