Did Southampton Boat Show 2015 that ended yesterday mark the end of the recession for the Irish Marine trade? That depends on who you talk to but if numbers are any evidence to go by there was plenty more Irish faces among the 110,000 that enjoyed a taste of Britain’s biggest boating festival. 

Irish show-goers made good use of the Flybe connections from Dublin and the sprinkling of Irish marine firms among the 500 exhibitors gave a great sense of pre-recessionary times.

Mid–week wet weather may have dragged down attendance numbers but it failed to dampen the mood at this year’s Show.

Trade bodies made good use of the opportunity for a useful 'heads-up' on numerous industry matters too. The Society of Maritime Industries, British Marine and the UK Chamber of Shipping signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set out the basis for all three to work together. 

On an international footing, there was a consensus that better promotional co-operation between member states could increase participation levels in EU boating. The recently rebranded British Marine Federation (now known as 'British Marine') are certainly doing their bit. Murray Ellis, Managing Director, British Marine Boat Shows said: “We have had yet another incredibly successful Southampton Boat Show with more than 10,000 visitors getting out on the water for free. Our attractions have been very popular this year with over 18,000 visits to our tall ship, the Earl of Pembroke, 5,300 rides on the Honda Boat Show Eye and over 27,000 visitors to the Show’s very own Aquarium. 

#allwalesboatshow – Irish Yacht Broker BJ Marine is making good on its latest base on the Irish Sea by becoming the largest exhibitor at the All Wales Boat Show, opening in Pwllheli this morning and running til Sunday.
Having opened its office in Pwllheli in December, General Manager James Kirwan told Afloat.ie  'we are very proud of the display we have put together with 11 boats at the show'.

The BJ Marine boats exhibited are some of Beneteau's newest and most popular models (list below). BJ also has 200 boats promoted at its brokerage stand ashore. BJ Marine has a six strong team on site for the duration of the show and look forward to welcoming all visitors.

The move in to Wales gives BJ Marine waterside locations and facilities at Bangor marina in County Down where it operates the marina boatyard, its head office at the new Greystones marina in Wicklow and now on the far side of the Irish Sea at Gwynedd in North Wales.

The marina in Pwllheli boasts 400 berths and storage for a further 200 boats ashore, which played a big part in BJ Marine's commitment to set up office there.

Beneteau are dealers for Beneteau power and sail, Monte Carlo yachts, Sea Ray and Fountaine Pajot. They have offices in Ireland, UK and Malta.

On Display in Wales
Beneteau Oceanis 48
Beneteau Oceanis 38
Beneteau Oceanis 35
Beneteau First 40
Beneteau First 30
Beneteau Antares 30
Beneteau Antares 780
Beneteau Barracuda 9
Beneteau Antares 580
Beneteau Swift Trawler 44

James Kirwan (left) and Bernard Gallagher at the BJ Marine brokerage stand this morning at the All Wales Boat Show

#londonboatshow – Strong opening weekend visitor numbers are a positive feature of the London Boat Show that has already produced some early sales results for two Irish yacht brokers at the Xcel–based event in East London.

Last year's event pulled in around 90,000 visitors. This year – the 61st show – organisers are hoping numbers will top 100,000.

'There is a definite sense of confidence around the place and the public are very upbeat about the year ahead', Irish broker Martin Salmon of MGM Boats told Afloat.ie from the firm's dedicated brokerage stand in Xcel.

For the Irish marine trade London has traditonally been a calendar highlight. 2015 is no exception with at least three Irish based deals done on the opening weekend.

Along with Boot Dussledorf, where attendance is expected to top 250,000 later this month, the London boat show is a key player in the global leisure boating industry, generating annual revenue of £3bn, and the show is the home base for a number of world-renowned UK brands, including Fairline Boats and Sunseeker.

Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger (pictured below) drew the biggest crowd of the opening day by far last Friday when she sang on the Sunseeker International stand. Sunseeker's Predator 57 (starting price £815,000) is launching at the show.

'The overall attendance is up 7% on last year and on our stand we are up 20% in enquiries and boats to list', Salmon told Afloat.ie

Salmon says the second hand market is still thriving in Europe. 'Boat shoppers are putting value for money at the top of the list and the demand for quality used boats is still growing' he said.

This year MGM has installed interactive screens on their purpose built stand located next to the Guinness stand so visitors can help themselves and browse through boat technical specs and photo/video galleries and it is proving to be a big hit. 

A new attraction to the MGM Boats stand at London boat show 2015 are our interactive screens. Stand FO51 pic.twitter.com/X4Ju2vlEoS

— John McDonald (@John_MGMBoats) January 10, 2015

BJ Marine's Group Sales Manager James Kirwan (left) and Mike Caplan of BJ Marine Pwllheli on the Beneteau stand, with an Oceanis 35 bound for Ireland in the background

James Kirwan of County Wicklow firm BJ Marine of Greystones is reporting 'massive' interest at the French Beneteau stand, a brand his company represents in Ireland. 'Both the new Beneteau Oceanis 35 and 55 have been of particular interest given their 'unique layout and the finish quality' says Kirwan.

Kirwan is reporting two deals done in just the first few days of the ten day show.

On the motorboat side, BJ Marine has excellent Antares Outboard model deals and the MC5 is making its London debut and is 'turning heads in a big way', according to Kirwan.

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'Our new BJ Marine Welsh office in Pwllheli is giving us an increased brokerage offering too for those talking to us about second hand boats'.

Likewise for MGM with their French brand, Jeanneau. The new Sun Odyssey 349 is attracting a lot of interest (at €122,000.00 Inc Vat on the water).

The new Velacso 37 is the star of the motorboat stand and is now the new entry level flybridge in the range.

Packed stand here this evening for the late night opening. The Guinness is flowing. @LoveBoatShows #LBS15 pic.twitter.com/YNghdEv4K9

— MGM Boats (@mgmboats) January 15, 2015

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MGM also handle Aquador in Ireland and this stand is always busy at this show due to the popularity of the brand in the UK and the 22C and 28C has gone down very well again, according to Salmon. 'The 28C was sold yesterday and we are working on some very strong leads and we should see some further orders throughout the week' he said.

77 debut boats confirmed

Another sale completed at the London Boat Show. The Aquador 28 is going down well this week. @LoveBoatShows #LBS15 pic.twitter.com/AvYU5bspvc

— MGM Boats (@mgmboats) January 15, 2015

The Show will host world firsts from across the marine industry. The Ribeye PRIME, Bavaria Sport 400, Williams Sportjet 520 and Haines 360 will dazzle power enthusiasts whilst the sailing industry will witness the launch of the Dauntless Oyster 500.

For those looking for the latest in luxury yachts aswell as the world launch of the Sunseeker Predator 57 there will be Fairline's unveiling of the Shadow S, the first of its eight new models to be launched over the next three years. 

#Bjmarine – In a busy year for BJ Marine on both sides of the Irish Sea, the leading Irish boats sales firm has opened a new office in Pwllheli, North Wales to "give an unrivalled presence in the Irish Sea", according to the firm's Bernard Gallagher.

The move gives BJ Marine waterside locations and facilities at Bangor marina in County Down where it operates the marina boatyard, its head office at the new Greystones marina in Wicklow and now on the far side of the Irish Sea at Gwynedd in North Wales.

The marina in Pwllheli boasts 400 berths and storage for a further 200 boats ashore, which played a big part in BJ Marine's commitment to set up office there.

With a rich cruising ground and plenty of traffic across the Irish Sea, its no surprise that Gallagher says he's "extremely excited for the future of our Pwllheli office and the opportunities for customers on both sides of the Irish Sea."

Mike Caplan is managing the Pwllheli sales operation, bringing to the team over 16 years experience in both new and used boat sales, with Dickies in Wales and with BJ Marine on the Beneteau stand at numerous international boat shows over the years.

Caplan will be at the London Boat Show on 9-18 January to share his knowledge and help you find the right boat for your needs.

#boatsales – Last week's Southampton Boat Show resulted in new boat sales totalling €600k for one Irish boating firm who say the four new craft sold – in an equal split between sail and power boats –  will be coming home to Ireland.

The uplifting news comes from leading Irish boat sales firm BJ marine who operate from Bangor, Malahide and Greystones on the Irish East coast.

The Beneteau Antares 30 (pictured above) was sold at last week's UK show and is one of four new boats sold by the firm that are coming back to Irish waters. The Antares 30 is the show display model and will arrive back into Greystones Harbour marina in County Wicklow during October.

BJ Sales Manager James Kirwan says the show also created massive interest in second hand boats, continuing the trend of the last 12 months where well presented brokerage boats are selling quickly through BJ's three Irish offices.

#boatsforsale – Time was when shrewd boat buyers went into action in the Autumn, when the post-summer downturn in enthusiasm might just make the used dreamboat affordable with a bargain end-of-season price. But these days, when most of us are urban-based with limited storage space around our homes, our boats are kept during the winter either in marinas or boatyards. Both options incur ongoing winter-long costs, quickly eroding the benefit of an Autumn bargain. W M Nixon suggests that now may be the best time to buy.

With good weather in the offing and the St Patrick's Day weekend on the near horizon, the boat-owning juices are beginning to stir. Not everyone wants to own a boat. But for those who do, it's an irresistible calling, a vocation which can only be deferred for so long. 

For sure, you could fight it well enough during the years of recession, when most of us were pre-occupied with simply keeping our economic heads above water. And even last Autumn, when things seemed at least to have bottomed out on the economic front, there was natural prudence in resisting the temptation to rush out and buy.

Now there is the added news that boat finance is being made available for the first time in five years through niche Dublin finance house First Finance and Leasing Ltd (FFL). It's the first time since the crash that a credit line is available for boats in Ireland.

So for the next few weeks, it's action time. And as Lee Stevenson of Blue Flag Boats in Bangor sensibly points out, many used boats for sale have spent the winter ashore, so if things get to the stage of seeking a pre-purchase survey, you don't incur the additional cost of a lift-out.

Down on the south coast, Hugh Mockler of Crosshaven Boatyard finds his continually-replenishing list of craft for sale is usually numbered at about 90 boats at any given time. While he can provide his services all over the country, his main area of operations is between Waterford to the east, and the increasingly important sailing area in and around Valentia Island to the west, with all the astonishingly varied sailing and boating paradises of the south and southwest coasts in between.

In the end, of course, it's people not ports that buy boats, so the large concentration of population in the Dublin area is matched by an intensification in broker numbers, with the main firms including BJ Marine where James Kirwan is the lead broker. However, founder Bernard Gallagher isn't averse to keeping his hand in with the occasional negotiation in the second-hand area from time to time, though his main focus is on new boats based on BJ's several noted marques, with the Beneteau brand dominant.

Martin and Gerry Salmon and their team with MGM Boats in the heart of the Dun Laoghaire marina area are likewise running a busy international firm whose used boat brokerage operations stemmed originally from their new boat sales with the Jeanneau range heading the fleet. But in recent years MGM's energies have been such that they've earned a European and even Transatlantic reputation for successfully selling top end second-hand craft.

Ronan Beirne of Leinster Boats in Dun Laoghaire is almost entirely focused on the used boat market, but with his extensive personal seagoing experience in boats of many kinds, he finds himself being asked to provide advice and professional expertise at all stages of the boat buying process, both new and second-hand. While he too can undertake work in all parts of the country, the main strength of Leinster Boats lies in doing what it says on the tin – his principal area of operations is focused precisely on the Leinster coast, which is Ireland's east coast between Carlingford Lough and New Ross in Wexford, where the River Barrow meets the sea far inland from Hook Head.

Ronan Beirne brings extensive experience of all kinds of boating and sailing to assisting clients of Leinster Boats

Like all respected brokers, Ronan Beirne sees it as part of his job to discourage people from buying boats which might not be suited at all to their particular needs. Brokers who are in it for the long haul hope to build up repeat business, and quick but ill-matched sales are not the way to do it. Nevertheless as all brokers are themselves boat owners manqué, from time to time their enthusiasm simply bursts out, and that's how it is at the moment with Lee Stevenson's pleasure in bringing the Moody s31 Corona to the market.

The Moody boats around this size have a long and impeccable pedigree. It was a very long time ago that the distinguished yacht building firm of Moody & Sons descended into the turmoil of glassfibre series production with the Moody 33, which was a lot of boat for the money. Subsequent Moody production boats of mostly larger sizes continued, with designer Angus Primrose's theme of reasonable performance combined with incredibly roomy accommodation in a high volume hull manifesting itself in numerous models. But as Primrose's assistant Bill Dixon took over the design work, the lines became more refined, and by the 1980s the new look was personified by the Moody 29 which looked good and punched way above her weight in the accommodation and performance stakes.

I can fondly remember the battles we had throughout the 1980s racing in Class 3 against the Moody 29 Mystique of Malahide campaigned by Robert & Rose Michael, a super boat which cruised as successfully as she raced. More recently, an excellent exponent of this Moody size and type has been Donal Walsh's Dungarvan-based Lady Kate, a Moody 31 of later vintage, being the 1986 interpretation of the Moody 29 concept. Just last year, Lady Kate won the Irish Cruising Club's Round Ireland Cup for an exemplary circumnavigation of our wayward island.

The Moody s31 Corona has a sensible and unextreme shape with the safety and convenience bonus of a sugar-scoop stern.

Corona is the 1996 development and enlargement of this theme, and she's a 31 footer which packs a good performance with an exceptionally comprehensive range of equipment, as in her seventeen years of life she's had three loving owners each of whom seems to have hoped to outdo his predecessor in lavishing care and goodies on the boat. The price of £45,000 reflects this very full inventory, and also the fact that the boat has been immaculately maintained. For a family thinking of moving into the performance cruiser bracket, she's a very manageable boat, absolutely ready to go. And with her proven performance and comfort, she might also be ideal for someone thinking to downsize from a larger offshore racer while not entirely hanging up the racing boots.

Down in Crosshaven, the Afloat.ie brokerage site draws attention to an interesting larger boat on Hugh Mockler's books, a boat which he admits has been well and very actively used, and thus she might need a bit of TLC. But with a price of just €37,500 this 1987 Jeanneau Sun Shine 38 has to be interesting, even if you note things that show you how much has changed in the 37 years since this boat was built, such as a Yanmar Diesel of only 24HP.

The 1987 Jeanneau Sun Shine 38 is that perfect size which suggests all sorts of cruising possibilities.

The Sun Shine 38 looks well-lived-in, but a bit of TLC will bring her back to showroom condition.

Nevertheless, the interior photos show us a boat which those of us whose boats are earlier than 1987 would think is in very sweet order indeed. And 38ft is for many sailors the perfect size – just big enough, but not too big.

Back on the east coast, James Kirwan at BJ Marine has two interesting craft in the same size range, but at very different prices. Around 2000, Beneteau up-graded their previously rather bulbous-looking Oceanis marque, and produced a range of boats which were notably handsome, with very positive and elegant sheerlines, and a nicely balanced profile. They looked well in all colour schemes, but they looked sensational in the Beneteau blue, and the Dublin office of BJ has a 2006 Beneteau Oceanis 373 in this particular shade of blue - she looks well in any company.

The Beneteau Oceanis range was at a handsome stge of development around 2006. This Oceanis 373 is for sale through BJ Marine at €79,900.

Her engine size reflects the change in attitudes to available auxiliary power over the years, as it is 40HP compared to the older Sun Shine's 24HP, but the use of a Yanmar is continued. The price is €79,000, which feels right, and you get a fine cruiser which might just surprise the opposition in club racing.

Another BJ boat which talks more clearly of racing potential is a First 40 which was sold new by the firm in 2009. In fact, this was one of the very first of the boats which replaced the well-proven First 40.7, but as she wasn't intended for racing, she has the shoal draft configuration. The year after she was built, the deep keel version of this new First 40 achieved international success by taking first and second overall in the 2010 Sydney-Hobart Race. But despite that, this boat has stayed resolutely in cruising mode – "neither raced nor rallied" as they say in the car business – and is on the market for €149,000.

This five year old First 40 from BJ Marine is the shoal draft cruising version of a racer which dominated the 2010 Hobart Race

Meanwhile MGM boats in Dun Laoghaire are in the almost-new area with a 2011 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33i at €79,950. It makes you realise how completely Irish life came to a stick-in-the-mud halt during the depth of the recession years, as this boat is now three years old, yet she looks super-modern by comparison with almost all of the current Irish fleet. And there's more to her than meets the eye. She has been used only in fresh water, and she's the lifting keel variant. Not everyone needs that option, but for those who might, it greatly broadens the scope of your sailing where the water is thin.

A Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33i from MGM Boats is unusual in having a lifting keel, and she has only been used in fresh water.

For those who might be interested in an American take on modern cruising yacht design, MGM have a 2000-built Hunter 340 priced competitively at €39,950. This will be of particular interest to someone who's utterly realistic about the kind of sailing most of us do in the Dublin area, as she has a very commodious saloon, and a large cockpit. If we're honest about the way we sail and use our boats, this is an arrangement which ticks most boxes.

The American-designed and built Hunter 340 has an exceptionally large saloon and very roomy cockpit

Leinster Boats by contrast have a cruiser which has classic seagoing as a priority. She's a quality Swedish-built Malo 36, yet though she's well able for ocean voyaging, and is kitted accordingly, she has generally been lightly used with short-passage cruises in the hands of a fastidious owner.

The price reflects the boat's high standard, indeed you'll have to contact Leinster Boats to find what it is, but the company have no hesitation in stating the price quoted for their Springtime bargain. For €13,400, you can secure a vintage Rival 32, designed by the great Peter Brett. The boat has been laid up for three or four years, but she's a gallant cruising yacht, and at a very manageable price.

Last year' whirlwind tour of Ireland's East Coast by the Old Gaffers Association for their Golden Jubilee cruise gave prominence to the "plastic gaffers" which are now an accepted part of the OGA fleet. We've been accustomed to the Heard range based on the sea-tested Falmouth working boats, craft such as incoming OGA President Sean Walsh's own Tir na nOg, but last summers events brought to prominence boats which more thoroughly exploit the possibilities of glassfibre construction while continuing to set gaff rig.

The Cornish Pilot Cutter 30 from Crosshaven Boatyard is the sister-ship of a successful participant in the Old Gaffers Association Golden Jubilee events in 2013.

One which particularly impressed was veteran gaffers Tim and Liz Dodwell with their new-style Cornish Pilot Cutter 30 High Barbaree, which spectacularly got the best of the squally start for the Leinster Plate race in Dublin Bay. Now there's a sister-ship of High Barbaree for sale in Cork. Hugh Mockler of Crosshaven Boatyard has her on his books for €97,500, she's in mint condition having been built in 2004, and as she has a centreplate and a 29hp engine, this is one versatile boat and definitely of interest to anyone who only feels happy sailing under a four-sided mainsail.

But if you feel only happy with a four-sided mainsail atop a vintage hull, shape your course for Gareth Courtney at BJ Marine in Bangor, who has the classic 1920 48ft Dickie's of Tarbert gaff ketch Morna on his books for £129,950. She has recently had a major refit and has an immaculate teak deck, while the rig is notably easily handled, and there's just something very special about this boat.

The 48ft gaff ketch Morna is pure gold classic, yet easily handled with her compact rig while having a good sailing performance.

Morna's large area of teak laid deck is impressive, but such beauty doesn't come cheap

Another vessel in the higher dream stakes is on Lee Stevenson's books at Blue Flag Boats, this is a Hylas 49 fom the Sparkman & Stephens' board. This yacht really has sailed the oceans, yet you'd think she is fresh out of the box, and the price is £245,000 absolutely ready to go across the high seas with quality sailing.

The blue water dream is just ready to come to life again. This immaculate Hylas 49 from Blue Flag Boats has already proven her ocean sailing credentials.

But those who have done their duty by sails are always on the lookout for a powerboat which would appeal to former sailing folk, and Hugh Mockler in Crosshaven reckons he has her on his varied list. She's an Oyster LD43, built 2005, flawless condition, oodles of power to match that stunning hull, and yours for £235,000. And yes, that – like the Hylas – is indeed sterling. Dream on.

The perfect fast powerboat for former sailing fanatics – the Oyster LD43 on sale with Crosshaven Boatyard.

Restrained style with impressive comfort – the deck saloon in the Oyster LD43 is the essence of good taste.

#bootdaily – Irish Beneteau dealers Bernard Gallagher and James Kirwan of BJ Marine are smiling at BOOT Dusseldorf this morning following the European Power Boat of the Year and European Sailing Boat of the Year awards announcements for the MC5 and the Oceanis 38 respectively. The French marques, from the world's largest builder of recreational boats, celebrated a double win at the massive German show.

Beneteau, Dehler, Saphire, and Contest were the big winners on the evening of the first day at the Düsseldorf boat show – BOOT Düsseldorf – when several hundred industry executives gathered to learn the winners of the 2014 European Yacht of the Year Awards. (On the same evening, the Powerboat Awards were also distributed; see "European PowerBoat of the Year Awards 2014".) The "Flagship Night" event, hosted by German publisher Delius Klasing as well as BOOT Düsseldorf, also included presentation of the Seamaster award for outstanding achievement in the sport of sailing to Jimmy Spithill, America's Cup-winning skipper.

From among 20 nominated models, European Yacht of the Year awards were handed out to winners in four categories.

In the family cruisers category the Beneteau Oceanis 38, presented in three different configurations, as a daysailer, a weekender and cruising boat was a clear winner. Afloat.ie reported on her debut last July and again last September here. Good sailing performance and innovative interior styling with plenty of natural light favoured the Oceanis over the other candidates, according to judges from 11 international boating magazines. The other nominees were the Allures 39.9, Bavaria Cruiser 37, Dufour 410 Grand'Large, Winner 900.

In the motor cruiser category, the top spot in the largest class above 45–feet went to the innovative Beneteau MC 5, (photo here) which showcases the results of the latest development work by the Frecnh builder. The other nominees were the Astondoa 63 Top, Deck, Contest 52 MC, Cranchi Eco Trawler 53, and Princess V 48 Open.

#beneteau – After a reported strong 2013, including the opening of Greystones Harbour Marina in County Wicklow, Irish boating firm BJ Marine is gearing up for 2014.

Representing major international boating names Beneteau, Fairline, Sea Ray and Greenline, BJ Marine are at the International Boat Shows in London this week (4th–12th January) and will also be in Dusseldorf later this month. (18th–26 January).

Highlights from this show period include the debut of the Beneteau MC4 flybridge cruiser, its main selling being a new hull shape, stability and handling with IPS drives, its interior finish and the amount of natural light down below.

Beneteau is not exhibiting at London, opting for a huge presence at Dusseldorf instead. Paris and Dusseldorf will also feature the French firm's new Oceanis 38 which is already selling strongly, available in daysailer, weekender and cruiser formats.

Greenline will feature the New Greenline 48 Hybrid at Dusseldorf along with the already established 33 and 40 while Fairline will exhibit the new Fairline Targa 48 Open, Squadron 48 and Targa 48 GT at London with their range from 38ft-80ft.

BJ Marine's Group Sales Manager James Kirwan told Afloat: '2013 saw strong new boat sales supported by a healthy brokerage market. 2014 looks similar but excellent new designs as well as strong trade–in possibilities on new stock boats gives today's buyer a range of options.

Kirwan also said demand is there for quality brokerage boats "as we continue to sell and ship all over Europe from our Irish, UK and Malta bases."

#boatshows – After a reported strong 2013, including the opening of Greystones Harbour Marina in County Wicklow, Irish boating firm BJ Marine is gearing up for 2014.

Representing major international boating names Beneteau, Fairline, Sea Ray and Greenline, BJ Marine will be at the International Boat Shows in Paris (7th–15th December by appointment), London (4th–12th January) and Dusseldorf (18th–26 January).

Highlights from this show period include the debut of the Beneteau MC4 flybridge cruiser. Beneteau are not exhibiting at London, opting for a huge presence at Dusseldorf instead.

Paris and Dusseldorf will also feature the French firm's new Oceanis 38 which is already selling strongly, available in daysailer, weekender and cruiser formats.

Greenline will feature the New Greenline 48 Hybrid along at Dusseldorf along with the already established 33 and 40 while Fairline will exhibit the new Fairline Targa 48 Open, Squadron 48 and Targa 48 GT at London with their range from 38ft-80ft.

BJ Marine's Group Sales Manager James Kirwan told Afloat: '2013 saw strong new boat sales supported by a healthy brokerage market. 2014 looks similar but excellent new designs as well as strong trade in possibilities on new stock boats gives today's buyer a range of options.

Kirwan also said demand is there for quality brokerage boats as we continue to sell and ship all over Europe from our Irish, UK and Malta bases."