Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

2024 BoatLife Show powered by Suzuki - Day 1

by Boat Life Events 15 Feb 2024 20:00 UTC 15-18 February 2024

The NEC Birmingham welcomed a packed hall of visitors today at BoatLife 2024 - Powered by Suzuki - and what a first day it turned out to be. The air was full of excitement amongst the boating community as Ollie Ollerton, from Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins, opened the eagerly anticipated four-day event.

Ollie talked about his motivation to establish the BreakPoint Academy, his involvement in water-based military operations and his clear love of boating. A proud boat owner, he recently picked up a stealth design Iron 827 from the The Wolf Rock Boat Company.

With more than 220 boats on display, an outstanding 25% increase from last year, as well as an even more extensive range of exhibitors taking larger stands this year, the BoatLife floor was packed with a buzz of activity. Gleaming power boats were displayed by renowned industry names such as Cobalt Boats, Parker Adams, TBS Boats, Ryds, Wills Marine, CDT, Idealboat and sturdy RIBs from Barrus Marine, Rebel Leisure, Ocean Ribs, Excel and Cambrian Marine to mention just a few.

Waterways options from companies ABC Leisure, ABNB Brokerage, Bray Marine Sales and Tingdene were very popular in the Inland Zone sponsored by HPi VS, represented by Ambassadors David Johns from Cruising the Cut and Adam Lind from Floating Home. Narrowboats from Lakeland Leisure Estates and JF Boatbuilding proved an impressive feature, and media partners Canal Boat Magazine offered a great readership deal.

The Angling Zone, with media partner Sea Angler Magazine, was a vibrant hub, where the Cox and Rawle Rig Centre offered a great spot for advice and tips. Brands included Catch and Cook, Peter Leonard Marine, On-Top Angling, Inflatable Boat Fishing, Small Boats Sea Fishing, Suzuki Fishing and Whitewater Marine while Ambassadors for this zone were notable fishing personalities - John Locker, Will Parkinson and Squidward 3.

At the lively GJW Direct Activity Pool, Rockley organised plenty of free have-a-go sessions for visitors, with paddleboards provided by North Sands and kayaks from Riber. As always, these great activities resulted in plenty of family fun and laughter! Nearby, the beach area with surf simulator, ice cream and fish & chips van plus Mermaid Gin Bar, added to the lifestyle vibe as a convenient place to meet up with friends.

The atmosphere was buzzing on the Main Stage sponsored by Pelagic Sales Network and hosted by Olympic commentator Alec Wilkinson. Guests heard three groundbreaking announcements with the first from the MES Racing Team detailing their exclusive trilogy challenge. Headline sponsor Suzuki UK launched an exceptional new outboard and the innovative Cruise Moor Scheme debuted with Aqueduct Marinas.

In addition guests were treated to a range of appearances from watersports cameraman Matt Connor, angling chat from Adam Jones and John Locker, with epic RIB adventurer Harry Dwyer later in the day.

Green tech was well represented with the much awaited debut of the Torqeedo travel range package demo, new business eboat.store launched as well as debuting the new ePropulsion eLite 500w electric outboard, while eco-friendly Washdown products were delivered to all boats on display. Within this framework, exhibitors such as Mastervolt, RAD Propulsion, Bonomi, Whisper Power, BluNav and Solar Technology certainly piqued plenty of interest with an assortment of sustainable marine options.

Outside, the Isuzu driving challenge was in full swing, with the NEC course being put to the test by eager drivers ready to take on the gruelling track.

From day one it is clear that BoatLife is setting a new standard, reflected in increased ticket sales, visitor numbers and press attendance, plus some very positive feedback. As a family-friendly, all-inclusive event packed with countless opportunities to explore the boating lifestyle, this show has evolved substantially in just three short years. Building a community feel, year-round engagement and a warm, welcoming vibe, BoatLife is nothing short of a triumph.

Event website: www.boatlifeevents.com

Related Articles

A great day for conservation
Grady-White teamed up with the Dolphinfish Research Program for an adventure off North Carolina Grady-White teamed up with the Dolphinfish Research Program for an adventure off the North Carolina coast. Winds and waves didn't deter the Grady-White boat or our team, who caught and tagged eight fish. Posted on 29 Jul
Fishing: The Ghost of Fishing's Future
Meet the Mad Scientist Tackle Ghost Shad and elevate your rattlebait game Mad Scientist Tackle's Ghost Shad features powerful and proven UV coatings on a popular lure design Posted on 29 Jul
DAIWA: Palmable Powerhouse
For bigger baits and fish while still championing superlight jigging DAIWA's new 2025 SALTIGA® G 35/35L dominates the saltwater jigging scene with unrivaled power, smoothness, durability and ergonomics Posted on 29 Jul
Hover Rig: The finesse tactic you need now
Throw in a heavy dose of fishing pressure, and you have the recipe for disaster It's great when you flip a dock, laydown, or grass point and you immediately feel that hammer fall. Likewise, frogging's repetitive monotony becomes well worth the effort when that cannonball explosion shatters the stillness. Posted on 27 Jul
Helping boaters steer clear of common mistakes
Veteran Sea Tow® captains share their tips Boating season is already in full throttle, and Sea Tow®, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, is proud to offer boating tips to avoid some of the most common mistakes seen on the water. Posted on 24 Jul
TATULA is Tops at ICAST 2025
All out with the new 23 model lineup of cork handle bass rods DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025. Posted on 24 Jul
Owner shares why he loves his WorldCat 325DC
Chuck highlights the unique experiences and cherished moments created Embark on the adventures of Chuck Smith, proud owner of the WorldCat 325DC. In this short testimonial, Chuck shares the joys of sandbar outings, fishing escapades, and family travels made possible by the versatility of the 325DC. Posted on 23 Jul
Marine Auctions: July Online Auctions
Bidding to start 24th July and will end 30 July We are now accepting entries for our August Online Auction. Posted on 22 Jul
Mercury Marine expands V10 Verado lineup
With all-new 425hp outboard and enhanced 350hp model Mercury Marine today announced the latest expansion of its award-winning Verado® outboard lineup with the introduction of the all-new V10 425hp Verado outboard and a performance enhanced version of the V10 350hp Verado outboard. Posted on 22 Jul
The after party starts now!
Prestige have already given us two instalments of their M-Line, and now here is the third Prestige have already given us two instalments of their M-Line, and now here is the third - M7 Posted on 21 Jul
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo M75