For five days, Friedrichshafen was all about water sports: Interboot, one of the most important water sports trade fairs in the German-speaking world, opened its doors for the 65th time from 23 to 27 September. 36,100 visitors came to find out about the latest motorboats and sailing yachts, accessories and the latest trends in the industry.
New formats are making their mark
A particular highlight of this year’s event was the introduction of three new exhibition areas: the special exhibition ‘My First Boat’, which had been expanded to include sailing boats for the first time, was specifically aimed at beginners, whilst the new E-Boat Area addressed the growing interest in electric propulsion. The programme was complemented by a Refit Centre, which focused on topics relating to boat refurbishment and maintenance. Sustainability and women in water sports also played a prominent role this year.
Klaus Wellmann, the trade fair’s managing director, draws a positive conclusion: “Interboot brings together people and businesses who share a common passion. From Friedrichshafen, boats and new ideas find their way to international water sports destinations. This combination of an industry gathering and an experience for the public is what makes the event special, and we intend to continue strengthening it in the future.”
Exhibitors give a positive assessment
Despite slightly lower visitor numbers than last year, many exhibitors reported fruitful discussions and concrete business deals. KIBAG’s sales manager, Davor Panarese, for example, sold three boats – including an electric boat – and secured additional orders for winter storage. TB Yard representative Ernst Houtman noted a great deal of interest, particularly in the area of electric mobility: “We are generally satisfied with the event. There was certainly interest from the public, particularly in electric boats.”
Particularly encouraging: the number of newcomers is on the rise again. Dennis Pfister, managing director of Boote Pfister and exhibiting at Interboot for the twelfth time, reports: “You can tell that prospective buyers, who have been rather cautious up to now, are slowly regaining the confidence to make a purchase in the leisure sailing sector.” The trade fair is indispensable for his company: “Almost 40 per cent of the boats we sell end up in the Lake Constance district – Interboot is a must-attend event for us.”
Participation was the main focus
Alongside the exhibition and advice sessions, hands-on experiences played a central role. Whether on the Messe-See or in the Interboot harbour – there were plenty of opportunities to try out water sports for yourself. The motorboat training course for women was fully booked on every day. Olympian Alina Kornelli, who was there for the first time as the host of a pumpfoil course on the Messe-See, was delighted: “I was really surprised by the great response. The participants were motivated, brave and, in the end, everyone was happy.”
The visitors themselves were also impressed. Johannes from Stuttgart, who was visiting Interboot for the first time, summed it up: “There’s a relaxed atmosphere on the site and the shows on the exhibition lake were brilliant.”
Interboot 2027 will take place in Friedrichshafen from 22 to 26 September.
Ralf Marquard
Deputy Editor in Chief BOOTE
