Always the quintisential British brand many will not be aware that in the past more Fletcher's went abroad than remained at home. In order to grow the marque we have recognised the need to re establish the wider European dealership network.

Our first step was the appointment of Boatland.nl in the Netherlands.  The first boats arrived on Christmas Eve and the first one was sold just after New Year!

We are now looking for other dealers who will act as country distributors.  To do this we have booked a small stand at the Dusseldorf Boat Show with our sister company SBS Trailers.

Follow Andy and Joe over the next 10 days as we chronicle our great European adventure:

Andy trying to find signal in the middle of the North Sea:

More to come (Wednesday 14.30GMT)...

After a very long 7 hour crossing (by the way if anyone asks you to go an see 'Jennifer's Body featuring Megan Fox - wait for the DVD!) we then faced a 2 hour sprint to Dusseldorf. All I can say is that Mr Tom Tom is off my Christmas card list as it took over 5 hours to make the journey.

What was impresseive was the total lack of security at the Messe and after a cordial 'Guten Tag' with the guard we were in. We got the carpet down in record quick, time unhitched trailers and boat and retired to our sumptuous suite at the Holiday Inn.

This was booked on the premis that we could walk to the Messe from the Hotel. Well I suppose in theory it was true, given enough time and fortitude I am sure we could have made the hike - but it took 15 minutes in the car!!

The stand is now set up and we are pleased with the result. We are sandwiched between two European giants of trailer manufacturers - Harbeck and Brenderup.  We look prety good.

Thanks to our friends at Maypole Lighting for supplying the box of tricks to make the lights all work.  The competition definitely realised they missed a trick - I think we have them worried.

As ever the fame of Flecther goes before it and we have been 'bombarded' with three people exhibiting at the show who have older Fletchers!

We have even been contacted by the German Flecther Owners Club who are organising a day out to come and see us. 

The Show opens tommorrow - so watch this space....

DAY ONE at the show

So far we have been very impressed with the amount of attendences on its first day. Further more the amount of Fletcher owners!!

All four gettlemen below own a Fletcher each!

Wednesday 27^th January

Halfway through the show and we are pleased with how things are going.  A HUGE number of  people have called by the stand to tell us they have a Fletcher , had  Fletcher, are doing up a Fletcher and hopefully at least three are BUYING a Fletcher.

The excitement of the day has been a film crew dropping by. Joe was not shy in stepping forward to help Germany's answer to Natasha Kaplinsky get into the boat and settled.

It is the exhibitor's party tonight, we will drop by for half a shandy.  Reports of this event range wildly from a bit raucous to ‘insane'.  We will let you know - but probably not until Friday!!

Joe with the film crew