VENE 24 BÅT SHOW

At the Helsinki International Vene 24 Båt Show, hundreds of boats of different sizes are presented. Finns are a nation of boaters, with one in five Finns owning a boat. It is easy to start boating at any age, and boating is suitable for everyone. The best boat deals are made at the boat show, where comparing boats and finding the most suitable one is easy. At the same time, you can also make equipment and accessory purchases. Vene 24 Båt is an eagerly anticipated meeting place where boating season planning begins and stories from the world’s seas are heard, along with plans for future trips. The boat show is also Finland’s largest fishing event, now introducing fly fishing as a new feature. Vene 24 Båt will be held from February 9th to 18th, 2024 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre.

Vene 24 Båt is the largest boating event in Northern Europe, bringing summer to the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre for ten days. This year, almost all of Finland’s most significant boat manufacturers and importers are present at the fair, showcasing their latest products. In addition to boating, fishing and water hobbies are also featured. Nowhere else such a comprehensive overview of diverse boat offerings is available as at the boat show. There is an interesting program, especially on weekends. On the opening day, February 9th, at 11 a.m., a major Finnish boating project will be launched, which will also be presented on the first Saturday of the fair: Joel Harkimo embarks on the biggest project of his life and shares his journey. At 11:45 a.m., Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala will officially open the boat show. Jari Saario, who has twice crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a rowboat, will be at the fair with his boat every day, sharing stories of his adventurous journey, its challenges, and highlights on weekends. Juho Karhu, a freeskier living on a sailboat in Alaska, will talk about arctic sailing as a lifestyle on Saturdays and his plans to sail from Alaska through the Northwest Passage to Greenland.

Information on versatile boating, experiences at the Aalto-area

Boating can be started at any age. Starting boating is easy, and you don’t always need your own boat. Boating clubs offer boats for their members to use, and boats can also be rented or purchased collectively. Boating brings you close to nature, teaches responsibility, and brings new friends. More information about boating is provided by experts from the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation at their booth near the Purjehdussatama. Information on the sharing economy and boat rental services is also available at the fair. At the boat show’s Aalto-area, visitors can try various activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, scuba diving, and packrafting. At the new fly-casting range, visitors can try their hand and watch demonstrations by top casters. Fly fishing world champions Alistair Dundie and Howard Croston will demonstrate their skills on the range on Saturday, February 17th at 11:30 a.m., and the SUP Indoor Finnish Championships 2024 will be held at the Aalto-area at 1:00 p.m.

Hundreds of commercial boats at Northern Europe’s largest boat show

The boat show features hundreds of boats of various sizes, with dozens of new models making their debut. Among the entirely new models for 2024 are Alukin C 770, AMT 165 R and Rf, Anytec 868 CAB, Axopar 29 XC Cross Cabin, Elvene Amber, Finnmaster F11 Weekend, Finval 470 Evo DC, Kimple 460 Adventure, Marex 440 Gourmet Cruiser, Nordkapp Coupe 830, Nord Star 36+ Cruiser, Quarken 35 Cabin, Ruthless 480 SC, Saxdor 400 GTO and GTC, Silver Seahawk BRX and Cabin, Silacraft Mursu 650, Sting 580 T, Suvi 43 and 44, Targa 41, Terhi 480 Cabin, Willy’s X62, and Zodiac Nomad 3.3.

Other novelties at the fair include Alutroll 500 Megasnapper Plus, Alutroll 465 Trooper DC, Aquador 250 HT, Boston Whaler 220 Dauntless, Suvi 63 CC Fisher and Targa 32 GT. The largest motorboat at the fair is the Norwegian Marex 440 Gourmet Cruiser, also the most expensive boat at the fair, costing over a million. There is one commercial large sailboat on display, the Dufour 470, which is also the largest boat at the fair. Vene 24 Båt also showcases the First 18. Several electric boats are also featured at the fair, including the Swedish Candela C-8 Hardtop, the Danish Rand Mana 23, and the Finnish Elvene Amber, all making their first appearance at the fair.

The 25th Boat of the Fair will this year be selected from the showcased novelties. The selection panel includes journalists from Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish boating media. The boats are selected in three categories: Open Boat of the Fair, Touring and/or Commuter Boat of the Fair, and Cruiser of the Fair. The finalists will be announced on the opening day of the boat show, Friday, February 9th at 10:00 a.m., and the winners on Wednesday, February 14th at 3:00 p.m. Emphasis is placed on innovation, and criteria include design, construction and space usage ideas, functionality and ergonomics, value for money, and suitability for purpose. The Boat of the Fair awards aim to advance the boating industry and recognize successful product development efforts.

Finnish boat industry strongly present at the fair

Well over half of the motorboats are Finnish. Finnish brands showcasing novelties at the fair include Alutroll, AMT, Aquador, Axopar, Elvene, Finnmaster, Nord Star, Quarken, Saxdor, Silver, Suvi, Targa, and Terhi. Other popular Finnish boat brands at the fair include Alucat, Bella, Faster, Flipper, G-Force, Grandezza, Husky, Marino, Max, Päijän, Sargo, and TG.

In addition, the fair will feature Swedish boat brands such as Alukin, Anytec, Arronet, Nimbus, Iron, and Ockelbo, Ukrainian brands Finval, Grand, and UMS, Norwegian brands Marex, Nordkapp, Pioner, Sting, and Windy, Chinese brands Highfield and Kimple, French brands Jeanneau and Zodiac, Turkish brand Aluxa, and American brands Boston Whaler and Sea Ray.

Mahogany, wooden, and fishing boats, class association boats, and racing motorboats, Spede’s boat

At Vene 24 Båt, visitors can explore handcrafted wooden boats and restored classic boats. The wooden boat builder’s association Puuveneveistäjät ry presents, among others, the 2000s wooden boat Kiisla with a windshield version, and the Kral 700 Open Bow, excellently suited for day cruiser-type use and rare in Finland. Additionally, Caledonia Yawl, Ness Yawl, Wäinö, Vesimäkärä, Storebro Solö are presented as well as a canoe and SUP board made from Vendia boat boards and a traditional rowing boat from Kymenlaakso, which is a prize in the boat lottery.

At the Mahogany Yachting Society MYS ry stand, there are four motorboats, a rowboat, and two skiffs, one of which has skates. The stand showcases a Swiss Boesch, a DN ice yacht, and a restored barn find, a five-meter pine-hulled open boat. Additionally, there is an American mahogany speedboat from the 1940s, a classic wooden boat from the 1960s, a traditional hardtop mahogany boat, and a 5.5 class keelboat Lotten L45.

The fishing area features several fishing boats equipped with the latest technology. At the Kalastajan Kanava stand, Alutroll 465 Trooper is showcased. There are also Vizion and Kimple aluminum boats and other boats designed for fishing use. The Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation brings class association racing boats and 11 racing motorboats to the fair.

The fair also features Spede’s legendary boat, which was built between 1980 and 1990. Pertti “Spede” Pasanen himself was involved in designing and building the boat. In 1990, the boat appeared in Spede’s film ” Uunon huikeat poikamiesvuodet maaseudulla ” driven by Spede. The boat has now been restored and is part of film history. The boat is presented by Tommi Pelkonen, who restored it.

Record number of sustainability program presented

This year, the Vene 24 Båt fair will highlight the work and goals of the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG), the official partner of the fair. The foundation is making a significant impact on saving the Baltic Sea. It protects the Baltic Sea, combats biodiversity loss, and mitigates climate change through extensive collaboration with researchers, businesses, decision-makers, authorities, and farmers. Environment and sustainability-related program will be emphasized especially on Friday, February 9th, and Friday, February 16th, which are also the Baltic Sea Days at the boat show. The Baltic Sea Action Group is also part of the Finnish Fair Foundation’s Save the Baltic Sea Award jury along with the John Nurminen Foundation, Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association, and Tekniikka & Talous magazine, deciding who will receive the Save the Baltic Sea Award (€20,000) on Friday, February 16th, at 4 p.m.

Program at five locations

In addition to boats, the fair showcases a wide range of boating accessories and equipment, as well as water sports and fishing gear. At the Aalto-area, visitors can try stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, and, as a new activity, packrafting. At the boat show, attendees will hear fascinating sailing stories from around the world, receive important information about boating, and get guidance on boat restoration. Program is available at the Purjehdussatama, at the Totalveneen Messi stand (information about motorboats and boating destinations), Venemestarin Telakka (boat restoration showcases), as well as the Alutroll-Tohatsu stage and pool in the Aalto-area for fishing. The event program can be found at www.venemessut.fi.

Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre organizes Northern Europe’s largest boating event, Vene 24 Båt, Helsinki International Boat Show, from February 9th to 18th, 2024, at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre on behalf of the Finnish Marine Industries Federation Finnboat ry. Vene 24 Båt is open on Friday, February 9th, from 11:00 to 19:00, on Saturday and Sunday, February 10th-11th, from 10:00 to 18:00, on Monday to Friday, February 12th-16th, from 11:00 to 19:00, and on Saturday and Sunday, February 17th-18th, from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets can be purchased in advance at a discounted price at http://shop.messukeskus.com.

Images for media use are available at http://mediabank.messukeskus.com.

For more information, please contact Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre Communication!