Practical Boat Owner — November 2017

N

ow in its 31st year, Scotland’s

Boat Show is getting bigger

and better. Two key changes to

layout this year are designed to

expand on the success of last

year’s ‘Get On The Water’ theme and to

encourage more people to get involved in

boats and boating for the first time.

As the largest event of its kind in

Scotland and the largest brokerage show

in the UK, Scotland’s Boat Show 2017 has

a record numbers of new exhibitors and a

line-up of features and entertainment that

will draw thousands of visitors to Kip

Marina and Inverclyde.

Expert advice

The first change sees Riverside

Inverclyde’s ‘Get On The Water’ pavilion

expand to accommodate the new Sika

Marine Stage and Theatre – the venue for

free presentations and lectures in

association with Practical Boat Owner.

On offer will be a series of themes

ranging from expert advice on buying a

second-hand boat to the Met Office

explaining how to cope with heavy weather,

and tips on how to inspect your ropes.

Also on hand in the pavilion will be

representatives from various owners’

associations and manufacturers who can

advise on how to start getting involved in

every type water sport from sailing to

powerboats, RIBs, jetskis, paddleboards,

canoes or even model boats.

Free taster sessions

The other major layout change sees the

creation of a bigger ‘on water’ area for the

RYA Scotland Free Taster Sessions which

allow visitors to try yachts, motor yachts,

RIBs, dinghies and paddle boards in the

safe environment of Kip Marina.

With more than 350 visitors taking part in

the sessions last year, the bigger sailing

area, together with RYA Scotland’s new

online booking service, aims to

significantly increase the number of

participants in taster sessions across all

age groups and abilities.

For mobility-impaired visitors, Clyde

Muirshiel will again be featuring the

wheelyboat ‘Discovery’, sailing taster

sessions will be available in the accessible

Hansa 303 dinghies, while Able2sail, who

offer voyages for individuals who are both

able-bodied or have disabilities, will have

their yacht open for visitors – as will

Ocean Youth Trust Scotland.

Bargain boats

Record numbers of high quality pre-

owned boats are predicted by Roseann

Sweeney of brokers Michael Schmidt &

Partners. ‘We’ll have the UK’s largest

display of used boats in one place at

Scotland’s Boat Show this year,’ she said.

The show is a great place to see vessels

Bigger and better: expansion sees new

layout for the UKÕs third-largest boat show

Photos: Scotland’s Boat Show

Special

Scotland’s

Boat Show

Friday 13 October to Sunday 15 October 2017

There’ll be plenty of thrills at the show Take the opportunity to try dinghy sailing for the first time

MAIN and LEFT: boats

galore at Scotland’s

Boat Show