New look for Scotland’s Boat Show 2018

Scotland’s Boat Show here at Kip Marina Inverkip which has now grown into the largest brokerage show in the UK 16 October 2016 © Paul Tipping

Scotland’s Boat Show 2018 (SBS18) takes to the water and shore with a completely new layout, new attractions and an expansion that seems certain to please visitors and exhibitors alike as thousand’s head to Kip Marina, Inverclyde this October from all over the UK.

The free admission show opens on Friday 12th of October with a full range of high quality pre-owned boats predicted from Michael Schmidt & Partners’ Roseann Sweeney, who says: “We will have a full display of boats for all budgets at Scotland’s Boat Show this year and we are advising potential buyers and sellers to contact us as soon as possible before the show.”

Meanwhile Inspiration Marine are also aiming for their biggest ever range of design led Hanse yachts to be on display at SBS18 with the potential for more to be added as the show approaches.

Moving to a new waterside location, Marine Sales Scotland’s spectacular powerboat display promises a full range of boats for all budgets and interests including an expanded display of the popular Quicksilver Activ models. MD Stan Prosser comments: “Scotland’s Boat Show at Kip Marina has firmly established itself as the most important show in the North and continues to attract more visitors from all over the UK year on year, with Marine Sales Scotland similarly enjoying increased sales each show.”

Adjacent to the powerboat display is the new small boat area featuring Hartley Boats flagship display of award winning sport dinghies which always attracts large numbers of visitors.

Building on last year’s show and with the aim of encouraging more people to get involved in boats and boating in Scotland for the first time, the ever popular RYA Scotland pavilion moves to a new and larger site and showcases the latest marine and leisure products from UK wide companies.

It’s also the base for RYA Scotland’s Free ‘Taster Sessions’ which allow visitors to try a short hands-on experience on yachts, motor yachts, RIB driving and dinghy sailing in the safe environment of Kip Marina under the expert eye of RYA Scotland’s partners SportScotland National Centre Cumbrae, Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, Clyde Muirshiel Country Park and You and Sea Training. With over 350 visitors taking part in the sessions last year RYA Scotland’s new online booking service available via the RYA Scotland website and scotlandsboatshow.co.uk 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 Ocean Youth Trust Scotland will also have their yacht open for visitors to come aboard. Another popular visitor to SBS18 is the 60 foot ‘Taeping’, the first Clipper round the world race yacht, which will be welcoming visitors throughout the show for those wishing a closer view of this magnificent boat and to find out how you can join in one of its’ future voyages.

Back on shore the popular Sika Marine Stage & Theatre moves to the RYA Scotland pavilion and is the venue for three days of free lectures and presentations organised in association with the Cruising Association. On offer will be a series of subject themes ranging from the Cruising Association’s expert’s advice on ‘Sailing Round Britain’ to sampling the fresh Scottish produce of Alba Seafood!

More undercover exhibition space is added for SBS18 with the new Riverside Inverclyde Pavilion which is the venue for smaller boats, marine & leisure exhibitors, plus an expanded Kip Marina Chandlery and the new location for the Taste Inverclyde/Chartroom café.

The new Car & Motorhome area features motor cars from Porsche, Morgan, Mitsubishi and Lotus, prestigious motorhomes from Swift and luxury holiday homes from Cloch Caravans.

If something a little faster appeals, then you can take a ride in an F1 Powerboat, courtesy of Gordon Cook Racing, or a helicopter flight over Kip Marina and view the stunning scenery of the Firth of Clyde with the team from Adventure001 – advance bookings for flights and the F1 Powerboats will be available on scotlandsboatshow.co.uk.

For a bit of retail therapy, head to the Clyde LifeStyle Pavilion which hosts over 40 artisan craft and luxury goods exhibitors and everything from fashion to furniture, or visit the food and drink exhibitors in the adjacent West College Scotland Food & Drink Pavilion and the live demonstration theatre where Hospitality students from WCS show off their skills using fresh Scottish produce. Alongside this is the new Taste Inverclyde pavilion with displays from local food producers and providers, a Food Truck section and a covered outdoor eating area.

For the family, there will be pipe bands, the Inverclyde & Largs Rock Choirs, birds of prey from KG Hawks and a giant fun area to keep the little ones occupied make Scotland’s Boat Show the best free day.

Holt Leisure MD Gavin McDonagh says: “The Boat Show team have worked tirelessly to build on previous years’ successes and, together with our key partners and sponsors, we are delighted to have established Scotland’s Boat Show as the major event on the Scottish marine calendar for both our visitors and those involved in Scotland’s marine and tourism businesses.”

Scotland’s Boat Show 2018 takes place at Kip Marina, Inverkip, Inverclyde on the 12th 13th & 14th of October – Admission is Free and car parking is a nominal £5 per vehicle.

For more information visit www.scotlandsboatshow.co.uk or call 01475 521485

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