Scotland’s boat show a roaring success

Thousands of visitors from across the UK, Ireland and even as far afield as mainland Europe headed to Scotland’s Boat Show 2019 (SBS19) as the show returned to Kip Marina, Inverclyde over the second weekend in October.

With an expanded layout and a selection of new and pre-owned boats on view to tempt all tastes and budgets, visitors and marine trade exhibitors alike declared SBS19 to be a ‘roaring success’.
Over 13,000 visitors to the show enjoyed a host of attractions, from free on-the-water training sessions with RYA Scotland to the latest displays of marine equipment and technology from the UK’s leading companies.

The buoyant Scottish boating market was in full force, with Michael Schmidt & Partners Brokerage Manager, Roseann Sweeney, saying: “With over 10 boats sold during the show and a host of strong enquiries to follow up afterwards, Scotland’s Boat Show was absolutely fantastic for us this year!”

In the new boat business, Miles Stratton of Inspiration Marine says: “It was great to see the good weather back this year and with it we were delighted with the high level of interest in our new Hanses and our latest addition Ballistic RIBS. For us it was a roaring success and we are already looking forward to next year’s show.”

The expanded display of powerboats from Marine Sales Scotland attracted many visitors during the show which prompted MD, Stan Prosser, to say: “We are delighted being at Scotland’s Boat Show – it was better for us than Southampton this year as we sold five boats during the show including a Fairline Squadron. We are happy to support SBS and it is again proving to be the must-attend event for boating in Scotland.”

On shore, the RYA Scotland pavilion was filled with exhibitors showing the latest trends and developments in boats and equipment including the Scottish debut of charter company, Dream Yacht Charter. DYC’s Andy Byham says: “It was an absolute pleasure to be part of this year’s Scotland’s Boat Show. Having met some of the area’s keen sailors, we are thrilled to have started what we hope will be a long and fruitful relationship with the team at Kip Marina. We look forward to welcoming guests to our stand again in 2020 when the Show celebrates its Year of Coasts & Waters River of Light.”

The Cruising Association returned as sponsor of the CA Stage for SBS2019, providing an extremely popular schedule of talks and presentations throughout the show. The CA’s General Manager, Lucy Gray, says: “We have enjoyed attending Scotland’s Boat Show for a number of years but were honoured to sponsor the stage in 2019. We hosted a full line up of talks and were impressed, as ever, with the atmosphere and attendance at the show as well as the impeccable organisation. Scotland’s Boat Show is quickly becoming a not-to-miss event in the CA’s calendar and we very much look forward to sponsoring the stage again in 2020.”

Elsewhere there were plenty of other attractions for visitors including art and craft stalls in the CalMac Ferries Lifestyle pavilion, local food and drink with cookery demonstrations in the WCS Food & Drink pavilion, pipe bands, children’s play areas, and displays of cars and motorcycles from Porsche, Morgan and Harley-Davidson, all adding up to a showcase for Scottish boating, marine tourism and a great, free family event.

Kip Marina MD, Gavin McDonagh, says: “Once again, thanks to all the Kip staff who put together another very successful boat show, similarly thanks to our sponsors and partners RYA Scotland, West College Scotland, The Herald, The Cruising Association, CalMac Ferries, Inverclyde Council and Dream Yacht Charters. We are again proud to be an ambassador for Inverclyde as a destination for visitors and exhibitors from all over the UK, to promote Scotland’s world class boating and sailing facilities and to open up the show as a family event to new visitors that will hopefully inspire them to try taking to the water themselves.”

Preparations are already underway for next year’s show as part of the Year of Coasts & Waters 2020 which aims to be the biggest yet and takes place on the 9th-11th October 2020 with a special evening event on Saturday the 10th October called ‘River of Light’.