The Practical Boat Owner magazine team will be returning to the Scotland Boat Show for a fifth year.

The UK’s third largest boat show is taking place at Kip Marina, Inverkip from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 October.

Not only will we be offering the latest PBO subscription deals, and bringing expert guest speakers for a second year, but new for 2016  – we’re getting involved with the show’s inaugural Get On The Water Pavilion, showcasing affordable small boats, courtesy of the Leisure, Westerly, Moody and Hurley owners’ associations.

Editor David Pugh said: ‘Last year we had a great response at the Scotland Boat Show when we exhibited our restored Snapdragon 23 Hantu Biru and thousands of show visitors entered a competition to win her. This year we’re looking forward to sharing details of our new project – building a 20ft plywood gaffer, called a Secret 20, from a kit.

‘Once again we’ve teamed up with RYA Scotland to host a series of free practical talks throughout the how.

‘We’re lucky to have such a strong line-up of industry professionals giving up their time to join us at the show and we’re looking forward to the inspirational, entertaining and informative topics.

‘On the water, we’re proud to be able to showcase some great, affordable boats from four owners’ associations.

‘Every year, the UK’s third largest boat show gets bigger and better and we look forward to seeing you there.’

The RYA Scotland Stage presents…PBO Ask the Expert’s Live!

For a second year running, Practical Boat Owner magazine will be bringing free practical talks and demonstrations on a range of boating topics, to Scotland’s Boat Show courtesy of the RYA Scotland Pavilion stage. All are welcome, just turn up!

FRIDAY 14TH OCTOBER

11.00-12.00 Essential sealant tips and tricks

Sika’s technical services expert Gareth Ross will return to Scotland’s Boat Show for a second year to give a talk with demonstrations on how to use sealants or bonding and waterproofing on board.

2016 marks Gareth’s 27th year at Sika and he has been working in a technical capacity with sealants and adhesives in the Marine industry since 1996, supporting customers down to “one man and his boat” right up to the likes of Sunseeker, Oyster and construction of superyachts and shipping.

Gareth, who is based in Hertfordshire, said: ‘It’s a very long way to go! But worth it I think to be able to meet and educate people who may not know the full potential of Sika’s Marine range of products. I am always open to as many questions as people want to throw at me.’

1.00-2.00 Top 10 equipment choices for the ARC and the realities of crossing the Atlantic

World Cruising Club’s director Jeremy Wyatt and ARC provisioning guru Clare Pengelly give insight into long-distance cruising.

Now in its 31st year, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), is a 2,700NM passage, which runs downwind with the trade winds from Gran Canaria to St Lucia in the Caribbean, that regularly attracts some 250 boats each year.

Jeremy Wyatt is a director of sailing rally organisers World Cruising Club (WCC), where he provides advice to aspiring offshore cruisers on boat selection, preparation and training based on 30 years of bluewater experience in the annual ARC. He is also involved in WCC’s varied seminar programme, helping sailors turn their offshore dreams into reality. Jeremy a keen sailor and has cruised in the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific as well as European waters.

2.00-3.00 Boating on a budget

PBO contributor, former BBC cameraman and round-Britain sailor Dylan Winter will be bringing his ‘clonky old bucket-shop Centaur’ to the show to share top tips on affordable cruising.

Dylan, who runs the popular website www.keepturningleft.co.uk, has spent past eight years slowly sailing around the UK in a number of rather elderly small boats making films, writing articles and blogging about the UK’s miraculous coastline.

He said: ‘I was surprised to be chosen to talk about sailing on a budget because my wife would say that my spending is well out of control. But then I sail around 100 days a year – and the boat is currently 550 miles from my home – so she has a good point.’

He added: ‘It should be a great show, I’m looking forward to it.’

3.30-4.30 How to read the skies

Met Office and London 2012 meteorologist  Penny Tranter, who is a sailor herself, will share her knowledge of understanding weather forecasts and preparing and responding to the weather out on the water.

Met Office marine meteorologists work around the clock, 365 days a year, to provide an accurate and reliable range of weather and metocean information, helping sailors to make informed decisions.

SATURDAY 15TH OCTOBER

11.00-12.00 Essential sealant tips and tricks.

Gareth Ross (talk description as above)

1.00-2.00 Top 10 equipment choices for the ARC and the realities of crossing the Atlantic

Jeremy Wyatt and Clare Pengelly (talk description as above)

2.00-3.00 How to read the skies

Penny Tranter (talk description as above)

3.30-4.30 Boating on a budget

Dylan Winter (talk description as above)

SUNDAY 16TH OCTOBER

11.30-12.30 Biosecurity and invasive species

Sarah Brown of Clyde Marine Planning Partnership and C2W Consulting gives insight into the battle to keep Scottish waters free from invasive species and what you can do to help.

C2W stands for Cradle to Wave –a small but perfectly formed consultancy based on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. Sarah Brown is the principal consultant, specialising in projects with a marine recreation, tourism, environment or sustainability theme.

Sarah said: ‘I was delighted when PBO asked me to be part of ‘Ask the Experts Live’ at Scotland’s Boat Show. No boater wants invasive species on their hull. Trust me, they are nasty, damaging, ugly things!

‘I’ll tell people what to look out for, what to do about it and why you should care – the law has changed recently in Scotland and boaters need to know about it.’

1.30-2.30 Top 10 equipment choices for the ARC and the realities of crossing the Atlantic

Jeremy Wyatt and Clare Pengelly (talk description as above)

2.30-3.30 What’s causing your corrosion?

PBO contributor Colin Brown, of CB Marine Services, will return to Scotland’s Boat Show for a second year to give a corrosion-specific talk on boat surveys.

Colin has more than fifteen years of varied marine industry experience including commercial diving, aquaculture management, yacht delivery and training, repairing and installing systems on a variety of vessels from iron Dutch barges to modern production yachts.

He owns a 1965 Nicholson 32 yacht with his wife Sarah (who is giving the 11.30am talk!).

Colin said: ‘I’m looking forward to Scotland’s Boat Show in my home country. It’s been fun and interesting writing for PBO and I’m looking forward to meeting the readers.’

3.30-4.30 Boating on a budget

Dylan Winter (as above)

On the water opportunities at the Scotland Boat Show

RYA Scotland is aiming to offer as many as 500 opportunities to get afloat for free at the show’s ‘Get on the Water’ pavilion.

The governing body for sailing is working in partnership with sportscotland National Centre Cumbrae, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and You and Sea to provide a range of free sail and powerboat experiences during the three day event, with opportunities to take to the water in a cruising yacht, motor cruiser, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), accessible dinghies and the disabled-access Wheelyboat.

The programme of on-water experiences can be booked in advance of the show via the side panel on the RYA Scotland website from 1 October 2016 with a limited number of spaces reserved for visitors on the day.

The sportscotland National Centre Cumbrae have a long history of delivering RYA training on board their cruising boats. One of the centre’s 37ft Salona yachts will provide an excellent experience under sail with an experienced instructor.

Cumbrae will also be contributing to the powerboating opportunities, with the chance to drive a selection of fast RIBs, along with powerboat trainers You and Sea. Their motor cruiser Millbrook is offering a more sedate and comfortable trip on the Clyde.

Within the marina basin itself Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park are bringing a number of Hansa Dinghies to offer a sailing experience that is accessible by all. It will also be the second year for a unique powerboating experience for those in wheelchairs aboard the Wheelyboat.

Attractions ashore will include a daily programme of cooking demonstrations by West College in the Scottish Food & Drink Pavilion, which will also showcase artisan Scottish food and drink producers in a street market setting.

Plus helicopter rides for aerial views of the show and surrounding areas.

Last year’s Scotland Boat Show attracted 16,000 visitors from all corners of the sailing world.

The free-entry show will take place on Friday 14, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October 2016 with doors open from 10am to 6pm.

To book a helicopter ride visit http://po.st/helicopter.

Find out more at www.scotlandsboatshow.co.uk