With just over two weeks to go before London’s biggest marine extravaganza kicks off, there’s news of some new features and your chance to win newly restored boat at this year’s London Boat Show at ExCel.

Win a restored Hunter 19
UK and International marine companies have joined forces with local businesses to help raise money for the RNLI Burnham boathouse and promote the ‘Boating on a Budget’ initiative from the Marine Trades Association and PBO.

The restoration of the abandoned Hunter 19, Bangaroola has cost £5,000 and taken three months. Barton donated £700 worth of deck gear, Plastimo gave fittings, clips, panels, switches, and hoses worth £635. The Yamaha 2.5hp outboard is worth £579 and International Paints gave epoxy, gelshield and paint worth £400.

Local yard Rice & Cole supplied the workshop, Houdini windows of Essex gave new windows (£400), Proboat supplied rigging and cordage (£300), plus donations from NASA, Harken, Gill, Secumar lifejackets and Toomer & Hayter upholstery.

The boat will be raffled off by the Main Stage. Tickets £5 each.

Brand new features
Power enthusiasts are in for a real treat as the new Yamaha Power Boat and RIB Marina brings together over 30 of the very best outboard and stern drive powered boats, the single largest collection of small power craft ever seen on one stand at the Show. There’s a boat to suit everyone, with RIBs, sportsboats, cruisers, tenders, fishing and entry level craft from under three metres right up to 10.4 metres, from some of the world’s most prestigious builders. The stand will also boast five brand new product launches including Yamaha’s new F4, F5 and F6 lightweight portable outboards, the Yamarin 63 Bow Rider and the VX Sport Personal Watercraft.

For the very first time at ExCeL, visitors can also sample SCUBA for free in the Show’s Try A Dive tank.  Run by long established experts, Andark, Try A Dive is designed to introduce this exciting sport to kids. With fully qualified instructors on hand and all the kit supplied, all you need do is head to stand S061 and sign up.

Don’t forget the Discover Inland Waterways in association with the River Thames attraction, which informs visitors all they need to know about navigating the UK’s beautiful inland waterways.  A traditional narrow boat and an impressive river cruiser will also be on display.

Finally, new to the Show this year is a stunning photographic exhibition by Robert Wilson. Skandia ‘Blown Away’ captures some of the country’s top sailing athletes and provides a window into the world of high performance sailing, demonstrating the athleticism, power, passion and finesse of Britain’s greatest sailors.