The biggest boat, caravanning, camping and leisure show returns to the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow this month, with a range of dinghies, motor boats, leisure craft, chandlery, and sailing equipment

From power boats to dinghies and inflatables, marine sports training and recreational diving accessories, watersports enthusiasts are well-catered for at the show. At the top end of the market, Kip Marina will present the 31 ft Hardy Commander, which retails at £145,000. Euroyachts will exhibit four models from the Jeanneau Leader range of power boats, the 805 IB, 545 HB,530 HB, and Merry Fisher 580 HB.

Bosun’s Locker has just taken on the dealership for Europa yachts and will be bringing two of them to the show – the 680 and 730. These are Polish-built and aimed at first time yacht buyers. They will also exhibit the RSK6 and RS Vario, Zodiac RIBs, a new Scape catamaran, Ocean kayaks, Linder aluminium boats and Yamaha engines.

Laser’s display this year will include the Pico Plus, the Laser 4000, 3000 and the Laser 16 Unifurl. Mitchell Outboard will exhibit the 2001 ranges Johnson and Evinrude outboards and Bombard inflatables. Windermere Holidays Afloat will bring one of the 48ft American holiday houseboats, as well as the 28ft Hanse, which has just won the Best Boat Award at Dusseldorf for the third time running.

The RNLI’s roadshow trailer will be at Outdoors 2001 to promote the messages of the their Sea Safety Initiative. The interior of the trailer demonstrates how quickly sea conditions can change and aims to show how, with simple precautions, beach and sea users can remain safe.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) will present a series of seminars with guest speakers including Shirley Robertson, the Scottish Olympic gold-medallist, Mike Wilson, on the recent amendments brought in by the ISAF to the racing rules and Chris Owen who will pass on some tips for sail trim. Everyone is welcome to attend, but please note that admission is by advance booking through RYA Scotland, 0131 317 7388.

Also at this year’s show is a children’s adventure playground, climbing wall, cycle track and a series of alfresco cookery demonstrations by celebrity chef John Quigley, while a Guinness bar will provide a focus for landlubbers and seafarers alike.

Of course, no boat show would be complete without a visit to ybw.com. So if you want to cruise Europe’s number one marine website, and have the chance to win a Crewsaver Hammar automatic lifejacket with integrated harness, sail over to stand 305 in hall 3.

Outdoors 2001 takes place at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow from 7 to 11 February 2001. Opening hours are from 10am to 6pm daily and until 9pm on Thursday 8 February. Admission is £5.50 for adults, £3.50 for concessions and £12.00 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children).

For more information and to visit the Outdoors 2001 website, www.outdoors-show.com