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Boating News | May 2025
The 2025 South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show took place from 9–11 May at Ocean Village Marina, Southampton, attracting over 5,000 visitors. With more than 130 boats and 85 exhibitors, the event reinforced its status as a major showcase for powerboats and sustainable marine innovation.
The show opened with a ceremony led by Southampton’s Lord Mayor, Cllr David Shields. New for this year, a media centre sponsored by ePropulsion UK offered press and trade visitors a professional networking environment.
Standout Launches and Strong Sales
Among several launches, the Hardy 45 European was a notable debut. Designed and built entirely in-house by Cockwells, the vessel had been officially unveiled earlier in the week by HRH The Princess Royal in Falmouth.
Exhibitor feedback was positive, with strong buyer interest. Approved Boats secured two sales on day one, while brands such as Fairline, Absolute and Windy confirmed additional deals and high-quality enquiries throughout the show. Likewise, Ideal Boat with their Saxdor line up, including the new 340 cabin model, reported a very successful show. Highland RIBs, displaying their offshore model, courtesy of Parker Adams, represented the RIB fraternity in fine style.
Innovation Hub Showcases Sustainable Marine Tech
The Innovation Hub, sponsored by ePropulsion, hosted talks and product demonstrations focusing on greener marine solutions. Raymarine presented the Alpha Display Series and Smart Wind sensor, both of which drew attention from marine engineers and professionals.
Maritime UK Solent-supported companies also presented innovations. Salmon Marine unveiled a shock mitigation system for RIBs, co-developed with the RNLI. CubeX Industries showcased Sea-Hive tiles made from recycled marine waste to promote biodiversity and reduce emissions.
Fischer Panda UK was awarded the MDL Green Innovator 2025 title after a public vote, recognising the brand’s work in electric propulsion.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Raymarine confirmed its continued sponsorship of the show until 2028. MDL’s Tim Mayer praised the event’s role in supporting early-season sales and sustainable innovation. The 2026 edition will return to Ocean Village Marina from 8–10 May.
For more information or to exhibit, visit:
www.mdlboatshow.co.uk
Contact: t.mayer@mdlmarinas.co.uk
Powerboat & RIB
This content was created by the Powerboat & RIB editorial team.
