Marine specialist PSP on crest of a wave (From Daily Echo)

Southampton Boat Show backer PSP reports record sales at London event

12:39pm Monday 9th January 2012 in News By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter

IT’S been a stellar year for the title sponsor of the Southampton Boat Show.

And Fareham-based boat transportation firm PSP was using the opening of Southampton’s sister show in London to reveal just what a success story it has become.

Four years of show sponsorship, with another left to run, and involvement in events such as the Clipper Round the World Race and America’s Cup has, in the eyes of managing director Frank Dixie, helped PSP achieve its goal of cementing its relationship with the industry by becoming “part of the marine and sailing fraternity”.

And it has propelled PSP to record sales as it expands service lines around the world.

Mr Dixie said turnover had increased by 20 per cent last year and he expected it to do the same again.

PSP is one of the leading exhibitors flying the flag for the south coast at this year’s ten-day Tullett Prebon London Boat Show at The Excel.

While the number of exhibitors and visitors has shrunk in recent years – Southampton is now the larger show by visitor numbers – London remains an important event in the calendar for many Hampshire marine firms.

Around one fifth of the 500 exhibitors showcasing their products and services hail from Hampshire.

The economic downturn has made for a tough climate in recent years, pricing out many mid-market sailors from buying boats and spurned a rise in sales of secondhand motor boats and yachts.

However Hampshire brokers at the show are upbeat about their fortunes and insist there were deals to be done.

“We tend to sell to people who work hard all their life and want a retirement present from themselves,” said Stewart Oliver, of Hamblebased Boat Sales International, a dealer for Moody yachts.

Fellow Hamble broker Inspiration Marine Group, a seller for the popular Hanse and Dehler Yachts, which retail for up to £300,000, is reliant on the London and Southampton boat shows for the majority of sales.

It notched up 17 a piece at last year’s shows, and was eyeing 20 this week.

"The last two year’s shows have ben brilliant for us,” group sales manager Phil Dollin said.

While Cobra RIBS, which makes its rigid inflatables in Botley and assembles and finishes them in Christchurch, was buoyed by a snap sale of a £68,000 RIB in the first hour of the show.

An alternative to buying is the shared ownership. The biggest in the business is Lymington-based Felixsail, which has just added four new vessels to take its fleet to 14.

It sells boatshare packages from £380 to £815 a month and was busy signing up new members on day one of the show.

“We are talking to a broader audience,” said managing director Richard Pierpont.

High net worth individuals after the super yachts by the likes of Princess Yachts and Poole-based Sunseeker are largely immune to the economic downturn, with manufacturers continuing to bring out ever bigger models targeted at that market.

The Sunseeker 40m is the biggest and most expensive yacht on display at £17.5 million.

This year’s show features 45 product debuts, including 16 world boat launches.

Among those making a splash in the 70m long indoor Watersports Action Pool was Gosport based Crewsaver, which was launching a new £900 to £2,000 rescue pod liferaft to complete its range of kit from lifejackets to wetsuits.

Rival firm Ocean Safety, from Southampton, was also at the show, launching its latest £600 Jonbuoy Recovery module, and a lifebouy light.

The county also has a strong presence among the sailing personalities and celebrities, with multi Olympic gold medalist sailor Ben Ainslie, powerboat racer Shelley Jory- Leigh, and Mike Golding taking to stands.

The London Boat Show runs until Sunday.