21/8/2026
Every sailing season leaves behind a few ideas for improvement. Southampton International Boat Show is the place to compare equipment, speak to specialists and start turning that winter jobs list into a practical plan.
Not every visit to Southampton International Boat Show begins with the search for a new yacht. For many sailors, the most useful conversations happen away from the marina, with a photograph of the current installation on a phone and a very specific question in mind.
Perhaps reefing has become more effort than it should be, the electronics have been upgraded piecemeal over the years, motoring performance could be better, or the foul-weather gear has seen one season too many.
From 18 to 27 September, the show brings equipment manufacturers, sailmakers, riggers, chandlers and marine specialists together, giving owners the chance to compare different approaches before committing to the next upgrade.
If hoisting, reefing or trimming is becoming harder than you’d like, resist the temptation to assume that one new piece of equipment will automatically solve the problem.
At the show, sailors can speak directly to sailmakers, riggers and deck-hardware specialists including Lewmar, Harken, Elvström Sails, Hyde Sails, Ullman Sails and Jeckells, while Jimmy Green Marine can advise on custom ropes and rigging.
Bring photographs of the existing deck layout and be ready to describe how you normally sail.
Are you mostly coastal cruising? Regularly reefing at night? A solution suited to a fully crewed race boat may be very different from the one that makes life easier for a cruising couple.
The winter list isn’t all about equipment bolted to the boat.
Southampton’s onsite chandlers and clothing specialists give sailors the opportunity to try on foul-weather gear, boots, jackets and gloves and compare different products side by side.
Brands represented at the show include Rooster, Dryrobe and Mustang Survival, with new products including Rooster’s Airflex Lite Spray Top and SB2 Trainers, as well as Mustang Survival’s TAKU waterproof jacket and bibs.
Fit matters enormously with sailing clothing, particularly when it will be worn for hours at a time or layered in poor weather. Trying equipment properly before buying can therefore be far more useful than choosing purely from an online specification.
And it’s worth leaving a little room in the schedule simply to browse. Show offers and end-of-season deals can make Southampton a good opportunity to replace tired kit ahead of next season.
Electronics are another area where a face-to-face conversation can be valuable. Boats are often upgraded one instrument at a time, until the navigation system becomes a collection of different generations of equipment.
Icom UK will be at the show with communications equipment including its IC-M430E fixed VHF and MA-600TRBB AIS transponder.
If you’re considering an upgrade, bring details of the equipment already fitted and ask about the whole system rather than looking at one new product in isolation.
Will it communicate with the equipment already aboard? What additional components might be required? How complicated is the installation? What support will be available in future?
Compatibility and installation can matter every bit as much as the headline features.
Some of the most worthwhile upgrades disappear from view as soon as the boat goes afloat.
Bruntons Propellers will be at Southampton to discuss propulsion and products including Autoprop.
Owners looking to improve motoring performance can make the conversation much more productive by arriving with information about the boat, engine, gearbox and existing propeller.
Think about the problem you’re actually trying to solve. Is the priority better control astern, greater efficiency, reduced drag while sailing, or improved motoring into adverse conditions? The clearer the question, the more useful the advice is likely to be.
A new season is also a good opportunity to review the less glamorous parts of boat ownership.
Haven Knox-Johnston will be at the show speaking to owners about insurance, making it a useful time to check whether your existing cover still reflects the boat and the way you use it.
These are precisely the conversations that are easy to postpone during the sailing season.
One final tip: when comparing equipment at the show, look beyond the sticker price.
Before placing an order, ask whether the quoted cost includes:
· Removal of the old equipment
· Installation and wiring
· Additional controls, sensors or network components
· Calibration and commissioning
· Software, subscriptions or charts
· Future servicing
· VAT and delivery
Southampton International Boat Show offers something that hours of online research can’t: the chance to compare options physically, put detailed questions directly to the specialists and build a joined-up plan for the boat you already own.
Bring the winter jobs list with you. You might leave with rather fewer jobs – and a much clearer idea of what comes next.
