"At Square Sail, we built up a good portfolio of customers as well as dipping our toe into the short term hire market, " said Wilson. "However, this new arrangement allows me to devote all my time and energy into expanding the Jetfloat business."

Recent Jetfloat installations include new pontoons for Cardiff Yacht Club, The Mountbatten Centre and Torquay Harbour, a bathing platform in Weymouth, temporary vehicle bridges for remote waterways and a working platform for lake and river maintenance.

The company has approx 750 sq m of Jetfloat available for short term hire. Recent applications include a 37 metre pedestrian bridge across the River Test for the 2002 CLA Game Fair at Romsey, swimming platforms for the London Triathlon and the ballasted hovercraft platform for the Southampton International Boat Show.

Wilson says much of his promotional efforts will be directed at running demonstrations. At a recent 4-day demonstration for British Waterways and others at Hatton Locks, near Warwick, Wilson's company installed a small temporary marina and showed how a 7-ton excavator could safely work from a Jetfloat Platform.

"There is no doubt that inviting people to see, touch and use the product is the most effective way of allowing them to assess the benefits for themselves, " said Wilson. "I will be running further demonstrations and open days over the next few months."

Wilson says he also hopes to create a countrywide network of agents to develop his customer base.