Almost half of respondents in a recent independent survey of 1800 boat owners from across the UK stated that the greatest influence on their decision to buy a boat was based on their initial experiences when hiring.

As the key aim of the Scottish Boat Show is to introduce the public to inland boating, BWS is now planning an event that will allow visitors to get on to the water to experience more types of boating activities for themselves and to see the high levels of comfort associated with today's modern hire boats.

Richard Millar, service and business development manager at BWS, told BB : "The newly reopened Lowland canals are proving hugely popular with visitors, although there is still considerable work to be done to introduce the public to the delights of inland boating.

There may be fewer boats on Scotland's Lowland waterways than on the English canals, but the number is growing all the time and I have no doubt that a redesigned event will help raise awareness of these fantastic boating opportunities."

I also firmly believe that as interest levels continue to rise the true potential of the waterways will be realised through the creation of a range of canal related business opportunities to support this increased activity, he added.