What an unusual Boat Show! When I entered the dinghy compound I expected the usual crop of Enterprise look-alikes: instead was a collection of interesting designs, from trailerable GRP catamarans to DIY ply/epoxy sprit rigged dinghies. Below are brief notes on most of the craft together with the addresses in case anyone should want further details. The prices of some craft appear high but of course may reduce considerably on the second hand market. The quoted prices include VAT and generally refer to the basic boat with sails. Many of these products have been around a year or two, but it is evident from my post bag that a lot of people, and that includes me, are unaware of some or most of them.

Winkle Brig GRP simulated clinker 16' x 6'8" x 1'2" (2'6"). Twin centreplates (actually bilge plates) gaff rigged sloop with topsail and bowsprit. Available as open dayboat half decked, or pocket cruiser. Has had good reviews. £4,900 to £7,200. Eric Berquist, Ferry Boatyard, Fiddlers Ferry Yacht Haven, Penketh, Cheshire WA6 2UJ

Highlander Kits Ply/epoxy kits including mast and sails, stitch and glue double chine designs 7'6", 10', 12', 14', 18' all beamy hulls with simple rigs, sprit boomed leg 'o mutton, lug and sprit rigs. Weight of 12' hull 120lbs. Prices 7'6" £395, 14' £995 eg.

Highlander finished craft GRP lugsail dinghies. 10' £925, 8' 3" £676. Highlander Boatbuilding & Marine Service, 15 Avondale Gardens, Grangetown, Cardiff CFl 7DY

Dockrell 17 Cruising daysailer c/b 16'9" x 6'4" x ? (3'). GRP. Rigged as Bermudian sloop. GRP or canvas cuddy/dodger. Available complete at £3,200, hull only - £695. Dockrell Yachts Ltd., 4 Parkwood Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 OHQ

Character Boats A range of 8 GRP clinker appearance craft from 9'4" to 17'8", priced from £790 to £3,200. All are open boats, a couple of them have dagger or centreboard but the remainder have a long keel (like 'Swallow' in 'Swallows and Amazons') and draw according to size between 15" and 18". All are rigged as lugsail sloops except the largest which is a cutter. The accent is on good but plain finish, the wooden masts are painted for example. Interestingly most of the boats are designed to carry ballast in the form of bags of sand. Substantial boats from designs based on actual working craft, they appear good value. Character Boats, 21 Church Grove, Overton, nr. Morecambe, LA3 3HZ

Little Gaffer A gaff rigged catboat (no jib or staysail) 13' 6" x 6' 0" x 11 1/2" (2' 6") half decked. Built from ply on Phil Bolgers 'instant boat' system from panels you preshape. Available as plans £35, kit including sails etc. about £1000, or complete apart from finishing £1,950. Other simple designs are available, they are easy to build as I know from my own experience. Instant Boats, 54 Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, Merseyside L41 5AS

Kittiwake GRP simulated clinker, 14' x 5' x 10" (3') available rigged as gaff sloop, cutter or yawl. Traditionally styled even unto a samson post. Beautifully finished, but at a price £5,450 approx. Roger Wilkinson, 32 Acton Place, Broken Cross, Eacclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8RB Cobra Catamarans GRP catamarans 15'7" x 7'6" x 8". A modern design suitable for beaching and sailing in shallow water. Available as various options. The Cobra 450 is beach catamaran with two piece mast, and it is claimed very quick to rig at £1,380. A race version with larger sail area, at £2,000. The C Cat, a day sailer with demountable GRP cockpit deck complete with outboard well at about £1,600 There is a special road trailer at £230. All very tempting. Made in Holland but with U.K. distributor. Weights vary between 172 and 200 lbs. Cobra Catamarans, Unit 8, Stepney Bank, Newcastle upon Tyne NE l 2 PW.

Norfolk 0yster GRP simulated clinker dayboat 16'9" x 6'2" x 10" (3' 10") Excellent finish with a fair amount of dry stowage. Surprisingly rigged as a gunter lug sloop as it was designed by John Leather who professes to dislike the long gunter yard! A fair number of the boats have been built in timber so it is a well proved design. The North Norfolk Boatbuilding Co., The Old Farm, Binham, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 OAL

14' Leader After all the GRP simulated clinker and 'yesteryear syndrome' it was almost a relief to find this dinghy on display and could, I suppose, best be described as GRP simulated double chine ply! However it is none the worse for that, having been around some years and of timber construction originally. It has been making a comeback recently and was being promoted at the show as a stable family dinghy. Remember however that all is relative; it will not compare with the traditional craft above - but they won't plane. As a family general purpose cum racer it seems more predictable, and I am informed (not by the manufacturer) that it is certainly easier to right after a capsize than the latest Wanderer or self draining Wayfarer. Manufactured by Martin Services Ltd., Braintree Road, Gt. Dunmow, Essex. 14' x 5'6" x 8" (3'6") hull weight 245 lbs. Stockists in the S.E. who also keep a stock of secondhand craft of similar ilk: Southern Boat Sales, Tilmore Road, Heathfield, East Sussex.