The boat show season has come and gone, and with it the annual opportunity to inspect the latest offerings from the boat builders and designers. This year's shows have provided the usual mixture of innovation and tradition, with a few surprises along the way.

For the dinghy cruiser, the most interesting developments continue to be in the area of small trailable cruisers - boats that combine the simplicity and economy of a dinghy with some of the comforts of a larger yacht. Several manufacturers are now offering boats in the 16-20ft range with integral cabins, lifting keels, and accommodation for two.

The challenge for designers is to provide adequate cabin space without compromising sailing performance or making the boat too heavy to trail easily. Some of the newer designs achieve this by using modern lightweight materials and clever folding or telescoping arrangements for the cabin structure.

Among the more traditional boats on display, the Drascombe range continues to find favour with cruising sailors who appreciate their seaworthiness and classic good looks. The Lugger in particular seems to have found a permanent niche as a versatile family cruiser.

For those of us who prefer open boats, the shows offered a reminder that the simple dinghy remains a remarkably effective cruising platform. Properly equipped and sensibly handled, an ordinary racing dinghy can take its crew on voyages that would surprise many yacht sailors.