Bring your old lifejackets to Southampton Boat Show

B ring your lifejackets to the Southampton Boat Show and enjoy free maintenance checks at the PBO and Dave Selby stand in the Arena.

PBO’s Dave Selby, who is battling a rare nerve illness called Guillain-Barré Syndrome, is currently en route to the show in his 5.5m (18ft) Sailfish Marlin on a 300-mile charity challenge.

Seasafe, who have supplied Dave’s custom lifejackets and safety equipment, will be holding daily clinics on Dave’s stand (A134), offering lifejacket checks and advice, plus a special show price for servicing and providing a servicing collection point.

Dave, who completed leg one of the voyage to London in July, is making the journey in small hops as health, time and weather allow. The 57-year-old requires regular hospital treatment to stay well. He said: ‘I’ve got a wall-planner that says “legs”, “no legs”, and poor winds meant time was getting tight. I just got to London in the nick of time.’

Dave aims to arrive for the opening of the show on September 16, ready to host talks on small-boat ownership with surveyor Nick Vass, plus practical demonstrations with PBO.

Seaglaze are providing new windows which Dave and the PBO team will fit during the show. Silky Marine will transform Marlin’s faded and stained hull with demos of their boat-cleaning products. Claudia Myatt will be artist-in- residence for the first weekend, with a special offer to produce boat paintings and cartoons for PBO readers. The Hurley Owners Association will be showcasing the Hurley 20 and 22 on the stand and giving advice about small-boat ownership. The RYA will also be giving advice to help first-timers get afloat.

Marlin’s Mission aims to encourage more people to take up the sport of sailing and to raise money for the gain charity: www.justgiving.com/ Dave-Selby-Marlins-Mission. Follow Dave’s progress online at pbo.co.uk/dave-selby and on Twitter @ImpracticalBoat – and see our Southampton Boat Show preview on pages 61-63.