AN amateur rower is looking to turn his hobby into a successful business after combining his science background with engineering expertise.

Paul Godsafe has designed a boat that could open up the sport to schools and rowing clubs thanks to its sleek design and retail price that is up to 40 per cent lower than a standard craft.

He said: “My aim was to bring down the cost of an entry-level rowing boat so that schools, colleges, rowing clubs and youth organisations would be able to afford them.

“This is designed to mimic the racing qualities of a rowing boat but not break easily, as it has to be a bit more robust and able to take a few knocks, yet look a bit racy.”

Consultant pharmaceutical scientist Mr Godsafe, who took up rowing four years ago after joining Abingdon Rowing Club, tested the prototype on the Thames before launching it at the Venturefest science and technology fair in Oxford this week.

He was hoping to drum up orders as well as investor interest in the Glide Boat which sells for £1,399, compared to similar models which typically cost £2,200.

More than 1,000 entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, investors and advisors gathered at the Said Business School for Venturefest.

Keynote speaker and former Science Minister Lord Drayson, who owns Kidlington-based Drayson Racing Technologies, said: “It makes you realise how much cool science is being developed here in Oxfordshire.

“One of the great things about Venturefest is it enables entrepreneurs to showcase what they are doing and meet each other.”

Another entrepreneur hoping to attract funding and lucrative contacts was Peter Lilley, a director of iGeolise, based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Didcot.

He was there to spread the word about Travel Time, which allows web searchers to find a place not by distance in miles but by how long it takes to travel there by bus, train, tube or car.

Mr Lilley explained: “Imagine you go to a property website looking for a flat and it tells you it is ‘within two miles’.

“That’s not really that helpful and it is a lot better if it comes up with properties that are a 45-minute commute by car or train.”

The company has already attracted big names such as Nissan, which uses it in Thailand to help customers locate their nearest dealer and the Guardian Media Group.