Described by Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide as “one of Connecticut’s Top 20 Events for the Summer,” the three-day WoodenBoat Show offers something for all wooden boat enthusiasts and marine history buffs. Wooden boats of every type — large and small, old and new, power, sail, oar and paddle — will be on display including cruising yachts, launches, runabouts, fishing boats, performance powerboats, daysailers, dinghies, rowboats, canoes, performance shells, multi-hulls and racing boats.
Learn new skills at demonstrations and workshops throughout the weekend. Shop exhibitors’ booths and find everything you need to outfit your boat. More than 100 vendors will offer items for sale including maritime art, antiques, tools, books, nautical gear, and much more.
Those interested in the construction of smaller boats can stop by the Family Boat Building tent, where families and teams will work to build their own canoe or skiff during the weekend. Purchased kits are opened at 9 a.m. Friday morning and tools are put down around 3 p.m. Sunday, leaving, in most cases, a boat awaiting only final finish work. Some boats will be launched at the Show.
With a bit more than a week to go to the start of the show, Artisan Boatworks are putting the finishing touches on hull number one, W-Class Yacht Companies new W-22.
The W-22s are based on a Joel White design, with some upgrades by his son, Steve, and Bruce Johnson of Brooklin Boat Yard. The boats will measure 22′ 10″ on deck, displace 1,900 lbs., and draw only 22 inches of water with the ballasted centerboard raised. The familiar trio of Hall Spars, Harken Hardware, and North Sails will provide the power above deck.
Visit Artisan Boatworks at the WoodenBoat Show: Land A
Visit W-Class Yachts at the WoodenBoat Show: Land A in the Water Exhibit
WoodenBoat Show: Map
Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway, in preparation for the Wooden Boat Show, re-launched, after a winter season of restoration and rebuild, the Herreshoff NY30 “Cara Mia.” Both “Cara Mia” and G&Bs new 19-foot gaff sloop “Sheldrake” will be at the show.
Visit Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway at the WoodenBoat Show: Land A
WoodenBoat Show: Map
Other WoodenBoat Show events include the return of “I Built it Myself,” a display of home-built boats; a Concours d’Elegance, including Judges’ Choice, Innovation, and People’s Choice awards; and skua races.
Additionally, the Fellows of the G.W. Blunt White Library will host their annual book sale during the WoodenBoat Show on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Small Craft Workshop
The John Gardner Small Craft Workshop will once again be hosted during the WoodenBoat Show. All Traditional Small Craft Association members are invited to attend with or without their boats. Those participants who do bring their vessels are encouraged to share their boats – including peapods, whitehalls, sharpie skiffs, wood and canvas canoes, kayaks, performance rowing craft, dories, dinghies and tenders — with other registered boaters during this three-day celebration.
WoodenBoat Publications
The WoodenBoat Show is produced by WoodenBoat Publications, Inc., which includes WoodenBoat magazine, Professional BoatBuilder magazine, the WoodenBoat Store, the WoodenBoat School, and the WoodenBoat Show.