Maine Boat Builder's Show...your perspective?

[Ralph M Bohm]

Well, our first time experiencing the Maine Boat Builder's Show in Portland, Maine was quite interesting. I would hazard to say that the entrance fee was a bit much. :rolleyes:
Never-the-less, it was great to see all the products there and to meet some of the people who are part of this great bunch. ;)

I like to make this special "thanks" to Steve Bauer and family for the invite to their home. Great to meet up with Ken Hutchins and his better half as well as Hugh. I hopw we can do this more often. smile.gif

So who went to the show, and who did we miss? Tomorrow, I will edit this post by adding an image or 2.

Ralph M Bohm

[Figment]

$15/head wasn't too bad in my opinion, but I suppose one's perspective on that topic will vary depending on what you went there to see.
If you went to see a lot of traditional construction, you were probably disappointed.
If you were only interested in sailboats, you were disappointed.
If you were only interested in powerboats, you were disappointed.
If you were only interested in canoes and kayaks, you might have been disappointed. You get my drift...

BUT, if you just went to see a bunch of FANTASTIC boats, and like talking to the people who actually know a thing or three about them, and can appreciate a work-in-progress, the day was well worth the $15. I thought so, anyway.

My primary critique of the event is that they need a larger venue. Other than those two monsters in the front room, I can't think of a single display that didn't need about 30% more space. I realize that this is the nature of the beast, but if I were an exhibitor at that show I would want people to be able to stand back and really get a LOOK at my boat!

oh, secondary sin: How does the food vendor at a boat show NOT sell chowder? ;)

[Hwyl]

Highlight number one was the S&S seminar on Saturday afternoon (there was talk of a "surprise appearance" who I thought was probably Olin Stephens, but he did not turn up) it was a really good presentation, with a great question and answer session. They use "fast Ship" for their lines and "Rhino" for their renderings. Perhaps the biggest question and not really pertinent to this forum was: If the dollar is so low and S&S are designing aluminium mega yachts, why are there so few builders in the U.S. cpable of building something in the 150' range

Highlight number two was the open 60 Ocean Planet which was in another building.

Overarching all this was seeing old friends and making some new ones

[Ken Hutchins]

I don't care if they don't sell chowdah at the show, part of the trip to the show for us is going to one of the Portland eateries after the
show and enjoying some good food usually chowdah. :D Otherwise a good place to meet people, get inspiration and ideas. Sometime also to see something that makes me glad I did what I did, like this year Navigator Stove works has a new stove which is a copy of the Shipmate stove. I got my Shipmate at an antique shop for $400 last year, seemed like a bit high price to pay for a small wood stove. But WOW they want $3600 for their new copy of the same stove. :eek: :eek: :eek: I saved $3200 tongue.gif tongue.gif

[imported_Steven Bauer]

I always enjoy this Show. Things do change though. Admission used to be $6.00. Then 9/11 came along and their insurance went from like $3,000 to $15,000. :eek: They had to raise the admission price or stop having the show.

I was disapointed this year by not seeing some regulars that have exhibited there for years. Harry Bryan wasn't there. Barbera Merry wasn't there either (The Marlinespike Artist) One of the Adirondak guideboat guy's wasn't there. Messing About In Boats didn't have a booth. Oh well.

Nice meeting you Ralph. smile.gif

Here is some of the gang at the show:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/p20140f5f160fc47f9b47ecee7ee039e3/f949d99e.jpg

[rbgarr]

I went today (Sunday) and enjoyed meeting Thad, seeing the A+R double ended dinghy built by The Apprenticeshop, oohing and ahhing at the red Huckins, and talking to old friends. Chip Flanagan's Dark Harbor 20 was, naturally, the best boat there as far as wood boats went.

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Here's Chip's boat, but I think it's a Dark Harbor 15:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/pf875eb4f5eace8b6dfd71ed4f8a2aea0/f949d9d9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/pd2e1961fa1c3116e88d8ffa790af9535/f949d9e0.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/pb8f35a51c27708df7cb48a5a9264615a/f949d98e.jpg

I couldn't get a good shot of the whole boat. He was right by the front door in a corner and it was too crowded.

Steven

[Ralph M Bohm]

Hey, I finally found the image I wanted to post...


http://www.3me.com/images/mmbday1/galapagos_mail.jpg

Ralph

[ 03-22-2004, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Ralph M Bohm ]

[fair&fair]

I have to say that I was a little bit dissapointed with the show this year. It seemed to lack the energy that it has had in years past. There were also far fewer vendors than usual. The MBB show is something that I look forward to every year as the beginning of spring...I'm not sure if I'll be back next year now.

[CJ]

As someone who is just getting into building small wooden boats (working on my first project) as well as currently having a larger cruiser (made of that 'other' boat building material) being built in Maine, I didn't have enough time at the show. From open to close, I got overwhelmed with information on everything from inverter selections to design ideas for my next home project to information about material selection (my biggest challenge right now). I thought the $15 bucks was worth it for me (and my wife who humored me the whole day). Our biggest complaint was with the caterer. I can almost understand the price of food at such a venue, but the selection and quality was the worst I've ever seen. I thought after last year's show, someone else would have had the chance to provide food & drink. Maybe next year, I'll ask the fine folks at Ellis to demonstrate their galley stove and bring my own chowder...