Massachusetts Boatbuilders Show

[South Shore Boatworks]

The First annual Massachusetts Boatbuilders Show will be held at The Sheraton Four Points in Hyannis January 19-21. Hours friday 2-8,
Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-4. This is being sponsored by The Cape Cod Marine trades Association. this show features small to medium size builders of custom boats

[Hwyl]

I guess Phinney Sprague should have copywrited the name. I don't think it will take anything away from the Maine show.

http://www.capecodboatshow.net/

[elf]

I guess Phinney Sprague should have copywrited the name. I don't think it will take anything away from the Maine show.

http://www.capecodboatshow.net/
Copyright has nothing to do with writing. It has to do with rights.

"Copyrighted" is OK usage, although "registered the copyright on" is more correct.

[Hwyl]

I should have known that "Patent it yourself" is lying open on the desk, too many steroids. Oft to beddybones.

[Hwyl]

Will you be attending Elf?

[elf]

Well, I just looked at the site. Kinda short of info. Sent the link off the Doug Cooper. He's just isolated enough I bet he's unaware.

Steve Ballentine probably wouldn't come even if he knew - too busy, doesn't want any more work.

I'm not ready to put up a booth, but I suppose I'll get out there and check it out. Like to meet Ned Crosby.

[Ian McColgin]

I'm planning to check this out. I may even preview on Friday and ferrrrsherrrr Saturday, probably with StormPetrel (aka GoodPhil) and possibly BadPhil and other Kedgers.

Maybe we should have a drop-by message site as we've done at the Portland show.

Let's get up an EBS.

[elf]

Let's get up an EBS.
Sounds like a plan.

When?

[adampet]

I'm up for Saturday. Might be nice to meet up when the show closes at 6 and hoist a few. Any favorite spots in the wicked city(Heinous..) Ian?

Adam

[adampet]

Link to Cape Cod Times story
http://capecodonline.com/cctimes/biz/capeboats17.htm

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/images/capeboats17.jpg
Areys Pond Catboat. Matt Suess photo


Adam

[Ian McColgin]

I'm sure we can find a suitable venue.

I doubt that this is such a big show that we'd have a hard time hooking up, but perhaps we can get an exhibitor to agree to keep a message sheet for us. I'm thinking Ayres or Pease ???

[elf]

You're better friends with Pease's, aren't you? Can you check with him and let us all know?

[elf]

Any news on this now?

[Ian McColgin]

I forgot to call Brad and Mike yesterday and they are setting up now. But, happy thought, I got an e-mail back from Bob - South Shore Boatworks - who initiated the thread. He's an exhibitor though just with a table.

I could not reach him today but how about we reward (HehHehHeh) him for bringing this up by stopping by his table? I'll bet he can take a joke.

[Ocean Spray]

I'm driving down to the show with my son-in-law, brother and four year old grandson from Boston. Anyone down that way got any ideas for a good restaurant for lunch, maybe on the waterfront?
Thanks

[elf]

We had a great time. Supper was fine, too. Missed some of you.

[adampet]

Well I just got back from a small gathering post show with Ian, Elf, GoodPhil, and Sean. We met at the show, wandered around a bit and headed out for a small EBS.

The show was a good first effort. There was a good mix of small boat builders, big (glass)iron, museums, non profits, schools and magazines.

I'll stick to things made of wood, though there was a lot of glass.

Howard Boats brought this very pretty cat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/adampet/howardcat.jpg

Walter Baron was there with one of his elegant skiffs. He'd love to hear from anyone who is building one of his Lumber Yard Skiffs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/adampet/oldwharf.jpg

Suzanne Leahy of Marine Restoration and Salvage had one of the more fascinating boats. It's a Japanese sailboat built in 1964. It has been handed from owner to owner, usually in trade for something else. Hence it's moniker "the Barter Boat" Originally lapstrake, it's been re-planked by cold molding a smooth skin. The original stringers and frame work are a thing of beauty.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/adampet/barterboat.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/adampet/barterboat2.jpg

The star of the show was KATY, a Peterson design built by Crosby. It had me reaching for my wallet, to buy a lottery ticket that is!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/adampet/katy.jpg

I missed a picture of Bob at South Shore Boatworks, though he acted as message board for the WBF crew.

And speaking of crew. From L to R
Good Phil(Storm Petrel) Mary Ellen, Ian, ELF( Emily) and Sean. Me? I'm behind the camera.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/adampet/crew.jpg

Adam

[Ian McColgin]

I had a good time and it was a good fist try but the show will wither if not tended. It needs a different sort of site, much more in the way of exhibitors, and participatory events. And we actually have possibilities.

Given the time of year - can't really do a show like this in the sailing season - finding a venue is the first grant challenge. Portland is so blessed with such a perfect environment for the show.

A boatbuilders' show is not like the big plastic boatshows with their displays of floating AFC's (Another #&%*#^% Condominium) that go appropriately in arenas and convention centers. A boatbuilders' show needs a large enough site that boats and vendors and participatory things like workshops, demonstrations and contests can happen but it helps if the place has boatbuilding atmosphere.

I don't know if Crosby, Kingman or someone could make the production sacrifice of at least three days lost work to clear space and then manage to play well enough with others to become a host. It does not actually have to be a boatyard, though. There are facilities at the Tech and at 4C's (college) that could work, though such a site might mean we must forswear cold beer.

The key to exhibitors' growth here is keeping entry costs - both exhibitors' and participants' - down. This means that we'll need to find a way to fundraise the thing at least for a few years. I don't know if the Cape Cod Marine Trades Association can go this part alone.

To keep the notion of Cape Cod (and wide environs) boatbuilders, the show must exclude "mass produced" boats. But that's a definition. Beetle Cats are "mass produced" in that they come out of standard molds and parts. And we'd not want to exclude the smaller glass boat builders. Perhaps there should to be an agreed production run size. I saw nothing at this show I thought inappropriate - no AFC's. But as the push goes out to get the associated trades to exhibit, the boatyards and marinas that also market one or another brand of high horsepower Cigarello will need to be restricted to addressing their dock and repair facilities, not sales.

Lastly, I think we have the resources with the right planing for great interactive stuff. There are enough student boatbuilder programs around here - some represented nicely at this show - that could not just show, but be creating a bit. We have very interactive maritime museums around here that could, with right planning, do some cool workshops. Both the Auxiliary and the Power Squadron might do special sessions that preview some of the excellent educational mission they fulfill.

It's there but it will take some very serious work starting today.

Meanwhile, it was a total gas to see folk making connections and having fun.

[S.V. Airlie]

Great picture.... Great boats.... Thanks for posting...

[Ocean Spray]

It was a good first try! I drove down from North of Boston Saturday morning with my grandson.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid223/pee361cf0c34fe466f8aad4d69f6db7db/eaff7490.jpg
We enjoyed walking around the show. It was a nice mix of exhibitors, maybe a little small, but we still liked climbing over the boats and talking to everyone.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid223/p2e0319d78a21c7e35904e86125bbc03a/eaff6da9.jpg
Someplace place other than a hotel exhibit hall would be better, more boats, maybe suppliers like Jamestown(or do you have to come from the Cape?)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid223/p79abdb0738deeff17dc84c510da36c19/eaff726c.jpg
I personally like looking at the small stuff.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid223/p2b0872d242f821d3d0462b80c10adde7/eaff76f6.jpg
I hope it grows and I look forward to next years show!

[elf]

Sorry we couldn't find you. I looked about and asked at South Shore but we missed you. Your grandson looks like he had a good time - a good thing.