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Beaufort Wooden Boat Show

Where:
North Carolina Maritime Museum
315 Front St.
Beaufort, NC 28516
When:

November 3, 2024 – May 5, 2024

Celebrate the art of North Carolina boat building and the sport of boat racing at the annual Wooden Boat Show in downtown Beaufort, NC. The show takes place each year on the first Saturday in May at the North Carolina Maritime Museum and is the longest running wooden boat show in the Southeast.

There will be dozens of beautiful handcrafted wooden boats on display at the North Carolina Maritime Museum’s watercraft center. Bring the whole family to the Beaufort waterfront and enjoy an array of fun activities designed for all ages.

Younger children will enjoy the maritime games and crafts in the Wooden Boat kid’s area. Families can take free sailboat rides together or team up to test their skills in sailing radio-controlled model boats. Free boat rides are offered outside the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center.

The Wooden Boat Show weekend opening event is a reception with live music the night before the show.

Beaufort Wooden Boat Show Highlights

Wooden Boat Kids area

Youngsters can take part in maritime games and crafts in the Wooden Boat Kids area. Kids can also make their own model sailboats. Enjoy traditional skills demonstrations and displays, educational activities, historic vessels, boat models, traditional sailboat races, and sailboat rides.

Boating Skills Demo

America’s Boating Club of the Crystal Coast has partnered with the North Carolina Maritime Museum to bring a Boating Skills Virtual Trainer for demonstration in the museum library. Attendees will have an opportunity to “virtually” maneuver on a lake where you approach other boats in meeting, crossing, and overtaking situations.

Knot Tying Demo

Don Van Hoy became fascinated with rope while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. That was over 15 years ago and his fascination still continues. He is keeping alive a tradition of working with ropes and knots for practical purposes. Known as Marlinspike seamanship, the practice goes back as long as there have been ships going to sea. Van Hoy will be demonstrating the art of knotwork.

Wooden Boat Show at NC Maritime Museum

Carolina Maritime Model Exposition

One of the main attractions at the Annual Wooden Boat Show is the many traditional wooden boats. Another show that takes place on a smaller scale is the Carolina Maritime Model Exposition with model boats ranging from 25 to 40 inches in length. “These handcrafted vessels are indeed a labor of love, sometimes taking 12 to 14 months to complete,” according to Grant Caraway, Manager of the Museum’s Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center.

Attendees to the show will have the opportunity to vote for “People’s Choice” award. The award goes to the “most popular” model at the show and is voted on solely by those visitors. The exposition is held in the auditorium of the North Carolina Maritime Museum.

Sailboat Rides

Free boat rides are offered outside the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center (a $5 per person donation is suggested, which will go to the sailing program).

Beaufort Wooden Boat Show sailboat rides

Beaufort Wooden Boat Show Admission:

Admission to the Beaufort Wooden Boat Show is FREE. Costs may be associated with individual events and activities taking place throughout the boat show. Visit the boat show website for more information.

 

Contact Information:

Website:  beaufortwoodenboatshow.com
Phone: (252) 728-7317

Ready to plan your stay?

Reserve your stay for the event with Emerald Isle Realty and choose from an amazing selection of Emerald Isle beach vacation houses and condo rentals, all perfectly priced to fit your budget. Book your stay online or call us at (866) 586-6980.

Event dates and information are subject to change without notice. Please visit the official event website for more information.

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