Attendance doubled at WoodenBoat Show

NEWPORT, R.I. – Total turnout at the WoodenBoat Show, which took place August 26-28 at the Newport Yachting Center, more than doubled the previous year’s attendance, organizers reported in a recent statement.

“This location is the best for quality attendees and industry participation,” commented exhibitor Bill Munger, Conanicut Marine.

“Every exhibitor I spoke with raved about the quality of the buyers this year’s show attracted,” said Show Manager and Publisher of WoodenBoat magazine Carl Cramer.

The 14th Annual WoodenBoat Show presented traditional classics and contemporary wooden boats of every type and featured products and services by 150 companies from eighteen states across America and two provinces of Canada.

Boats on display included wooden cruising yachts, launches, runabouts, fishing boats, performance powerboats, daysailers, dinghies, rowboats, kayaks, canoes, performance shells, and racing boats of all kinds.

Among the onshore exhibits were brass roller furling units, front rowing mechanisms, and traditionally built rigging or sails, woodworking tools and finishing products, nautical antiques, custom furniture, scale model boats, and sportswear.

Captain Kids – Discovery Point offered kids an opportunity to make their own free hand-painted tee shirt sponsored by Interlux, to drive a radio-controlled powerboat and sail a model sailboat, to learn to tie knots, and to identify critical parts on a large sailboat on a scavenger hunt.

Craftsmen attending the show could participate in interactive demonstrations given by marine industry experts throughout the weekend. Steam bending, plank spiling, spar making, and dove tailing and more were presented. In addition, several exhibiting companies offered half-hour workshops demonstrating the proper use of their products or understanding their services. Such topics as building beautiful wood epoxy elements, side-sharpening techniques, and proper boat bottom replacement were covered. All demonstrations and workshops were free to show attendees.

For the 2006 show, scheduled to take place August 25 – 27, the content of the show will be expanded considerably to make the best use of the Newport Yachting Center’s land and water space, organizers reported.

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