Email This Page to a FriendInsider’s Guide to the 2016 WoodenBoat Show
June 16, 2016
THE INSIDER’S GUIDE, by OffCenterHarbor.com
For Members and Friends of OffCenterHarbor.com
Feel free to pass a link to it on to your friends
THE OFF CENTER HAPPY HOUR:
On Friday at 4:30pm, come join us for a beer and a laugh or two at Mystic Seaport’s Shipyard. We got a couple kegs instead of a booth this year — we hope you approve — so we could gather with OCH members and friends all together at one time.
Location: The Henry Dupont Shipyard at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT
Date: Friday, June 24, 2016
Time: 4:30pm to 6:30pm
SHOW LOCATION, DATES & TIMES:
Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT
June 24-26, 2016 (9am to 5pm)
THE BEST BREAKFAST:
We always begin our mornings at Kitchen Little, which has the best breakfast in the area (and maybe in all of New England). It’s a trick to get there now because the restaurant is no longer within walking distance. A smart phone GPS comes in handy. It’s now located at the Mystic River Marina on Mason’s Island; the address is 36 Quarry Road, Mystic, CT 06355. Here’s a Google map from the show.
THE OFFICIAL LINKS:
Website: Here’s the link to the show’s official website.
Directory: You can click here to download the show’s Directory in a pdf.
Map: Here’s a link to the official map of the show.
Poster: Click here to download this year’s poster.
ROW A CLASSIC ON THE MYSTIC RIVER:
Head to Mystic Seaport’s Boathouse early to get out on the Mystic River in a small classic boat and view the boats in the show from the water. Here’s a link to OCH’s video on the Boathouse. Also, former curator Ben Fuller takes OCH co-founder Eric Blake on a tour of some of these boats in a series of three videos on Workboat Beginnings:
Video: Workboat Beginnings, Part 1 – Swampscott Dory & Dory Skiff
Video: Workboat Beginnings, Part 2 — Whitehall Boats
Video: Workboat Beginnings Part 3 – The Flatiron Skiff
WATERCRAFT HALL OPEN HOUSE
Visit the Rossi Mill building for the Watercraft hall open house to see the collection of hundreds of amazing boats with Phil Tankard and volunteers. It is located across Route 27 from the museum’s north entrance in a space that’s not normally open to visitors. The open house is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2:30-4:30pm each day. OCH has featured a few of them in the four Watercraft Collection:
Video: Watercraft Collection of Mystic Seaport, Part 1- The Broom Closet
Video: Watercraft Collection of Mystic Seaport, Part 2 – A Catboat & Wherry
Video: Watercraft Collection of Mystic Seaport, Part 3 – The Original ALERION
Video: Watercraft Collection of Mystic Seaport, Part 4 – Room Full O’ Details
SMALL CRAFT WORKSHOP:
The annual John Gardner Small Craft Workshop takes place this same weekend near the Boathouse/livery, so there’ll be even more than the usual number of small boats to view and try out.
A KID’S BEST HOUR:
Kids can build a simple toy boat at a special workshop set up just for them. Check with the Seaport staff for the workshop’s location. And here’s a link to all-things-kids at Mystic Seaport.
ART GALLERY AND BOOK STORE:
“The Seaport Store has a great gallery of art and a huge selection of nautical books that always fascinate me,” claims Maynard Bray.
BOATS AT THE SHOW:
Here’s a link to the boats attending the show on WoodenBoat’s website.
And, be sure not to miss NED LUDD — Geoff Kerr, who built OCH’s Caledonia Yawl, will be on hand with his own Caledonia Yawl (on the docks). Here’s one of OCH’s many videos aboard this great boat design:
Video: A Good Boat, Up Close – The Caledonia Yawl
EXHIBITORS:
Be sure to check out the List of Exhibitors here so you’re sure not to miss your favorites.
SKILLS DEMONSTRATIONS:
Also, be sure to check out the skills demonstrations list to see what is being offered during the weekend’s events.
TAKE A SPIN ON THE THE BRECK MARSHALL & OTHER BOATS:
Sail aboard the catboat BRECK MARSHALL and get some local river history. It’s a wonderful treat, especially if it’s a hot afternoon.
COOL TOWNS NEARBY:
You can drive your own car down Route 215 to Noank or east along Route 1 to Stonington and explore these cool little New England villages that are only a few miles from Mystic.
JOINING OFFCENTERHARBOR.COM AS A MEMBER
If you’re not already a member of OCH, you can click here to join now, or you can click here to see our highlight video and sign up to receive several free videos and learn more about OCH.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this bit of “insider’s” knowledge and hope you can make it to the show!
Warm regards,
Steve
2 Responses So Far to “Insider’s Guide to the 2016 WoodenBoat Show”:
Thanks; that was very helpful. I’m bringing my boat from Northern Michigan and am not that familiar with the area. Looking forward to the keg on Friday.
Thanks! Great guide.