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Arranged around the edges of the marina will be five tents of exhibitors, and a separate tent for staging seminars and demonstrations where attendees will be hearing about racing strategies, fishing tips, paddling techniques, youth summer program details, cruising insights, safety awareness.

Just add boats. Next week the slips at Pecan Grove’s newest area will have boats of all styles and sizes.

Among the attractions: Marine Historian Doug Alvord will trace the history of working craft in NC from colonial times to now. Author Kevin Duffus will be talking about “The Last Days of Blackbeard”, and the myths surrounding the pirate. Edward Teach likely wasn’t aware of the calming effects of yoga, but it is possible to do yoga on a boat and Susan Koepp of Body Balance Studio will lead a class and show how. There’ll be an “Ask Graham” session with boat designer Graham Byrnes about boat building, cruising, racing and all things nautical.

SailCraft rigger Mark Lucas will go over rigging and what to look for. (Rob says Mark has some “scary visual aids” of rigging gone awry.) Gene Wooster of Mobile East Marine will offer a seminar on marine engines and modern fuels. Paddle Pamlico’s Chris Ellis talks about the best ways to combine fishing and kayaking. Neuse Riverkeeper Larry Baldwin will talk about using the river and protecting it at the same time.

Other speakers and topics include, Sean Prendergast on corrosion, John Deaton on diesel engine maintenance, Lu Ann Parins on canvas and sail care, Jim Edwards on the youth sailing program in Oriental, Eddie Jones on affordable boating, Lynda Kemppainen on financing a boat, Doug Brenner on marine electronics. A cluster of regional authors whose works touch on the water of the area will also be part of the show.

And in this corner…. one demonstration will be of a scene few sailors want to experience themselves: deploying an inflatable life raft.

There will also be some action in the water. In a walk-through at the Pecan Grove docks the other day, Rob Lucey showed the corner where some in-water demonstrations will happen. On Saturday Captain Larry Walker of World Wide Marine Training will be demonstrating the inflation of a life raft, which Rob notes is something that usually, “no one actually gets to see.” The next day, there’ll be another demonstration, of jumping from a boat in an immersible suit and making a rescue in the water.

Also on Sunday Paul Del Rio of the Coast Guard Auxilliary will lead what’s being called, “Emergency Pyrotechnic Flare Demonstration” and show how to properly use both hand-held and pistol flares. So as not to bring undue drama to the boats in the marina, this will be staged over the adjacent land of the Windmill Pointe development.

The flare demonstration will take place a safe distance away from the boats — and other inhabitants of the marina.

While the show is happening on the other side of the bridge from Oriental, the organizers are working to help attendees get to Oriental for lunch or just a visit without having to get in their cars. A water taxi is being arranged. Larry Walker’s inflatable craft (known to many as Santa’s boat in Oriental’s Christmas parade) is being pressed in to service and Rob says that Larry has a list of certified captains from his school for it. Rob says that “it’d be cool” to have a few more boats available for these “lunch launches”.

Rob Lucey’s not making any estimate how many people would be at the show. A couple thousand he says he’s been told, would be good.

A week out, there were still a few slips available for those wanting to show a boat.

To volunteer your time, your boat or get a slip, contact Rob Lucey at the offices of Carolina Currents, 745-6507.

Entry to the show is $5. Hours are Friday April 17 Noon-6pm, Saturday 10a-6p and Sunday Noon-5p. For more info and the full schedule, visit the Oriental Boat Show website.

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Posted Thursday April 9, 2009 by Melinda Penkava

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