home

Over 1,500

boaters came through the gates of the Oriental Boat Show this past weekend. After the last few years at Pecan Grove, the show moved across the harbor this year to its new home at Oriental Harbor Marina. It worked, with thumbs up for the easy “walkable” access to the village.

The Oriental Harbor Marina which was the host for the Oriental Boat Show’s return to the village. Many vendors said they favored the new location. One reason: less dust.

Why is this man smiling? Sam Myers works year round to organize the Rotary ‘s Oriental Boat Show. This year, the extra degree of difficulty was in moving it to a new location. By many accounts, the in-town location was a plus..

The 14 foot long skiff made on Saturday and Sunday by Heber Guthrie and some assistants. It was raffled off Sunday afternoon. (A photo essay is here.).

The boat show worked because many people gave it their all. Among them, Victoria Hyatt. Asked to draw the winning ticket in the raffle for the skiff, she took her responsibilities seriously. There were other raffles held throughout the weekend.

There were some fine days for sailing while the Boat Show was in progress. Paul Wells of Triton Yachts got to trim some sail, even if it was on land. Ralf Anselm of Oriental stands watch.

One vendor brought a floating dock and Bow to Stern arrayed a fleet of kayaks off of it. .

Mac Rubel led a seminar on how to deal with medical emergencies on the water. One case in point.. the fish hook going where it shouldn’t. You can get it out, says Mac, by applying pressure and (don’t try this at home unless you have to) a good yank.

Not the most photogenic treasure to be found at the Nautical Flea Market but one of the more curious. (For the separate photo essay of the Boat Show’s Nautical Flea Market, click here.)

[page]

What’s an Oriental Boat Show without a momentary fire fueled by hamburger fat?

A dolphin points in to the wind along the shoreline on Friday. It gusted to over 30 that opening day afternoon, but stayed calm the following two days of the Boat Show.

A near-constant presence in Oriental for years — her lines stay the same, the names of her owners just change. Oriental Yacht Sales is listing her. She drew lots of attention at the show..

Jim Nixon accompanied Miss Maude to the show. Jim was touting Oriental’s School of Sailing which he runs.

Miss Maude’s other proud side.

At a seminar on Friday, John Bloom of the Oriental Dinghy Club used prop sailboats to demonstrate some basic rules of racing. (He also made a pitch for folks to come and fill out the ranks of racers in ODC’s Saturday races.)

Hope Floats NC, a cancer-awareness group, kayaked from Raleigh to Oriental, covering more than 200 miles in 8 days. The trek ended Saturday afternoon at the Dinghy Dock when twelve paddlers gave one last push on to the floating dock.

[page]

“You cannot fully appreciate what this boat has to offer if you don’t step inside.” Mike Trogdon of Triton Yachts was showing the Hunter, “Rainy Day.”

Stepping inside on “Rainy Day.”

Jennifer Henderson of Jacksonville was ready to sit while in the seat put on the deck of the Island Packet for sale at the show. .

Under the shade of a long-billed hat, Larry Heckner of Masonboro Skiffs. He spoke of finding the true grain in the wood of he boats his company builds and works on. You work up to a fine 220-320 grit sandpaper, Heckner says, and, “then bam! It pops out. It’s magical to see.”

More of the boat built by the Masonboro Skiff Company. Larry Heckner says they build about three a year and do older boat restorations as well..

Wet suit mannequin.

.. and the real deal. Ashley Kemp and Troy Pate, who is owner of Mike’s Dive Service out of Beaufort. Ashley was between jobs. On Saturday alone, the business picked up a half dozen diving – heel cleaning – jobs.

A trimaran offered by Bow to Stern..

[page]

There were official Boat Show shirts for sale ..

.. and as seen on the docks..

In the cockpit of his boat, Spindrift, Charlie Garrett spent the weekend welcoming potential buyers aboard.

A side show attraction at Charlie’s boat – 6 half gallon jugs. The colored water inside collectively represented the 28 pounds Charlie says he lost since January. He wants to one day have more than twice that many jugs to show for his efforts.

Former Oriental resident Jan Klimrath came from the clear other end of NC – Bryson City – to sell her All Things Canvas hats. Here she marks where the grommets will go for the string. (Grommetting was done on site.).

All Things Canvas hats.

Still more clothing and accessories available at the Nautical Wheelers booth where Jim Moore had passersby try on a Columbia Omni Freeze Zero to demonstrate its cooling ability.

Nancy Wells with Triton Yacht Sales.

[page]

Bill Hines, Oriental’s Creekeeper with the Neuse River Foundation with a new program about keeping boats clean. (Bill and three other men from Oriental are this week kayaking down the Neuse from Raleigh to publicize the April 26 Clean Up The Neuse day.

Some of the NRF fundraising effort.

The boat the Coast Guard in Hobucken brought for visitors to tour on Sunday.

The boat has a pricetag of more than $2 million dollars. At least one of the parts carries a high-end name.

Visitors aboard the Coast Guard’s boat inspect what’s below a hatch aft.

Flora Moorman was promoting the August. Dragon Boat Races in Oriental.

For its length, the narrowest boat at the show belonged to the Oriental Dragon Boat Club’s boat. The local dragon boaters use the boat for practice. Oriental is hosting its annual Dragon Boat Races in August.

One vendor brought a floating dock to show off, and did, alongside the more stationary Oriental Dinghy Dock. Attached to the temporary floating dock was the array of kayaks in the Bow To Stern fleet, which are rentable.

[page]

Checking out an Island Packet.

A line of power boats stretched across the parking lot. Vic Wiliams was one of the brokers.

Ben Casey led two seminars about shooting photos while on the water. One piece of advice: remember that the boat you’re on is never perfectly still. Another: always shade your lens whether with your hand or a lens hood.

Hard Working Rotary Dogs

Claiborne Young at Sunday’s seminar on cruising the ICW.

A solar powered boat that is on its way back north this season.

Military Missions in Action, which is building a home from the ground up for a wounded veteran of recent wars was at the show selling, among other things, walking sticks. .

A last glance at the boats…

Posted Wednesday April 16, 2014 by Melinda Penkava