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ooden boats. Motor boats. Surfboards, kayaks, and paddle boards. The Oriental In-Water Boat Show had been on a two-year hiatus. Boat brokers struggled to find inventory to show – the pandemic that had caused the hiatus had also created a surge in demand for boats.

Motor vessels line the harbor for the Boat Show.

“For getting [the show] restarted,” said organizer Sam Myers, “it was pretty good.” Myers said the Oriental In-Water Boat Show returned with the best Friday gate numbers they’ve ever had.

“This was in the face of many other boat shows in the southeast being canceled because of lack of [boat] inventory.” Myers said he knew of four boat sales where the dealers had not had previous contact with the buyers. “It’s why our dealers are so loyal to us and moved heaven and earth to get boats for the show.”

Mercury didn’t make an outboard to look like this – it was constructed to fit the spirit of the Barbour.

During the three-day show, visitors attended boating seminars, look at (and try out) some of the newest models available, pick up something at the Nautical Flea Market, talk to professionals about their boat needs and repairs, check out older models, and more.

The Oriental In-Water Boat Show is organized and put on by The Rotary Club of Oriental. The raffle for the hand-built wooden boat and the 8hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard funded over half of one Rotary scholarship. With approximately 2,400 attendees, Myers estimates the event will clear between $25,000 – $28,000, which will go to the Rotary’s charitable missions.

Attendees comb through the goods at the Nautical Flea Market.

The raffle winners, and what they won:

• Captain Ron Diamond – 8hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard motor from SailCraft Services
• Richard Lambert – Wooden Boat built by Heber Guthrie
• Jean Clarkson – Nautical gift basket from the Friends of the Library
• Garren Dipasquale – 1937 2.1 hp Johnson outboard motor from Oriental’s Nautical Co-op (NSA, SCOO, and ODC)

Inside the Ranger Tug.

Rotarian and boat show organizer Sam Myers.

A 1930s Johnson Motor raffled off by the Oriental Nautical Cooperative. It was won by Garren Dipasquale.

Sketch of a tall ship, waiting for a new home in the Nautical Flea Market.

One of several entries in the Wooden Boat portion of the show – a 1959 Lyman 23.

Naval Architect Graham Byrnes speaks with Alan Stewart. Byrnes owns B&B Yacht Designs.

The well equipped rigging trailer of Maveryk Marine at the top. Below, more offerings at the Nautical Flea Market.

Looking out from the door of the Maveryk’s Marine trailer.

A 1986 Ablemarle 24 for sale. It has been in dry dock for twenty plus years. Aluminum trailer included.

Seminars were held on the Tiki deck. A few of the presenters, clockwise from left: John Rahm, Darrell Foster, and Curtis Stokes.

Monkeys, surfboards, and line. All available from vendors through the boat show.

A kayak (or two) were also for sale.

A 2020 Regulator 26 fishing boat for sale through Triton Yacht Brokers.

David Kreutz polishes up his paddle boards.

Engines, electronics, and hundreds of books.

Bow to Stern Boating had their charter vessels at town dock #1: a Lagoon 420 Catamaran, an Island Packet 420, and a Monk Trawler.

This Island Packet 420 was at the town dock. It’s available for chartering through Bow to Stern Boating in Oriental.

Lars Bergstrom of Curtis Stokes Yacht Brokers sailed a remote controlled sailboat in the harbor.

Details of a half-century old Math racing dinghy.

Rotary members talk strategy – specifically where to dock the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard vessel was available for public tours.

Heber Guthrie completes a wooden boat in a weekend during the boat show. He had different helpers every day. Here, his son Cliff helps out. At the end of the show, the boat was raffled off.

The tools of the wooden boat making trade – a hand planer.

An anchor and seahorse made of wood. Vendor Wisdom Wood had wooden pieces of all kinds.

Rotarian Ned Brodeur helps with setup (and takedown) of the boat show.

The next Oriental In-Water Boat show is scheduled for April 2023.

Posted Wednesday April 13, 2022 by Allison DeWeese