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he spark for the Oriental Boat Show came to Rob Lucey late last year. He says he saw the empty slips of the newly-completed section of the Pecan Grove Marina and thought, “What this town needs is a boat show.” He shared the idea, mentioning it to “too many people,” so that eventually, he says, he had no choice but to become a first time boat show organizer.

The result is the Oriental Boat Show, happening next weekend, April 17-19.

Rob Lucey on a recent afternoon at Pecan Grove Marina. In a week, the slips will be filled for the Oriental Boat Show. He’s hoping for warmer weather than the day this photo was taken.

More than a dozen area brokers, including Triton Yachts, Deatons, St. Barts, Cape Lookout, Oriental Yacht Sales, Jarrett Bay, and Mobile East will have boats in the 60 slips set aside for the show. Attendees will be able to go aboard and look around.

In one of those slips will be the skipjack Ada Mae, which is sailing down from New Bern for the show. Another distinctive vessel will be the periauger — a replica of the cargo sailing boat from North Carolina’s colonial era. Attendees will also be able to tour current working vessels, from the fishing fleet at Endurance Seafood.

The layout of the Oriental Boat Show.

The Oriental Boat Show is being called, “The Boat Show For Everyone.” Rob, who with his wife Jo, publishes the Carolina Currents magazine, says he’s noticed in recent years that some boat shows are a “pile of fiberglass and new power boats,” while other shows are devoted only to sail boats. Most focus only on new boats.

By contrast, the Oriental Boat Show will have “a little of everything,” Lucey says. “New and brokered, power and sail, small and large, cruising boats and kayaks.”

A mix of boats at the entryway to Pecan Grove Marina. A sailboat passes the fishing boats of Endurance Seafood, which will be open to visitors from the Oriental Boat Show.

As for staging a boat show in these economic times, Rob says he’s counting on some pent-up demand after last year’s slow boat sales and the relatively lower fuel prices this year. While Rob allows that there is a lot of uncertainty with the economy, he notes that some people still have money to spend on boats.

The Oriental Boat Show’s diversity of vessels aims to accommodate all those spending levels. “If you’re looking for a small boat to get out on and learn to sail, there’ll be Sunfish. And small fishing boats.” He adds with a smile, “and I know of at least one cruising boat under $50,000 that’s quite a bargain.” His and Jo’s Morgan 382 “Sea Spell” will be among the brokered boats in the slips. Rob says he sold a previous boat at a boat show in Houston years ago, and thought that others with used boats might give that a go with this show, too.

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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.

Posted Thursday April 9, 2009 by Melinda Penkava