Southport Magazine

Boats, a leisurely stroll along the water, and more boats. It sounds like a perfect fall day in Southport, so mark your calendars now for the Wooden Boat Show.

The 10th Anniversary of the Annual Southport Wooden Boat Show will be held at the Southport waterfront on Saturday, Nov. 2. Events get underway at 10 a.m and last until 4 p.m. 

Scheduled events include an exhibition of wooden boats on Moore Street and Caswell Avenue, in-water boats and exhibits, wooden boat building demonstrations, maritime displays and talks, and harbor tours on the Cape Fear River. Raffle tickets for a 10’ Annabelle Skiff, designed by William Atkin, are already available at the N.C. Maritime Museum-Southport.

Children’s activities are planned as well, including educational displays on sea creatures from the N.C Museum at Fort Fisher and shipbuilding information courtesy of the N.C. Maritime Museum at Southport. Children will also have the chance to build their own model boat and test its seaworthiness. 

Adults have an opportunity to learn too since the participating boat owners welcome questions and the chance to share their love of all things boating, whether they’re the proud owners of a gorgeous cabin cruiser built for entertaining, an older vessel lovingly restored with decades of stories or a new, meticulously handcrafted canoe. 

Awards, including the coveted “Best in Sow” peoples choice honor, will be presented starting at 4 p.m. at the corner of Caswell and Moore in front of the SWBS Sponsor Board.

This year’s Taste of Cape Fear features a Seafood Chowder, Shrimp & Grits, and a Low Country Boil made by the award winning Frying Pan Restaurant chef.

The Southport Wooden Boat Show in a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote interest in and disseminate knowledge of the craft and art of wooden boat construction, to support efforts to preserve wooden boat construction and skills and to celebrate the region’s maritime and boatbuilding history, according to its mission statement on www.southportwoodenboatshow.com. Visit the group’s website for more information on the Boat Show and video interviews about previous wooden boat shows, local history and boatbuilding.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Wooden boats on exhibit: Moore Street and Caswell Ave.

10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – In-Water boats on exhibit: at the docks at Admirals Harbor until 3:30 p.m. for Awards ceremony beginning at 4:00 p.m. in front of the Music Tent

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Wooden boat Building demonstration (Cape Fear Community College): Mark Bayne and students will build a yet another “from scratch” wooden boat with work beginning Saturday morning and completing that day.

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Ship’s Store: Official SWBS posters, hats, and T-shirts

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Vendors dispersed throughout the event venue

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Maritime Displays, Talks & Demonstrations

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Children’s Activities

11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Taste of the Cape Fear (Tickets go on sale at 10:00 am)

10:30 am – 3:30 pm – Harbor Tours on the Cape Fear (Boats leave from Fishy Fishy)

4:00 pm to 4:30 pm – Wooden Boat Awards & Raffle Prizes (In front of CFCC Boat Building Tent)

2:30 pm Last call to cast your ballot for “Best of Show” People’s Choice Award