Boat show attendance on par with years past

ROCKLAND – Boat lovers from all over the East Coast converged on Harbor Park this weekend for the sixth annual Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors show.

Despite Friday’s opening day deluge, attendance over the weekend was on track to keep pace with last year’s show. Public relations spokeswoman Lelia Murphy said 5,700 attended the event Saturday and she expected at least that many on Sunday.

“Friday was a crazy, wet day but people put on their foulies (foul weather gear) and really bonded,” Murphy said Sunday. “But the last two days we’ve really had an excellent turnout. It really made up for the weather on Friday.”

Besides the more than 100 luxury boats of every size and style, the show also had showroom after showroom and tent after tent of handmade wooden furniture and hand-crafted accessories. Sponsored by Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors magazine, the show is the largest of its kind in the state.

One of the key attractions of the show is the fact that more than 70 of the luxury boats on exhibit are in the water and visitors to the park are allowed to climb aboard and check them out. Wows and gasps were the typical sound of reaction as gawking boat lovers crowded the floats, took off their shoes and stepped gingerly on to the sleek decks and walked through the well-appointed cabins and sleeping quarters.

Legendary Maine boat builders such as Morris Yachts, Hinckley, Lyman-Morse, Pulsifer, Sabre Yachts, French & Webb were represented and their top-of-the-line offerings did not disappoint. Also on hand were many styles of human-powered boats such as racing shells, dories, kayaks and canoes. Boat equipment makers also displayed their wares throughout the park’s grounds.

Woodworking and furniture exhibitors included Breakwater Design & Build, Classic Post & Beam, Hilltop Log & Timber Home, the Kennebec Company, Margonellli Fine Furniture, Maine Cottage Furniture, Thomas Mifflin Furniture Studio, W.A. Mitchell Chairmakers, Thos. Moser, Geoffrey Warner Studio, Windsor Chairmaker, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship and the Woodturning School.

Murphy said all of the exhibitors were satisfied with the turnout as were the many businesses downtown. She said a lot of those who attended the show also checked out the city and its vibrant art scene.

“I think the audience is finding that there is a lot happening in Rockland,” she said. “We had an art walk treasure hunt with 24 galleries taking part. Each one had a maritime theme piece of art and visitors were given a map and sent out to find them. There was no pot of gold at the end but it was a lot of fun.”

Summing up the feeling of many in the crowd was John Liacos of Augusta. Liacos said he has been to the show every year and always leaves wanting a boat. Right now he has a kayak.

“It’s a great show,” Liacos said Sunday. “I’d love a boat. I’m getting near retirement so it’s time to come and look. I live a mile from the Kennebec River and the Kennebec River goes all the way to Denmark. You’ve got to remember that.”