Build a Boat in 4 Hours and Take It for a Spin

YIt can be done!  The National Wooden Boat Building Competition was held this weekend in Beaufort.  The idea is to build a 12 foot row boat in less than 4 hours, put it in the water and beat the rest of the builders in a rowing competition. There are other rules but that is generally what it is all about. 

Prizes are given for the boat built in the shortest time, the best built boat and of course the rowing competition. Everyone uses the same plans and the same materials. 

A large tent was erected in a parking lot on the Beaufort waterfront where the competition was held. 30 minutes into the contest it looked like this. Did I mention that each team is limited to a 12 ft by 15 ft space?  At this point we walked down Front street to see the wooden boat show that was being held at the Maritime Museum. 

There were some really cool old boats on display. 

This is not an old boat.  It was built from plans by a man from Figure Eight Island from plans.  He spent 2500 hours on the boat and it was just beautiful. It also had a modern V-8 engine and will do 45 mph. 

This was a neat little lake trawler that was towed in from West Virginia. This too is a new boat, but has classic lines. 

Back to the building competition an hour later and it looked like this. Beginning to look like a boat. 

Here is one of the completed boats at the end of the competition. 

The rowing competition was held at 4:00. Hilarious. Only a few of the builders knew how to row a boat. No boats sank though some were taking on water. 

Some other boats on display at the waterfront was the Cricket II which holds the world record for catching the largest Maco shark-1080 lbs. 

Local pirate Sinbad was there with his pirate ship. 

My favorite was this little steam powered boat. Doesn't it remind you of the African Queen?

A lot to see today in Beaufort. The weather was perfect.