Join us for the 33rd Annual WoodenBoat Show, at Mystic Seaport Museum.

Schedule of Events:

9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Concours d'Elegance

All boats exhibiting at the WoodenBoat Show, on land or in-water, are invited to participate in the Concours d'Elegance.

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Speakers' Series

10:30 am: Eric Speth, Susan Constant

Three small wooden ships, Susan Constant, GODSPEED, and DISCOVERY, sailed from London in December 1606 to establish a colony that would become the first permanent English settlement in the New World-Jamestown, Virginia. Historically accurate and fully operable re-creations of the ships serve as exhibits at Jamestown Settlement Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia. They periodically sail to participate in commemorative and community events and host outreach educational programs. This illustrated lecture will describe the research, design, and construction of Susan Constant and her current restoration at Mystic Seaport.

12:30 pm: Nick Voulgaris III, author, On the Water

The Rosenfeld Collection, which Mystic Seaport Museum acquired in 1984, includes decades of photographs by Morris Rosenfeld and his sons, who defined maritime photography in the first half of the 20th century. Nick Voulgaris III will discuss his new book, On the Water: A Century of Iconic Maritime Photography, published in 2023, which draws from the best work in the Morris archive, one of the largest collections of maritime photographs in the United States. Nick is an avid sailor and the author of Hinckley Yachts: An American Icon and Chris-Craft: An American Classic. (A book signing will follow the talk.)

2:30 pm: Roger Barnes, Dinghy cruising

The talk will introduce show visitors to dinghy cruising-exploring coastal and inland waters on small, light, and inexpensive craft. We will look at suitable boats and the simple gear and equipment required for safety and comfort. We will explore the places that can be visited in small boats and discuss their advantages compared to cruising in larger boats: their ability to reach remote and unexplored areas. With a trailerable boat, you can sail at a different place every weekend, exploring a wealth of coastlines and new inland waters. A dinghy cruiser travels light, spiritually as well as physically, and the freedom that this opens up is both precious and increasingly rare in the modern world. 

Skills Demonstrations
09:30 am: Caulking with Megan Mitchell, Mystic Seaport staff.
11:30 am: Woodcarving with  Reed Hayden, Independent artisan.
12:30 pm: Blacksmithing with  Mike Saari, Independent Metalsmith, Shipyard pole barn.
01:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Susan Constant, Restoration open house, Shipyard large tent.
03:30 pm: Strip-planking and Fiberglass Sheathing with Rose Woodyard, Newfound Woodworks.

I Built-Restored It Myself
If you've built-restored a trailerable wooden boat that you'd like to show, we would love to hear from you! There is no entry fee for the I Built-Restored It Myself exhibit, but you must be willing to discuss your wooden boat project with attendees. In the past we've had up to 50 beautifully crafted boats and proud owners-builders. The collection has included kayaks, skiffs, daysailers, canoes, and much more by a variety of designers such as Iain Oughtred, Joel White, Chesapeake Light Craft, Arch Davis, and William and John Atkin. This exhibit always offers plenty of inspiration!

Click here for Registration