Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show Gathers Maine’s Finest

Maine Boats

Rockland, Maine — The finest that Maine has to offer will be gathered at the 10th Annual Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show from August 10 through 12. Exhibitors at the coastal lifestyle show are among the best and the brightest of those currently creating along the Gulf of Maine and beyond. The roster this year represents a cross-section of specialties from boatbuilding and marine services, to fine artists, furniture crafters, home-builders, and solar experts.

 “One of my favorite overheard comments praised the ‘excellent shopping,” said show producer John K. Hanson, Jr. “and there is indeed something for everyone. The caliber of the work in the You & Your Home tent this year is truly extraordinary, with designer clothes and fine jewelry, incredible paintings and photography, hand-woven baskets and fiber arts, gourmet chocolates, and home wares such as world-famous concrete garden pots by Lunaform. At this show, you can hire a realtor to find the perfect piece of land, an architect to design your dream home, a company to build it, solar specialists to make it efficient, a furniture maker to fill the dining room, art for the walls, and even a car or scooter for the driveway. You can even get a boat or two for the dock… and the dock itself! Oh, and don’t forget landscaping—plus there’s even a home vineyard designer.”

The five-acre show site could be described as having microclimates: one moment attendees are immersed in the maritime world, the next in domestic comforts. On “The Village Green,” leaders of Maine’s innovative home-building and sustainable energy industries will be gathered under the sponsorship of GreenHomesofMaine.com. Among the offerings will be eco-friendly building materials, solar power options, innovative residential and commercial designs, timberframe construction, and a windblade exhibit. In areas dedicated to hand-crafted furniture, Shaker and cottage styles will mix with driftwood creations, live-edge pieces, and modern sleek interpretations of traditional forms. Home outfitters will showcase lighting options, bath and kitchen fixtures, countertops and flooring, and interior design services. At the new “All Things Dog” area, you can pamper the canine in your life with unique doghouses, designer tags, or tasty treats.

As befitting a show that leads with “boats” in its name, some of the biggest attractions will be on the water. Maine boatbuilders are world-famous for the quality of their work and a whole range will be on display, from rowing shells and wooden sea kayaks to a stunning array of runabouts and small craft, and modern downeast-style yachts and cruisers.

The docks will be full of boats for visitors to board, including the 83-foot Fife *Adventuress, recently restored and launched by Rockport Marine, and there’ll be many additional vessels displayed on land. Up on the hill, a special exhibit called “Under the Hood” (all weekend) will give show-goers a rare chance to see the internal workings of a semi-finished modern yacht from Back Cove Yachts, and talk with the companies that provide everything from varnish to engines and wiring.

Friday on the new “science” area of the docks, MBH&H Contributing Editor Ben Ellison will demo the amazing world of marine electronics aboard Panbo, his floating test platform. Then on Saturday and Sunday, the College of the Atlantic’s research vessel Osprey will be on hand to tell visitors about their research. On Sunday afternoon, Maine students will launch and race 22-foot Saint Ayles skiffs that they had built in a program offered by Hewes & Company.

“My advice is to come, browse the boats and home goods, take the kids to the “Just For Kids” area, listen to some live music, and watch this year’s special events—Paddleboard Jousting Tournament on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and the World Championship Boatyard Dog Trials on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.,” said Hanson. “I’ll bet that you buy something, even if it is just a fabulous ice cream cone, and I know you’ll leave with both a new appreciation for the amazing artistry on display and a smile on your face.”

The Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show was founded in 2003 by Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine. Held annually during the second weekend of August in Rockland, Maine, the show attracts thousands of attendees from all over the country and world. Show hours: Friday and Saturday, August 10 and 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, August 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $12 at the gate, under 12 free. Advance tickets are available online until August 1. Please Note: NO PETS will be allowed on show grounds (except the pre-qualified Boatyard Dog entrants on Sunday morning). For more information about the show, its exhibitors, and collaborative community events, visit www.maineboats.com.

Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors is pleased to acknowledge the following sponsors who have generously shown their support for the 2012 show: Awlgrip North America, Bangor Savings Bank, The Bark, Custom Float Services, Fixtures…Designer Plumbing Showroom, Jaret & Cohn Real Estate, Knight Marine Service, Loyal Biscuit Co., Sea Bags, and Yachting Solutions/Cannell, Payne & Page.

Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors, P.O. Box 566, Rockland, ME 04841; 207-594-8622; 800-565-4951. www.maineboats.com

By Ocean Navigator