Sam Devlin, With a Drawing of his Skiff He Will be Assembling at the Show from a Kit He Sells. Please visit devlilnboat.com for more information.

A Torrey Island, 29, from the Revered Brooklin Boat Yard, introduces a Joel White designed double-ender that harnkens back to the yard’s  deepest roots in traditional wooden boatbuilding. Brooklinboatyard.com for more.  Northern Rose is Her Name!

There is Something For Everyone at the 28th Annual Maine Boatbuilders Show!

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 2, 246)

Sam Devlin, Devlin Designing Boatbuilders Inc.,  has been exhibiting at the Maine Boatbuilders Show for many years now. This year he decided to do something different. He will be assembling two of his skiffs during the show for visitors to watch.  The skiffs come in a wooden kit that are easily transported to your home and easily put together as his demonstrations during the three-day show will reveal.  It is 10 ft. long and almost 4 ft. wide. Devlin, from Olympia, Washington, has been a small craft designer for over thirty-seven years. During that time, he has designed and built more than 400 boats from 7ft. to 65 ft. in length of wood and epoxy..

The public is encouraged to visit the Show on Sunday, March 22, at 1:00 pm.  At that time Sam will try to break all existing records for the assembling of a small craft; the record is 15 minutes.  Be there to cheer on this affable guy and to witness history being made!  His web page is www.devlinboat.com and his email is: sam@devlinboat.com.  Or pls. call him at (360) 866-0164).

The property on which the Boatbuilders Show is held is owned by CPB2, a group managed by Jim Brady.  The group is in the ;process of getting permits from the City for a zoning change that will permit a mixed use development to occur in that location  Almost two years ago, CPB2 bought the almost ten acres from Phin Sprague, Jr. for $10 M.  Brady is a medal-wining sailor.  He won a silver medal in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Following that, he competed in the America’s Cup as navigator for Denis Connor on the Stars & Stripes. In 1997, he co-founded the Olympia Company, with Kevin Mahany.  With Maine’s rich nautical and boatbuilding history, this Show has always been a popular one.

The Maine Boatbuilders Show, 58 Fore Street on Munjoy Hill, runs from Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March 22. On Friday, it’s open from 10 – 6; Saturday & Sunday from 10 – 4.  Tickets may be purchased on facebook or on-line at portlandcompany.com  On site parking is $15.  This year there is much more on-site parking available than in the past. That’s because of the relocation to 100  West Commercial Street of numerous boats that formerly were stored on the property. United Parking Partners manages the parking for CPB2.  No parking is permitted on Munjoy Hill.

More good news!  Next year’s Show has already been booked!  Still under negotiations with CPB2 is  use of the property for the annual Portland Flower Show by the Spragues.