Happy Hour Celebration / Reflection / Q&A
We have a reputation for throwing wicked good beer parties at the festivals we attend, so join the whole Off Center Harbor crew who put this show together as we raise a toast to celebrate with everyone this Friday at 2200 GMT (5:00pm Maine/New York time).
We’ll take a little time to reflect on the show and lay out what’s going to happen with the site while we’re all eagerly awaiting the opening of the gates next year.
Just like at the real-life boat festivals, our parties are really about connecting with those who support what we do. So please leave your thoughts about the show as a comment below. If you’ll ask us any questions you may have, we’ll try to answer them during the discussion.
Enjoy the Recording of This Live Event Below.
Thank you all so much for going out on a limb to do this, it has been fantastic. We’re expecting to get sailing again in the UK after March 29th, and with any luck the weather will be OK then too; in the meantime this has been an inspiring virtual tour. It’s a long way from here to come over to Maine or Port Townsend for a boat show, so I doubt if I’ll ever get the chance to visit one of those in person, so this has been a great alternative. Please do it again next year, it will be wonderful to look forward to in the British winter!
Steve and the whole Team, congratulations on a really enjoyable show. Such a interesting set of presentations, many thanks to the speakers for sharing stories and insight. Look forward to the next. Great job guys.
Many thanks for organising the inspirational show; I’m so pleased you are already thinking about next year. Special thanks for keeping it free of sponsors, advertisers etc – so refreshing
That was the best $5 I ever spent! Loved the boatbuilders’ discussions and, especially, the photographers’ roundtable. A lifetime of spectacular boat photos and fascinating discussion about them. Thank you.
Thank you Steve and Crew: What a great two weeks; thanks for extending. I just watched Steve White last evening. Appreciate you including Cactus Wren and the John Gardner Traditional Small Craft Association; I will add our John Gardner Small Craft Workshop over Memorial Day Weekend at Mystic Seaport as an upcoming event. It will be a fun weekend as we celebrate our 50th. Thanks again for the Boat Show; I visited every boat, museum, boat builder and event with a photograph and some without. The daily programs were all watched – thank you for the long format. You have moved virtual gatherings to a completely new level. It’s a whole new world. Bravo Zulu
Bravo! Thank you SO much OCH for getting us out of our own little projects, homes, towns, countries… for taking us on such a fantastic journey… connecting us so creatively and in your trademark open-hearted way. It was fun to reconnect with some old friends and to find new folks and places to visit, boats to see, boatshops and programs to be inspired by. You did it! Look forward to next show and all you do in the months to come! Happy to be part of this first worldwide show.
I heard you give a talk about your book in Brooklin, bought it and enjoyed all of it. From your exchange with CaroI also learned about David King’s life in PT! We’d been in the same college and then again when he was building a Bill Garden cutter during the Apprenticeshop’s early years when we overlapped there. Then he ‘vanished’ one day, leaving the hull behind as I recall (although I hope it was finished). In any case it was great fun to learn how he became a mover/shaker/town father out your way.
12 out of 10 guys for a fabulous show.
The visuals of the full screen pictures and videos have been fantastic. Very entertaining to simply sit and thumb through these beautiful pics and dream and be inspired. I didn’t intend it, but ended up with a body of knowledge that came in from the show entries. You succeeded in taking a bunch of people that have been hiding in our homes throughout the pandemic and brought us all together to share in our common love for boats and water.
Thank You.
A bold concept brilliantly realised as a web of homespun and technology.
Plaudits to executive and contributors.
Message: Howdy Worldwide team,
First of all, Thank you all so very much for your hard work and follow through with this wonderful vision of an internet boat show. BRAVO!
I just finished watching the Happy Hour presentation. What fun. You all should be very proud of what just happened.
From the first day that I signed in to the show, I said, you all have opened a can of worms that you probably didn’t even know that you were opening. All the information beyond the boats was a refreshing surprise. Such a great resource that you have started putting together. I found things in my own relative back yard that I didn’t know existed. I’m looking forward to a road trip to visit some places in Southern Illinois. My friend and I discovered a little mess about in Monroe Indiana that we plan to take our Penobscot 14’s to. How cool is that!
It does not surprise me that something so wonderful as this Worldwide Classic Boat thing was born from the Off Center crew. To me. it exemplifies the unique talents and the “schmee” that OCH is all about.
It was wonderful to see all of your excitement during Happy Hour as you told your stories about the show. You should all be very proud of what you have given birth to. I have been fortunate to have experienced a similar feeling on a much smaller scale. After I launched my little P14 in 2011, I published a blog documenting the journey of my build. It was my way of contributing to the internet resource as many before me had done thus providing a vast amount of helpful information during my build. LITTLE DID I KNOW, that I would receive contacts from all around the world asking me questions and seeking advise. No need to say more, You all know first hand what I mean. I do need to add though, that because of my blog I now a very dear friend that I otherwise would not have.
The Boating and the people behind the boating that we are involved in is what makes this community so special and rewarding. So, thank you for your work. and extending that community with your creation of the Worldwide Classic Boat Show. It has been much much more than a boat show, It has been uniquely rewarding educational experience. I look forward to seeing it grow and develop in that OCH way. May the Schmee be with you.
Vince Bobrosky
Well done, OHC. This has been a great show. My favorite was Carol and Kaci’s presentation on building people, especially women and youth, and community, in Port Townsend. For the show over all, the quality and quantity of content, its organization, and its presentation, is astonishing; and that excellent work done in so short a period of time. Thank you for the leadership courage to undertake the project, and the extraordinary effort and skill of all those that carried it out.
Fantastic!!!!!!There are eight people I need to meet. Best Boat show online ever. Others will copy but never equal.
Kudos to everyone of you for providing the field with a very well thought out, extremely educational & informative show with exquisite examples of design, craftsmanship & beauty. There is so much to take in. I only wish the show would stay open indefinitely so I could have more time to appreciate all that is offered. The Off Center Team rocks! Thank you for all you do. Very grateful for the consecrated effort, determination & expertise.
You all are awesome and should be so proud of your efforts. A wonderful adventure for all of us and you made the world brighter. Thank you.
Well done Team, great idea and well organised. Good value at $5 and the real bonus was I never had to go near Heathrow Airport to see the USA!
If there is anything positive about this pandemic, it is this absolutely fantastic presentation of the Wooden Boat Show! Thank you so much for all of the hard work to bring this possible so we can sit back and go places that we probably would not have been able to go to see so many wooden boats, places and the people involved with them.
OCH is the best!! Thank you again!
I would like to congratulate All at OCH; everyone who participated in those wonderful live presentations, and any & all others involved in any way with putting this most outstanding Boat Show together. It was a job well done..
Whole show absolutely wonderful. Especially daily events. Learned a lot. Many many thanks for all your hard work!
What a fantastic wrap up to a fabulous two weeks . . . thank you all so much for providing so much enjoyment for all of us classic boat lovers.
In the future I would love to be able to search for boats based on when they came into the show. In the first week I went through all 600 boats, but now I realize there are an additional hundred new boats that I would like to easily search for; something to think about for next year .
OCH is the best . . .
Thanks, Don, that’s a good idea. Improving the variety of ways to search is definitely on our list.
So glad you’ve enjoyed it!
Sorry I missed the “live” session and really appreciate being able to watch on my schedule at 4 am. Sounds like all of this great info is going offline after March 7. I need to get busy.
Well done! Great concept and great production. Just like every other classic boat festival I have ever been to, more interesting boats than I have time to devote to them!
Cheers from Australia
Fabulous show! The very best I have seen. So glad I was offered the free ticket. I had mistakenly thought the show required attendees to be present in real time to view the presentations, so I didn’t buy a ticket.
I have contributed ten times the original entry fee to express my thanks and say well done.
Yours aye,
Rob Anderson
Never have I received better value for a $5.00 ticket!!
absolutely perfect…will be hard to improve on the next version…Boats section “best”…
Thank you so much for this ray of light in a trying winter. Terrifically inspiring, and I can’t wait to see where you take it from here.
Fantastic job OCH!!! Missed a lot of this because of my current schedule, very happy to see a lot of it will stay up! Hoping to make my annual summer trip to ME this year.
ATB, Bruce R – SE Florida
Hi again,
Looks like I can see what I missed earlier today…we had guests coming here. Thanks again…Hopefully I can watch it tomorrow !
Ingemar in Vermilion Ohio
Wonderful job! Make the website and its permanent ressource accessible for ever, please, please! Create an association with a small fee from each of us, owners of wooden boats, and the support of the OFF CENTER HARBOR.
Best wishes, Martine, Zella C, Seattle.
Just fantastic. The video presentations were an incredible gift. So valuable to hear such knowledgeable and involved people speak. Enjoyed it immensely. Many Thanks
Ken Bridges
Well, that was just too much fun! I am thinking that this needs to be an entity unto itself, it’s own website. What an incredible resource! When I travel I like to do two things where ever possible; “free” walking tours, and find the closest marine related museum. The world map is awesome, I have found some cool places nearby that I had no idea existed!
Thanks for all the work to pull this all together!
Marc LaFrance
Just another thing for which you all should be incredibly proud. I found myself anxiously awaiting each day’s presentations. Cheap therapy for the boat addled mind. Thank you so very much for your highly productive effort.
Thank you for a wonderful Show from
Sv St Leger, Michael & Doreen Ferguson, Thetis Is. B.C.
Eric, you represent the future of the boat community. It is all great to look to the past for classics we can all appreciate. But it is the classics of the future, the boats and boat builders of today that will perpetuate the craft and the art of boat building and cruising. I encourage you to feature opportunities for youth and budding boat builders and sailors to connect and contrive. Congrats for this initial effort to create a world wide web of boat vonderkin. Cheers!
Hi from Tasmania, a fabulous event and so many beautiful boats on show from all around the Globe, even better that I had my boat “Shep” accepted and on show, am launching her here in 3 hrs😀 Thanks all for a wonderfull show🍻👍
How awesome! Do share photos or videos of the launch!
Thanks. There are so many more diverse organizations around the world that can and will participate.
From a historic perspective, I wish to be able to search boats (and ships?) by year built.
Good work. Well worth the effort. Keep it up.
awesome , and I mean awesome! AS noted so many inspirational moments and much beauty!!
I am hoping to use your links to connect with rowing and sailing clubs in Britain when I am (finally) able to travel again – in order to share the joy of rowing and sailing traditional boats with other like-minded folks…
One last thing, I live and cruise in BC’s North Coast – out of Prince Rupert. I know Tad well but thought they didn’t do justice to the immense and incredible cruising opportunites of the central and north coast. if you ever want an overview feel free to connect with me..
Colinwmasson1@gmail.com
Hello everybody,
the show is such a big thing and we are really happy to be a part of it,
presenting our boat and being among the audience at the presentations.
Seeing so many beutiful boats, learning about their history and their owners!
Hope very much, this is to be continued!
Thank You all.
Stephan
It was fun to submit our boat and the live events were amazing! All classic boats have stories… cheers!
Thanks for an AWESOME adventure!
You have re-kindled my interest in wooden boats! As a kid, I cruised on a Concordia yawl for 2 weeks and also a custom ketch built by a Swede who immigrated to the US. Of the dozen boats we chartered, the Concordia was by far our favorite. Wood just handles better – more comfortable and forgiving. Thanks for a great show!
Yes SouthAmerica thanks!
Hey All,
I think that I can’t contribute anything more than what’s been said. It’s been an incredible week, and all of you have put in so much work that obviously paid off. How cool is that, that it paid off as a real success that you couldn’t have imagined before. I can only say, “Thank you. Clearly worth the 5 bucks.” Love you guys (not to exclude Sandy),
David Flanders
Sandy, Thank you for bringing out a diverse perspective in this show. Thank you all for your work over the years and for this show!
It really is a gift and a privilege. I’m so grateful to be a part of this welcoming global community!
Yes!
Great show. Will definitely stop in the Brooklyn Boat yard on my annual road trip to Maine next summer. After growing up in Maine, living in Marblehead, and now in the Chesapeake, my main new location I want to visit/cruise is Port Townsend.
I have truly enjoyed the show. I managed to see most/many of the presentations and got a lot out of them. I will be going back to catch a couple of them that I missed over the weekend. During our COVID restrictions this has been a huge benefit world wide. Thanks
Yes, I two just love The Map! Such a great idea and I will be spending quite some time exploring the nooks and crannies.1
Great to hear the map and resources will continue to be available! GREAT show! We’ve loved every bit of it!! Super appreciative of all your efforts!
Ted and Judy/Black Star
Thank you all, it was a great show. I shared it with many friends and planned a visit to several museums I found on the map.
What are the numbers of viewers?
Thank you all!
After a lifetime working on the Pacific Ocean and then retiring and going cruising for seven years, in 2014 my wife and I moved to Denver, Colorado, to be near our six grandchildren. I enjoy these magnificent mountains but I do miss saltwater and the boats that sail on it. Off Center Harbor keeps me connected to that part of my life and to my passion for sailing vessels of all types. Thanks guys!
After WCBS, please post all you can on OCH.
Will the talks continue to be available? I loved Tom Cunliffe and Roger Barnes
Guys! The show has been such a nice diversion, here aboard my boat, as I am still locked down in Suffolk! Thanks for putting by lovely girl up with all the other lasses, in years to come the pleasure will just increase! Keep up the great work.
Tonight I made myself a Dark and Stormy in a jam jar so I could feel part of the party. I, too, want to add my thanks to these eight gurus as we enter the last couple days of the show! Congratulations on a job well done!
Candy Masters, SVEndeavor
Remarkable achievement and a worldwide reach. Amazing! You all have done yourselves proud!
As Eric is talking now – the map was particularly unique and a fun way to explore boats in the far reaches of the world.
Hope members will have post-show access – there is so much to absorb – we’ll need another 11 months to digest it all!
Thank you for making it happen!
You’ve all done a fabulous job and created something really special here. If you were to do absolutely nothing different going forward, I think the platform you’ve created will allow the classic boat community to build on it and make next year’s event even more special. I completely agree that it’s the connections we make with our global community that’s the best thing about boating in general, and traditional boats in particular. I look forward to your new ideas and the evolution of the ways this platform can facilitate those connections. Finally, it’s hugely encouraging to listen to Nate and Sandy, representing the youthful passion that will keep this beautiful culture alive for the future. Good on you all!
Thank you Brandt! 🙂 It’s thanks to the hard work and support of people like you that we are able to continue to carry on the traditions!
Great show! Congartulations. We follow the events in group (ANCORAS Association) and it was a great opportunity. Thanks
Planning to visit Brooklyn this summer and can hardly wait after hearing Steve and Eric talk about the boat works.
Fabulous show!
Absolutely wonderful show guys and great organisation throughout. So glad “Reaper” featured. When we get to normal please come and visit us in Anstruther and we will entertain you on board. Ian Scottish Fisheries Museum
Guys you have done a great job of bringing the world classic boat community together and the gallery of boats is just wonderful. next time I will put up my 111 year old , “Old Town” Cedar and Canvas canoe that has been in Melbourne Australia since 1911. I am only the second owner!!. The first owner courted in the canoe prior to world war 1.
The numbers Nate reviewed are fantastic and it’s imply amazing that so much of the ‘revival’ of the various field has taken place over the last fifty years. Thanks!
Great show! I was at the first Happy Hour at Mystic Seaport, where’s the keg? 🙂
Cool
Another from Vermont, Hello from Strafford.
I loved seeing the photographer’s talk and learned a lot about the process. I would have love to know what equipment they used and what their go to cameras are.
I love Ben’s ‘studio’!
I’m associated with two of the boats in the show this year. Friendship sloops “Wild Rose” and “Friend Ship”. Our whole friendship family is pretty thrilled that our “girls” got into the show this year. Come visit us in Burlington and go sailing with us!
Such a fun virtual gathering – thanks to all of you for making this possible!
Thanks for the diversity! Enjoyed seeing Puget Sound, women, and boats without sails! Bill & Kathy M/V Comrade
Greetings from Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain! Thank you OCH crew for all you do!
If you ever have to accept a sponsor, consider a good rum distiller.
Thank you OCH. A brilliant achievement, bringing many smiles to a locked down world.
Well planned excellent presentation and discussion. Very well worth the time to view the entire boat show. I had no technical issues, viewed on my phone and laptop and enjoyed each daily’s session. The map was helpful and the phot slides outstanding. Appreciate OCH’s efforts too.
A bright light during this bleak pandemic.
It also made me more appreciative of sailboats.
You guys have achieved something amazing, bringing relief and joy to wooden boat junkies in the middle of a pandemic and at a time when most of us are hauled out. Great idea, well executed. How about some training sessions and break-out groups next time?, There are platforms (eg HopIn) which allow it. Anycase, many thanks!
Well planned excellent presentation and discussion. Very well worth the time to view the entire boat show. I had no technical issues, view on my phone and laptop and enjoyed each daily’s session. The map was helpful and the phot slides outstanding. Appreciate OCH’s efforts too.
A bright light during this bleak pandemic.
It also made me more appreciative of sailboats.
I found at least 6 boats I want to build. Great show!
You have made this boat show at least the equal of if not better than any I have ever attended. Kudos to you and your crew and MANY thanks !!!
I thoroughly enjoyed the presentations especially since they were from various parts of the globe.
Very nice…..
Thanks for a great resource and many evenings of good programs. When you are at the other end of the country from Maine, it almost would be good to hope for another event like this next year. It has been great and such fun to give guests passes to friends.
A spectacular show and brilliant presentations. Congratulations!!
I join the others. Accolades for a wonderful show and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the wonderful job you did of creating an excellent virtual experience. Some of us really don’t travel much at the best of times and have little opportunity to visit and hear the wooden boat stories, so really appreciated this. Thank you for an enjoyable experience and well done.
The best $5 I’ve spent in years. The interviews/ talks were great. Hope you continue this format. Fun event for the end of February.
Thoroughly enjoyed the full content of this show. Hope to see more of it in the years to come.
Phil Allison
I learned abut this too late to see it all. We had a board meeting of our Antique and Classic Boat Club ( The Okanagan Chapter in BC) and one of our members filled us in. It was wonderful to see the “Pacific Grace” in the discussion on the BC Coast cruising areas. The model for the “Grace” was a ship built by my wife’s great grandpa in Shelbourne Nova Scotia. It was a fishing Schooner called “The Robertson II” and was one of three “Robertson” schooners. She loved to see the photo of the “Pacific Grace” under full sail.
Congratulations on this wonderful Virtual Boat Show. I will pay more attention to my boating emails as I hope there will be another one like this. All the best and happy and safe boating to you all.
Bruce Wilson
Past Pres.
OACBS
Amazing show! Amazing feat! Congratulations to the entire OCH crew but special kudos to Steve and Nate.
And Eric!
The concept & delivery have been fantastic with a tremendous selection of boats – excellent & thank you to all involved in putting on the event!
Joan Paton – REAPER FR958
Congratulations! You have created something new. A Winter Boat Show in the warmth of your home.
Way to much fun-Thank you!
Such a delight to stroll through the show and see all the variety of boats and nad the deep passion. And there are still so many out there who are not listed yet! Congratulations to the team for the splendid event!
Thanks a lot to all the organizers at OCH, and the participants, for a great show! It was specially enjoyable considering all the limitations we are under.
That is one esoteric margarita recipe. And that is coming from a Texan. Bonne Maman jar? Are you kidding?
As a fellow Texan that was once a serious margarita snob, trusting only fresh squeezed lime juice and very expensive tequila, do a side by side comparison J.D., of both the taste, as well as the time and energy to create. You might be shocked by the results. Of course it could just be that we get desperate for all-things Mexican in Maine and make do with what’s laying around.
Bravo gentlemen! I can’t imagine the hours spent setting this up. An amazing achievement, well done!
Oops. Wrong day. It happens tomorrow.
How about a wrap up with number of visits, cool stories, future of the show?
Brandon – great ideas! We’re hoping to address much of that in today’s happy hour.
Yahoo!! Looking forward to it!
Many thanks OCH crew and to all participants! It was a great experience with many lovely hours in front of the computer. You are great! warm regards from Germany!
What a fun event. Thank you especially for doing this at this time of year. I look forward to your “Harborita” ! Jim Scroggs
I’ve paid but not really had time to attend.. will there be something left to look at after this week?
Incredible achievement. Well done!
Thank you to all of the OCH crew and staff for putting this on. It seemed like a great hit.
Loved to watch Tom Cunlife and Brooklin’s Boatyard.
Congratulations for the show.
You are over the top!
Maybe you guys could do the Tokyo Olympics?
Thank you for everything!
See you next year?
Speaking of the Olympics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjwRvr0LPrA
😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄
I have always enjoyed canoeing. It was an awesome experience navigating the web site you guys developed. I really enjoyed it.
I hope to develop my interest more and this definitely was a good start. Thanks. Alex.