Gentlemen, Start Building!
by Lynn Pussic

First place winners Jeremy Gage (left) of Thorndike and Greg Bauer of Brooks, both boat builders at French and Webb. Lynn Pussic photo

The Belfast waterfront was host to the first National BoatBuilding Challenge in Maine and The Classic Small Boat Show on Saturday, July 28th at Heritage Park. Although the first circuit in Maine, the National BoatBuilding Challenge has been around since 1982 where it began at the WoodenBoat Show in RI, with six teams building whatever boat they wanted and then racing it on the water. Four years later it changed to a one design competition with teams building a double ended dory, the TEAL, designed by Phil Bolger. But teams were building the Teal so quickly that in 2003 a new design by B. Coleman, the Goergetown Bateau, was introduced. For this year the design changed to a 12-foot skiff designed by B. Coleman, an adaptation of the Monhegan Skiff. WoodenBoat Magazine of Brooklin, ME started the National BoatBuilding Challenge Circuit this year modeling the Belfast event after the 10-year running National BoatBuilding Challenge in Georgetown, SC where the winner from Belfast is invited in October 2007 to defend their championship title.

There were nine teams of two builders competing for the best combined score of quickest construction time of the skiff, judged on craftsmanship and rowing results, they all seemed to share the sentiment to have fun. They could use any tools they wanted to build the boat as quick and as well as possible with the exception of air hammers and power caulking guns. Most of the entrants were from the mid-coast Maine and surrounding areas except for the championship team from the Georgetown, SC circuit. Skill levels varied from professional and amateur boat builders, carpenters and woodworkers to no experience at all.

After construction the boats were judged for craftsmanship and the crowd gathered to view the finished work. Lynn Pussic photo

Teams started building around 10:15 am in designated areas as spectators made their way around observing the progress of each team. All the teams appeared to have different strategies for constructing the skiff.

Outside the construction tent The Classic Small Boat Show exhibitors displayed finely crafted small wooden boats.

The winner of the Challenge was determined by combined scores for quickest construction, craftsmanship, and performance on the water. First place went to Greg Bauer of Brooks and Jeremy Gage of Thorndike, both boat builders at French and Webb in Belfast. Winner of the World Record title went to Willie French and Alex Poole from Georgetown, S.C. They recieved the Golden Gun award for the fastest boat builders, completing the skiff in 2 hours and 58 seconds.

Some teams were sponsored by local businesses and there is a rumor that some of the skiffs will be placed on display on the roofs of sponsors buildings, so next time you’re in Belfast, see if you can find them and then get your tools ready to participate in next year’s National BoatBuilding Challenge.