Family BoatBuilding: A Free Opportunity for Wooden Kit Producers

Family BoatBuilding 2010 at the WoodenBoat Show. Brought to you by WoodenBoat Magazine.

This year we're going to take a slightly different approach with Family BoatBuilding at the WoodenBoat Show (if you haven't already, please see the website, at www.FamilyBoatBuilding.com). The WoodenBoat Show will be June 25-27, 2010, at Mystic Seaport.

For a variety of reasons, primary being to give our families or groups a number of great boats to choose from, we are asking numerous organizers to produce their own Family BoatBuilding event, within the Motherlode of All Family BoatBuilding events at the WoodenBoat Show 2010. I would LOVE to have 10 or more different organizers, each helping perhaps 5-10 families build the boat you decide to provide.

Ideally, each organizer will have a different boat design/kit.

The overall concept is simple: Provide a kit to the family or group, give them support and education, and help them complete the boat in 2-1/2 days, with a grand launching at noon on Sunday. The goal is to have the hulls primed before launching. (If you think your kit will require an extra day, we can arrange for a Thursday start. Although this may be difficult for some families' schedules.)

We will help you secure the families. The sooner we have enough organizers signed up, the sooner we can promote to enroll families. Our past history indicates this won't be a problem. In addition to our own efforts, we will embark on a nationwide and regional media blitz, in which your organization's name and mission will be prominent. But we can't wait until the last minute. So please let me know sooner rather than later. The absolute last day to commit to participate at the WoodenBoat Show in this fashion is April 15, 2010. (If the dates don't work for you or you'd have to travel too far, maybe we can help you find a northeast agent or friend.) BUT: Please be advised that interest is VERY STRONG right now, and we have a limited amount of space. The sooner you commit to your participation, regardless of the number of families you think you will have, the better we will be able to accommodate you. So just tell me “Yes” and the specs of your boat (not all particulars are necessary at this point – for example, the price. That can wait until April 15. But LOA and type of boat will help.)

We won't charge you for the space at the WoodenBoat Show, and we will give you four (4) free admission passes for the duration. Extra staff and your participating families must pay for their own admission.

So, we promote the different boats and organizations, and the families choose which one they wish to build. They will then contact you directly. You set the price for your kits and you collect the money. You may also secure sponsorship for your portion of the event, and display your sponsor's or sponsors' banners within your area (nothing too loud or commercial, please. I will be checking...).

We will also try to obtain some national sponsorships to help families who can't afford the entire cost. But this business climate is not very conducive at the moment.

I'm very excited by this new approach, and I hope it answers some of your needs as well. It certainly addresses our families' expressed desire.

We need to get more families on the water. We need to help them become boaters for life.

Please review the above and www.FamilyBoatBuilding.com. And call or email me with any questions you may have. We greatly look forward to your participation in this important component of the WoodenBoat Show 2010. Thank you for helping us make a difference to a lot of great people.

My very best wishes to you, Carl

carl@woodenboat.com
tel. 207-359-4651

 

Thanks for this Carl.

Best wishes and good luck
Michael Storer

 

Thanks, Michael --

We'll try to struggle through without you. Unless there's a brave person or persons in the BoatDesign.net community who would like to embark on producing one or more of Michael's boats for our Family BoatBuilding event?

I hope so -- They are great boats, and Michael has a rabid (good) following.

If so, please contact Michael or Duckworks or me (carl@woodenboat.com). Although I'll be leaving on Monday for two weeks vacation/holiday with scant or no access to email.

Best wishes to you all, Carl

 

I have a new family of "Quick Canoes" that would be suitable.

So far there is a 16ft two person boat (plan finished) and a 16ft single (prototype being put together). Working on a shorter one too maybe about 11ft

If anyone is interested give me a yell. The first prototype took 4 1/2 hours to get together without seats or paint for an experienced builder.
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/10/designs/qc155/index.htm

Best wishes
Michael

 

That Sounds Perfect,

Michael. Any takers?

Thanks so much, Carl