Build, build, build your boat and row

Jimmy Stroup

The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is holding its second annual

family boatbuilding event this weekend, a chance for local families

-- and some not so local ones -- to batten down and rough up their

hands, building their own boats.

Folks from as far as San Francisco and Santa Barbara have entered

to build rowboats from kits by local boat designer Ray Clark. The

pieces used to construct the double-ended tram-style boat will be

turned into bay-worthy crafts on Saturday and Sunday.

After the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural weekend,

the museum decided to not only hold another event this year, but to

expand the number of participants from 25 to 30.

“We just thought it was a great idea. Everybody has a fondness for

boats,” museum facilities manager Marshall Steele said. “Last year

we were surprised at how enthusiastic everybody was.”

The $150 cost to enter is less than other boatbuilding events of

its kind around the country, Steele said, considering that families

get to keep the boat they worked to construct. Participants also

receive T-shirts.

“We actually lose money on it right now,” museum President and CEO

Glenn Zagoren said “We’re hoping to build up sponsors for the

future.”

Larger than other boatbuilding events of its type already, Zagoren

said he is pleased to be involved in a project that offers fun and

challenges for the whole family.

“It’s just a great family event,” he said, adding that the

activity will also offer an inexpensive barbecue lunch for

participants and spectators both days.

Trophies will be awarded once the boats actually hit the water

Sunday afternoon.

“We build them right here in the parking lot,” said Steele, “and

then launch them off the beach.”

Though the entries are mostly full, Zagoren reluctantly agreed to

allow a few more participants into the event.

“We still have a couple of boats. If somebody really wanted to, we

could swing a few more entries,” he said.

Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is a nonprofit organization that

sponsors a variety of activities for the local community, including

boat restoration projects, student education events, maritime art

exhibits and maintaining the museum.

For more information, call (949) 675-8915 or visit

https://www.nhnm.org. The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is located at

151 East Coast Highway, Newport Beach.