7th Annual Beaufort BoatBuilding Challenge

Entering it’s seventh year, the Beaufort BoatBuilding Challenge seeks to celebrate and maintain the long tradition of boatbuilding and other maritime occupations along the North Carolina coast. The event takes place on the waterfront in historic Beaufort, North Carolina.

The challenge is a two-man team competition (and in the first year two all-girl teams entered the fray). Each team builds an identical 12 foot skiff within a four hour time limit. Speed of construction and quality of workmanship are both considered in determining the winners.

The teams are judged on quality, speed and a rowing race. The teams build their own oars and compete against each other in the rowing relay race on Taylors Creek, each member of the two-man team rowing one leg of the relay.

When the teams sign up with an entry fee of $100, they are one set of Carolina Bateau skiff plans, two Awards Ceremony tickets (Saturday night), two Challenge T-shirts, plus possession of the boat the team builds. Teams bring their own tools.

Visit the website at www.beaufortchallenge.com. Free practice demonstration at the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center on March 29, 2014. Free and open to anyone.

This event, held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Wooden Boat Show, takes place on the Beaufort waterfront at the North Carolina Maritime Museum and the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center located across the street from the museum.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum is located at 315 Front Street, Beaufort, N.C. 28516. Tel: 252.728.7317. Visit the website at www.ncmaritimemuseums.com.