Glamour, Glamping, and Grit at the 2018 Maine Boat & Home Show

Where else can you attend an event that ranges from million-dollar yachts to restored canoes, and has a “glamping” tent, electric bicycles, and soft pretzels? The array of boats at the 16th annual MB&H Show showcased the profound depth of Maine boatbuilding talents. There were 60 boats in the water and about 40 more on land: power and sail, young and old, fiberglass and wood. Visitors to the Icon Boat dock could tour the Maine Maritime Academy training ship Friendship, Maine Seacoast Mission’s Sunbeam V, and a pair of lobsterboats: one modern and the other traditional. Outdoor sculpture displays enhanced the scene on land. Exhibitors of canoe racks, scooters, docks, furniture, and tools  were on hand.

Inside the tents, fine goods from wearable fiber art to jewelry to custom bags were on display. Yacht brokers, real estate and insurance agents, and financial advisors were available for consultation. Nonprofits offered information on coastal opportunities and challenges. There were dozens of fine artists, sculptors, and furniture makers. Large engines were displayed alongside sleek electronics and the latest in marine gear and technology. 

Crowds gathered early Sunday to watch six teams compete for barking rights as World Champion Boatyard Dog. When the fur had settled, the reigning champion, Zola the Wonder Dog, had come out as the paws-down favorite.

All in all, it was a quintessential Maine high-summer weekend to savor. Next year’s event will be held in Rockland August 9-11, 2019. Save the date! To learn more about attending or exhibiting at the 17th annual Maine Boat & Home Show, visit HERE.