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Searsport, Maine, February 11, 2014 – Boat building is an important part of Maine’s cultural and economic life, bringing millions of dollars into the state and providing thousands of jobs. This March Penobscot Marine Museum launches the Maine Boatbuilding Forum, a monthly conversation with boat builders about the “how” and “why” of the boats they build, and to look at ideas, trends and controversies in the boating world. Maine Coastal News publisher Jon Johansen will serve as moderator.

Schooner HERITTAGE Captains Doug and Linda Lee will speak at the March 8th Maine Boatbuilding Forum

Schooner HERITTAGE Captains Doug and Linda Lee will speak at the March 8th Maine Boatbuilding Forum

Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 2pm
Schooners: with Captains Doug and Linda Lee, Captain John Foss, Captain Havilah Hawkins, Captain Bill Brown, Captain Steven Pagels, Captain Dan Miller, Captains Kate Kana and Zander Parker, and Captain John Worth. Join schooner builders and the captains who sail them as they debate which type of schooner is best for the windjammer trade and who is going to win this year’s Schooner Race.

Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 7pm
Small Wooden Boats: with boat builders Dale Cottrell, Greg Rossel, Richard Stanley, Chris Stickney and others. Join the small boat builders of Penobscot Bay who create the craft that allow us enjoy a day of rowing and sailing, and trailer it home at the end of the day. Expect a lively discussion of updated designs versus staying true to tradition, power tools versus hand tools and how to walk away with the boat of your dreams.

Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 7pm
Boat Builders of Mount Desert Island: with boat builders Richard Helmke, and Richard and Ralph Stanley and others. Mount Desert Island is home to high-end yacht builders, lobster boat builders, and traditional sloop builders. Join us for a discussion of how a 108 mile square island’s boat designers can cater to the summer residents, the lobstermen and commercial fishermen still plying the waters just offshore, and everyone in between.

The talks will be at the Penobscot Marine Museum’s Main Street Gallery, Route One, Searsport, Maine. Tickets are $8 members and $10 non-members. For more information go to www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org or call 207-548-2529 or 0334.