Jenny Bennett.
The 33rd Annual WoodenBoat Show was a great success, bringing thousands of attendees to Mystic Seaport for another unforgettable weekend. It was particularly exciting to see such a wonderful variety of small boats on hand, from the really small (who doesn’t love a pond yacht?) to boats on display built by professionals and amateurs alike, to personal craft just there to have fun in good company.
Here are just a few of the small (and not quite so small) boats that caught our eye.
Jenny Bennett.
Catboats are always popular with Boat Show attendees. Boats exhibited this year included WHIRLWIND II, a 2025 Gill Smith catboat built by Artisan Boatworks.
Nate Carey.
A pair of Skua racing boats were featured in the Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association’s booth.
Nate Carey.
One of our favorite parts of the WoodenBoat Show is the I Built/Restored It Myself exhibit. Visit the I Built/Restored It Myself page to check out some of the participants this year and see who took Best In Show!
Jenny Bennett.
EVENSONG, an 18′ Newport launch built by Herreshoff in 1928 was on display with her new electric inboard motor. For 95 years EVENSONG had been powered by the same 12-hp gas inboard until she was repowered with a 4kW Waterworld inboard by Novaluxe Yachts.
Jenny Bennett.
There were fine examples of small boats whose owners have made the most of their potential, like RANTAN, a Tony Dias–designed Harrier kitted out for serious camp-cruising.
Nate Carey.
Rocking the Boat a community-outreach program founded in Harlem, New York, welcomed visitors to look, talk, and even pick up a tool.
Jenny Bennett.
There was plenty of activity on the water: here, SPARTINA, a 2025 Swan Point Garvey built by Hylan & Brown, rows astern into her berth in the marina, while sailing away is Mystic Seaport Museum’s recently restored 13′ 3″ Woods Hole spritsail catboat, SANDY FORD, sailed by show visitors. SPARTINA features in the September/October 2025 issue of WoodenBoat, so be sure to subscribe to WoodenBoat if you haven’t already.
Nate Carey.
In addition to all the wonderful boats, there were demonstrations of different skills and techniques, and opportunities to buy parts, gear, clothing, and, of course, food. Vendors who were on hand included Rodman Drill…
Nate Carey.
…and the Traditional Small Craft Association, who demonstrated how to leather an oar.