New this year, the Maine Boat & Home Show, held on the waterfront in Rockland, Aug. 8-10, will introduce a two-day series of free seminars and exhibitor demos to accompany an extensive array of in-water and on-land displays of boats, marine supplies, home furnishings, fine arts and more.
Throughout the day on Friday, a select group of exhibitors will be making presentations on topics ranging from oar making to electric marine propulsion systems to safe and clean marine products. Then on Saturday, there will be morning and afternoon seminars where industry experts will discuss what’s involved in buying and owning a sailboat or powerboat.
“Being able to include these educational opportunities adds incredible value for show attendees who are interested in buying a boat or who want to learn more about various aspects of coastal living,” Show Manager Kate Holden said.
Also new for 2025 local plein air painters will be on site to capture on canvas the excitement of the coastal festival and Rockland’s working waterfront. Then on Sunday, the final day of the show, their work will be on display at “The Art Show at the Show,” held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., along with guest artist Steve Florimbi’s “Coming and Going,” used as this year’s show poster.
This year’s show—the largest in-water nautical celebration north of Newport, Rhode Island—will feature a wide assortment of more than 50 watercraft, ranging from small, hand-crafted rowing boats to sailboats and larger power yachts. Iconic boats on display at the show’s outer dock will include the Maine Seacoast Mission’s island supply boat Sunbeam on Friday, the classic 12-Meter racing yacht Gleam on Saturday, and the schooner Harvey Gamage on Sunday.
Ashore, land and tent displays will also feature marine supplies, fine furnishings and home wares, art and jewelry, sustainable energy products, and more. And throughout the show, food vendors will be on site, and there will be daily musical events as well as a fun area for kids. Show hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday’s lineup of exhibitor demos includes:
11 a.m. The Apprenticeshop’s Oar Making Demo
This ineractive session will feature João Strout-Bentes, boatbuilder/instructor at The Apprenticeshop. Come learn about the wood selection process, the tools needed, and the techniques used to make a pair of oars. The completed oars will be used to row the Carney 8-foot pram, a lapstrake, plank-on-frame boat built by local junior apprentices in The Apprenticeshop’s academic year program, and used by youth in the shop’s summer sailing program.
Noon: Beacon of Hope: Maine Seacoast Mission and the Sunbeam
Learn about Maine Seacoast Mission and how its seven boats, including the iconic Sunbeam, have delivered essential programming to Maine’s islands for 120 years.
1 p.m.: Hylan & Brown presents, Is Electric Propulsion a good fit for you and your boat?
Boatbuilders from Hylan & Brown, a yard in Brooklin, Maine, will discussion applications and considerations of gong electric.
2 p.m.: Fire, Steam, and Sea: Creating a Sauna Oasis for Your Property, presented by Driftless Sauna
From snow-dusted mornings to summer sunsets, a wood-fired sauna invites you to slow down and connect with the natural world. This presentation explores the essentials of bringing sauna culture to your property, including design considerations, delivery requirements, and the wellness benefits of traditional heat and cold immersion. Leave with practical guidance and plenty of inspiration.
3 p.m.: Clean and Safe Marine Products from Eco Safeway
Eco Safeway offers a range of environmentally safe cleaning products for the marine industry for large and small vessels including bilge cleaners, descalers (raw water flush), deck cleaners, hull cleaners, salt removers, and holding tank cleaners. All products are acid and phosphate free and 100 percent biodegradable to conform with all the best practices of the Clean Marina Programs and EPA’s Clean Boating Act. Products are highly effective and cost competitive. Tristan Contas, co-founder, will give a brief introduction to the company and describe its range of marine cleaning products and why they matter in today’s boating world.
Saturday Seminar Lineup:
10:30-Noon: Buying and Owning a Sailboat
Panelist will discuss how to find the right boat, negotiate its purchase, finance and insurance, and the cost of ownership.
Panelists include Gerry Douglas, former principal designer at Catalina Yachts, and a serial boat owner; Annie Gray, owner of Gray and Gray Yacht Sales; and Ben Scheffer, a broker at East Coast Yacht Sales.
2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Buying and Owning a Powerboat
Panelist will discuss how to find the right boat, negotiate its purchase, finance and insurance, and the cost of ownership.
Panelists include Chris Kemp, a broker with Yachting Solutions; Will Monson, sales manager at Moose Landing Marina; and Ben Scheffer, a broker with East Coast Yacht Sales.
For a complete schedule of show events, a list of exhibitors, and to purchase tickets visit maineboats.com/boatshow.
