Wooden boats and Southport…it’s like the Cape Fear River Pilots guiding a freighter up river, commercial fisherman returning to the Old Yacht Basin with their Brunswick Catch, the Old Smithfield Burying Grounds, hosting NC State’s official 4th of July celebration, the Gentleman Pirate Stede Bonnet careening the Revenge through the Cape Fear inlet, or all the local history on display in Southport’s NC Maritime Museum and Visitor’s Center. All are an integral part of Southport’s heritage and are celebrated each year at the Southport Wooden Boat Show.

The 14th Annual Southport Wooden Boat Show was another success with great vendors, outstanding food, unbelievable weather, and a terrific turnout of wooden boats and visitors alike.

Our tradition continued with boats on display both On-Land and In-Water. Visitors met and talked with wooden boat makers and owners, sampled the Taste of Cape Fear delicacies, observed Cape Fear Community College performing live steam bending of wooden boat parts and enjoyed live music.

Various raffle prizes were awarded, including this year’s raffle boat. In addition, there were boat tours of the yacht basin and surrounding areas while children of all ages learned about Southport’s nautical history from the NC Maritime Museum and built their own boats to test their sea-worthiness. We all enjoyed the rope making and static sailing displays while engaging in entertaining and informational discussions and exhibits presented by the North Carolina Aquarium and The Ft Fisher Underwater Archeology Branch.

In 2024, we’re planning for more boats, more nautical/maritime vendors and more people, as we have continued to grow into one of the largest Southport Festivals of the year. And, as has become our tradition, we will feature a new collectors’ quality poster to be designed by a local artist as well as our ever popular, special edition T-shirt. Both will be available at the show from the Ship’s Store tent. As in previous years, we will have live music, many exciting items to be raffled, as well as excellent food provided by award winning Frying Pan Restaurant Chef Craig Blanks.

Mission Statement

The Southport Wooden Boat Show’s purpose is to promote interest in and disseminate knowledge of the craft and art of wooden boat construction, to support efforts to preserve wooden boat construction and skills and to celebrate the region’s maritime and boatbuilding history. This is accomplished through the SWBS Committee and an exceptional volunteer workforce. The Southport Wooden Boat Show is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. No goods or services are rendered for contributions, and they are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

This is a special year for us… Our 15th Anniversary! Our traditions will continue with boats on display both On-Land and In-Water, but we are expanding our Education Program.

Visitors will once again be able to:

• Meet and talk with wooden boat makers and owners
• Savor excellent food provided by award winning Frying Pan Restaurant Chef Craig Blanks from his food truck
• Observe Cape Fear Community College performing demonstrations of wooden boat construction techniques
• Enjoy live music
• Boat tours of the Old Yacht Basin and surrounding areas
• Children of all ages learn about Southport’s nautical history from the NC Maritime Museum
• Children will build and decorate their own boats, then launch them to test their sea-worthiness
• Rope making and static sailing displays
• Entertaining and informational discussions and exhibits presented by the North Carolina Aquarium and the Ft Fisher Underwater Archeology Branch
• Feature a new collectors’ quality poster designed by a local artist C Cox, and showcased on our ever popular, special edition T-shirt. Both available at the Ship’s Store tent.

Win this Boat!!