March 1, 2025

Ahoy Mates,

Finally, the days are getting longer and the temps are rising! Fast approaching will be my “traditional start of the boating season”, which for me is St. Patrick’s Day. In the meantime, there’s plenty happening in March. But first I would like to thank Jim and Alice Dean, Bob and Molly Banta and my own dear mate for hosting our regional get-togethers. From the reports I got, a good time was had by all.

We start out the month of March with a workshop at Robert and Patsy Blanchard’s place on the 8th. Featured will be Steve Filarsky doing a lettering and gold leaf application demonstration, and yours truly to talk about and demonstrate line usage and proper knot tying. If you have never been to the Blanchard homestead, that alone is worth the trip.

Coming up a couple of weeks later is the Sunnyland pre-show cruise on the St. Johns River. This is a really fun experience that I was lucky enough to be a part of last year and rates as a bucket list item to me. Oh, and then they’re having a little boat show in Tavares, Fl (LOL) which is another bucket list deal. Make the trip and kick off the 2025 season on a high note!

Looking ahead to April, the Cape Fear Community College show is on April 12th. This is a fun show because it is held at the marine technology building, which will be open with students and faculty there to answer questions. Two other factors that enhance the experience is the fact that the Wilmington River Walk goes right through the show and downtown Wilmington is a short walk away. As you all should know, our chapter offers a scholarship to students in the wooden boatbuilding and marine service and manufacturing programs. We are also a sponsor of the show so let’s plan on heading down there for it!

Cindy Jordan has arranged with her family to allow us use of the Bath Creek house again this year. The dates are May 16-20. Falling within that timeframe is the Tar-Pamlico River cleanup day on the 17th. It would be a nice gesture for our chapter members to pitch in somehow to help with the effort. More on this later.

Members Rob Weller and Larry Lettick have been busy taking the lead on a couple of projects where we can get together as a group and be of service to others. See page 7 of the newsletter for details. We had the best response yet to our monthly contest regarding the Lust varnish. I guess it takes something a little racy to get y’all to participate! The contest queen has another one for this month on page 9, so please send in an entry. The category is “Tall Tales”, so I know there is plenty of material among us to have some fun with it.

If you have any boat stories or other anecdotes that the members might find fun/interesting, please submit it via email to the editor, and we are always interested in your ideas. Enjoy the newsletter!

Yours in classic boating, 
Alan Hills, President