Special Exhibits 2014

Smart, Small Homes

Great design coupled with great technology can make for great living in a small package. This year the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show will feature a special section dedicated to the art of living large within a smaller envelope: tiny houses, right sized furniture, appliances, tents, houseboats and more. Sailors have known for years how comfortable life can be aboard a small boat, with all the amenities close at hand. These technologies translate well to life ashore, where there is a growing movement toward living life with a smaller footprint. Our "Smart, Small Homes" section will showcase the cutting edge of design. Photo to Left: A tiny 14' x 16' timber frame cabin that features live-edge cherry knee braces and oak loft beam. Located in Brooksville, Maine. Image courtesy Black Dog Timberworks.

The Genius of Herreshoff

No other family has impacted American boating culture quite like the Herreshoff family has. Nathanael and his brother John formed the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, RI, in 1878, and their first successes came with steam engines and vessels, both as motor yachts and navy vessels. Their breakthroughs came with sailing yachts — a handful of America’s Cup defenders were their signature creations. But one of their smallest craft may be the most beloved of all, the Herreshoff 12 ½, which turns 100 this summer. We will honor this little ship and some of its equally old siblings, such as the Buzzards Bay 25 and the Newport 29 on the docks and on land throughout show grounds.