Wooden, classic boats this weekend

By Diana Zimmerman

The Cathlamet Wooden and Classic Boat Festival is this weekend at the Elochoman Slough Marina.

“Classic means not just totally wooden, but wooden and fiberglass is permissible,” Julius Dalzell, one of the event organizers explained. “It’s going to be a good show, I think. It’s supposed to cool down for the weekend.”

Dalzell is hoping for 30 boats, from kayaks to a 36-foot U.S. Coast Guard Motor Life Boat.

Visitors will have a chance to vote for their favorite boats and winners will be announced on Sunday afternoon.

Events include a Ducky Derby and blind dinghy races.

The winner of the derby will get 50 percent of the purse, and prizes are rumored for second and third place as well.

The blind dinghy races are fun for everyone.

“You don’t know how confused that you can get,” Dalzell said. “It is a hoot.”

A small rowboat will be presented for a raffle and the funds raised will go toward a local rowing club and the Traditional Small Craft Association.

“We’re trying to get as many elements from town involved as we can,” Dalzell said. “Tsuga Gallery will have items for sale from their collection and the River Mile 38 Brewery is involved with an Ugly Car Show.”

The brewery will open at noon on Saturday, and there will be live music all day.

The Kiwanis Club will open the event on Saturday with a breakfast from 7-10 a.m. Dalzell is also expecting at least three food vendors to be at the festival.

Craft vendors are expected too.

“We have two groups speaking,” Dalzell said. “At 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Robotics Club will be showing off an underwater device they built. After, Michael Baccellieri will talk about caulking wooden boats, which is an art in itself.”

At 1 p.m., the Coast Guard is expected to do a demonstration, unless they are called away for an emergency.

A nautical swap meet is scheduled for Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It should be fun!” Dalzell said.