Admire the Beauty of Handcrafted Boats

In 2023 Highlights, Festival Highlights

In the last few years, we’ve seen a wonderful resurgence of craftsmanship. More and more people are building small handmade boats—putting their love and care into creating something beautiful with their own hands.

Throughout Festival grounds, a stunning array of meticulously crafted trailerable boats and kayaks will grace both land and water. The First Fed Commons will be the focal point for kayaks and row boats, while the larger sailboats, drift boats, and power boats will take center stage at the Point.

Here are a few highlights you can look forward to at this year’s Festival:

Runabout-Inspired Wood Canoe

Completely handmade using a strip plank construction method and laminated in fiberglass on the inside and outside of the hull. This canoe is inspired by the runabouts of the 1920s-50s and made in their image. All stain, paint, fabric, hardware, etc. is as authentic to those boats as possible.

Whisper

Coming all the way from Germany, this incredible boat will be on display if they can get the trailer through customs! Timeless yet modern high-performance day sailor/weekender with beautiful lines. Hand-crafted in Germany from cold-molded mahogany, featuring electric propulsion, lifting keel, carbon rig, and more.

Montana Wild

Montana Wild is a seventeen-foot kayak boasting several natural wooden inlays depicting wildlife commonly found in Montana. Over 38 different woods were used to capture various animals and birds for this boat. A beauty to look at and to paddle!