The Depoe Bay Annual...

... Crab Feed and Wooden Boat Show

Ahoy From Dirtland!

For the past twelve years the City of Depoe Bay’s chamber of commerce has put on the “Depoe Bay Annual Crab Feed and Wooden Boat Show”

The city of Depoe Bay is on the Central Oregon coast 13 miles south of Lincoln City, and 13 miles north of Newport. The harbor at Depoe Bay is reported to be the world’s smallest navigable harbor, being only six acres in size. The entrance to the harbor is a fifty foot wide, hundred foot long & eight foot deep, rock bound channel. To make things even trickier there is a dog leg in the middle to mix things up a bit. When it’s calm even the most seasoned sailors pass up this port of call.

In twelve years I have only missed one show. I think this year was the best show to date. The weather was sunny, and the temperature was perfect. It was a bit windy with NW winds around twenty knots. There were around fifty boats, all of which were great. I didn’t get to spend as much time pounding the docks; the family had plans for me to go do other things! I did get to see all the boats and visit with fellow members of the Western Oregon Messabouters, aka “The Ol’ Coots” https://www.coots.org.

Saturday morning I filled my coffee cup and headed down to the docks for my “pre-family” dock pounding. Things were quiet in the harbor, and I took full advantage of having the boats to myself! This year there were all kinds of great boats, everything from little PDR’s all the way up to the Forty-Six foot “Kingfisher”. After an hour of gawking, I headed back to retrieve the family.

Family in tow, we returned mid-morning to the docks and proceeded to hoof around and look at the boats, only this time it was at break neck family boat viewing pace. Seems they were more interested in wanting to get to the crab feed.

My son, Blake and I made a pit stop at the children’s boat building booth and built a modified stern wheeled tuna seiner. It is powered by a pair of 243cal. vertical rise engines, which converts power via the rubber band 1:1 drive to the four bladed paddle. The boat comes with the optional headless autopilot. Blake took great pride in painting, or should I say drizzling paint onto his boat. I had the privilege of carrying the boat for the rest of morning, leaving our mark everywhere we went! I think the paint has finally dried out, four days later! (insert pic of blake drizzling paint)

Blake took great pride in painting, or should I say drizzling paint onto his boat. (click images to enlarge)

Harvey Golden was just beginning his Kayak rolling demonstration as we were wrapping up our successful boat build, so we wandered over to the sea wall and watched. Call me crazy but I prefer to keep myself in the upright position while on the water. So I don’t think I will intentionally try any of the umpteen rolling maneuvers he demonstrates. I didn’t get any pictures, because I was trying to find ways to keep the wet paint off me and those around us. There are pictures from past shows at one of my all time favorite sites.

Watching Harvey made us all hungry so we trotted past the coast guard station and up the road to the community hall to partake in the Crab Feed! Yummmm!! Blake ate a whole crab and half of grandma’s! After eating all we could the family decided to head back to the motel for nap time. That meant more dock time for me!

Blake ate a whole crab and half of grandma’s!

I found my way down to Charles Gottfried’s Chebacco, knowing that a home brew would be waiting to quench my thirst. I was part way thru my second brew when Jamie Orr decided to take Charles’ new tender for a sail. We all watched as Jamie showed off his sailing talents. Really small boat in some pretty heavy winds.

Shortly after Jamie set sail, Andrew Linn in his PDR put to sail and the race was on. I am not sure who won, or if they even knew they were racing, as the saying goes “two sailboats going the same direction are always racing”. Anyways I think we were all amazed that Jamie was able to make it back without getting wet.

Shortly after Jamie set sail, Andrew Linn in his PDR put to sail and the race was on.

I could ramble on all day about the show and everything that goes on. My photos sum it up the best, and can be seen HERE. It is one of the best shows I have ever been too. The whole community comes together and makes it really fun for all that attend. I can’t wait for next year. For those that can find their way to Oregon I’d recommend attending and participating in this great venue.

Smooth sailing

Dirtsailor

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