A Chance To Peek at the Classic Boat Society's Raffle Dinghy

Boat lovers can marvel at the craftsmanship it takes to build wooden boats at the annual Classic Boat Fair in Amagansett on Saturday.

The East End Classic Boat Society hosts the tradition, now in its ninth year, at its Community Boat Shop, behind the Marine Museum on Bluff Road.

The free fair will feature many classic wooden boats and kayaks, but one in particular is sure to catch the eye of real boat enthusiasts, according to Ray Hartjen, the society president.

The Goellier dinghy, named for the naval architect who designed, is in the process of being made for the society's annual raffle in December. Hartjen said that is the first boat the society has built that can take an outboard motor. "A lot of people say, 'If it had an outboard I'd buy a ticket.' So this year we did," he said.

The boat is not quite ready. "It's just coming off the mold," Hartjen said. "This is no simple, thrown-together item."

Asked how many hours go into making it, he said, "God knows. We started basically at the end of last year, and we'll finish it up hopefully by the time of the Fishermen's Fair," in August.

Hartjen said the boat has a "a rather hefty keel," made out of a tree that was harvested by Micheal Marder and cut in a saw mill in Southampton, all by donation. "You can't buy a piece of white oak like this from a normal lumber yard," he said, describing its original 13-foot long and three-by-six-inch frame.

The dinghy is also able to be propelled by a sail, which will come with it, as well as a new galvanized Load Rite trailer. "We have to sell a lot of tickets to offset the costs," he said.

Tickets are $5 each or $20 for five. They will be available at the fair, and will be sold until the raffle.

Other boats that were donated will be for sale, too.

In addition to the boats on display, there will be boating building and restoration demonstrations. A maritime art show will feature paintings and photography from East End artists.

The event will be held rain or shine.