Mahone Bay will be bustling with more boats than ever at this year’s Nova Scotia In-Water Boat Show, presented by the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association (NSBA) as part of the Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival, July 31 to Aug. 3.

The NSBA came up with the idea of holding a boat show as part of the festival to help introduce its boatbuilder members to new markets. Discussions with festival officials began about three years ago and they agreed to accommodate the idea. The first official NS In-Water Boat Show was launched in 2007.

“We want to grow this show to become a destination event for visitors to Nova Scotia” says Tim Edwards, NSBA’s executive director. “It’s unique from other boat shows because it features only Maritime-built boats. And not just pleasure boats either, but fishing boats, rescue and patrol boats and other workboats – it’s a true showcase of local boatbuilding talent.”

Another unique feature of this boat show is that visitors can get to climb aboard the boats and speak with the people who actually built them. At most boat shows, it’s the dealers who are on hand, not the builders.

This year will feature a variety of locally built boats, ranging in size from a 45-foot aluminum catamaran to a 12.5-foot open sailing dinghy.

The following is a line-up of the boatbuilders and their boats at this year’s show:

•NorseBoat Limited from Lunenburg: a NorseBoat 17.5 and NorseBoat 12.5.

•Samson Enterprises from Isle Madame: 28' Cape Island trawler.

•Rosborough Boats from Halifax: RF-246 Sedan Cruiser.

•LeBlanc Brothers Boatbuilders, from Lower Wedgeport: two LeBlanc 1610 Cape Island skiffs.

•Transom Boatworks, of Herman’s Island: a restored wooden 24' Bluenose Sloop, an 11ft Shellback Dinghy, and an 8ft Nordic Dinghy.

•ABCO Industries Limited of Lunenburg: ABCO 28DJ multi-purpose, water-jet propelled patrol boat.

•Sauer Boatbuilding, of West Bay: 20ft double-ended, open cockpit boat.

•Doucette's Boat Building Ltd. Miminegash, PEI: 45ft Cabin Cruiser.

•A. F. Theriault & Son of Meteghan River: 45' power catamaran.

•Tern Boatworks of Gold River: fully-restored, 1907 Herreshoff-designed, 46' P Class racing sailboat.

•Southwest Fiberglass of Church Point: 21' Pilot House Trawler, 18' outboard mini-trawler; 18' classic Nova Scotia outboard runabout; and a 14' classic, open Nova Scotia outboard skiff.

•The Dory Shop of Lunenburg: 17' sailing dory and 11' mahogany dory.

•Goreham's Marine of Pubnico Head: Harbour Master 2300 outboard cruiser

For more details on the Nova Scotia In-Water Boat Show and the Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival visit the NSBA website at www.nsboats.com.