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The one-day Eugene Yacht Club Wooden Boat Exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2008. It will take place at the Club’s facility located on the west shore of Fern Ridge Lake. The lake is about 10 miles west of Eugene.

We created the event to promote the preservation, use and display of wood boats of all types. About 30 boats were displayed last year, including several Portland.

Our event is informal and low key. There is no advance registration, no fees, no judging and no pressure. It is an opportunity to display and use your boat merely for the fun of it. It’s also an opportunity to meet other wood boat owners in a relaxing atmosphere. Those who attended last year had a great time.

Fern Ridge Lake is a large Corps of Engineers flood control reservoir that invites motor boating and exploring the extensive shoreline.

The Club facilities include floating docks for motorboats and extensive lawns where smaller boats can be displayed out of the water. Those of us with speedboats were able to offer rides last year to interested members of the public and we plan to do the same thing again this year. The yacht club has fuel available to boaters who may need it. Those providing boats for public rides are refueled for free.

The club has two permanent ramps for the launching of boats and plenty of space for trailer storage.

The show is scheduled to begin at about 11:00 AM and to close at about 5:00 PM. We scheduled the Exhibition hours to allow out of town participants time to reach the Club and launch boats on Saturday morning before the start of the show, and to return home before dark on the same day.

The Club grounds are locked and attended, however, so those wishing to attend the show may arrive on Friday, August 10, launch boats that evening, or store their boats on the grounds and launch on Saturday morning. Likewise, participants may leave their boats in the water on the day of the show and retrieve them on Sunday for the trip back home.

Those with recreational vehicles may stay on Club grounds on Friday and Saturday nights, although the vehicles must be self-contained. There are no available hookups.

A word also about pets. The yacht club, which is primarily devoted to sailing, has a hard and fast rule prohibiting pets on the grounds. The club has determined that leashed pets will be admitted during public events such as the show, but those staying on the grounds before and after the event are covered by the no pets policy. There is a Lane County public campground immediately next to the yacht club that permits pets and advance reservations for pet owners are available.

Those who have questions about driving directions, Club amenities, places to stay and eat in the Eugene area and the like may call John Franklin at 541/342-8540 or email him .