The Friends of the Museum administers a number of specialized museum programs that involve community members with particular maritime interests.

For more information on any of these activities feel free to contact the Friends office at 252-728-2762.

NEW!

Beaufort Women's Sailing Club

Leadership through She-manship

This club is just hatching and is designed to bring together women from all backgrounds and experience levels to share their love of sailing.

Some have sailed for a life-time. Others are only beginning their adventure. For women who sail and those who want to learn this group will organize activities that may include group sailing, on the water instruction, classroom instruction on safety, knot tying, navigation, food preparation, First Aid/CPR, and social gatherings.

Come experience Beaufort as it is meant to be experienced. Sail a traditional wooden Spritsail, solo on a Sunfish, or share a day cruise with friends. Preliminary information available on Facebook and Google + at Beaufort Women’s Sailing Club,

Sea Scout Ship 98 “LOOKOUT”

Sea Scout Ship 98 “Lookout” is chartered by the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum and meets every Tuesday at the museum’s Gallants Channel Annex. Sponsored by the Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts is a co-ed, values based high adventure and community service program for ages 14-20 and it is a popular program for high school aged young people.

For more information contact Brent Creelman at the Friends of the Museum at 252-728-2762.

Ship 98 Skipper is Guy Senter and his phone is 252-349-9450.

Beaufort Oars

The Beaufort Oars is a community based group that rows two boats that were built at the NC Maritime Museum. The group is open to all active Friends of the Museum members. The primary goal is to provide an affordable community based rowing club that encourages enjoyment on the water, social activity, and exercise. The Beaufort Oars has scheduled rows on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. (5:00 p.m. during daylight savings time). There is also a Sunday morning row at 9:00 a.m.

Dues are $25/year in addition to a Friends Membership ($35 and up). Volunteer leaders help ensure safety, initiate new members, coordinate events, and spearhead maintenance efforts.  

More information may be found here.     

Sliding Seat Rowing Club

The Museum expanded the Beaufort Oars program with the Sliding Seat Rowing Club in 2005.  A dock, boathouse and boat racks at the Museum’s Gallant Channel Annex provide rowing opportunities for adults and youths. All prospective members will be given a free orientation to determine if they wish to become a Sliding Seat member. A series of clinics and lessons will be offered to qualify the rower to use a club boat.

Member benefits include the use of club boats year round (18’ and 16’ recreational Echo and Alden singles), clinics for beginning rowers under the supervision of certified coaches, and training on the club’s Concept 2 rowing machine.

Dues of $100/year, plus a Friends membership ($35 and up). 

Personal Rack Space for privately owned shells is available for an additional $100 fee.

Carolina Maritime Model Society

The Carolina Maritime Model Society exists to encourage interest and active participation in the hobby, to improve the standards of members’ models through the free exchange of ideas, techniques and information, and to emphasize to both members and the public at large that research is the foundation for the production of high-quality ship models. Society members mount a substantial, one-day exhibition in conjunction with the museum’s Traditional Wooden Boat Show each May which includes a pond for radio controlled models. Members also showcase their talents through a rotating exhibit entitled “Model of the Month”. The group is the only such organization in the entire state and has become a major vehicle for widening public interest in North Carolina’s maritime history and culture.

Dues are $5/year, plus a Friends membership ($35 and up). 

Traditional Small Craft Association

The Friends of the Museum host a chapter of the National Traditional Small Craft Association. This educational organization works to preserve and continue the living traditions, skills, lore, and legends surrounding working and pleasure watercraft whose origins predate the marine gasoline engine.   The local chapter, the NCMM-TSCA, is a loosely knit bunch of people who like to “mess around in small boats”.  The group hosts special events and activities including The Fall “In-the-Water Meet”, the Wooden Boat Show sail around Carrot Island, a traditional skiff rally in August, and the Annual Great 4thRace on a Saturday around July 4th.

Dues are $5/year, plus a Friends membership ($35 and up).